Awesome Moments: Herbie finally standing up to Rose and deserting her.
Awesome Music: If your production's Rose doesn't tear down the house with "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn", she's doing it wrong.
Common Knowledge: Critics sometimes call Rose "the quintessential Jewish Mother'' because of her character as My Beloved Smother. Yet while it might be argued that there's some Jewish "coding" in how she's written, since the show's librettist, lyricist and composer were all Jewish, Rose Thompson Hovick was not Jewish, nor are most actresses who have played her in major productions (apart from Bette Midler).
Misaimed Fandom: Fans of some of Rose's songs about empowering herself sometimes forget that she is not supposed to be the one we're rooting for.
When her insane stage mom life drives June to run away from home, Rose decides to turn Louise into her new project.
Herbie, who had to put up with everything Rose could possibly throw at him for years, finally leaves when she makes her daughter a stripper.
She Really Can Act: The original production starred Ethel Merman, who was renowned as a comic actress and thus an unexpected choice for the flawed, dramatic part of Mama Rose; Merman herself expressed doubts about "Rose's Turn," pointing out that it was more aria than musical theatre. Regardless, she completely owned the role and played Mama Rose with a mixture of comedy, pathos, and depth that is still considered the benchmark for the part.
Tough Act to Follow: Merman was so iconic as Rose that nobody attempted a revival on Broadway, until the 1974 revival with Angela Lansbury showed that it could be done. Since then there has been several more revivals.
Louise and Rose gawking at the strippers upon their arrival. The strippers don't seem to mind.
At one of their first shows, Rose comments about the comedian before June's act about how he would never get anywhere. Who was that comedian? Jack Benny.
Harsher in Hindsight: As Louise's fame grows Rose chastises her for not believing that Vaudeville will eventually come back, to which Louise remarks that she'll be dead by the time that happens. In real life, Natalie Wood, who played Louise in the film version, died in her early 40s.
Just Here for Godzilla: If Rosalind Russell overacting like there's no tomorrow is not your thing, you might go straight to Natalie Wood's burlesque numbers at the end.
Les Yay: The strippers take a real liking into Rose. One of them even compliments her mother's strut, saying she would have made an excellent stripper. Heck, they're not bothered at all at Louise and Rose for gawking at them. The stripper dressed as a gladiator even sway her hips as she struts pass them.
