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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 6, 2016 20:05:30 GMT
Do we think Bette Midler would make a good Norma? Oh gosh, no I don't think that would work at all! Love her but no  |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 6, 2016 20:26:38 GMT
Cher.
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Post by crabtree on Apr 6, 2016 20:27:15 GMT
About Bette, I'm sad that it is Dolly that she is back on Broadway with - such a thin piece.
As for other Norma's please don't anyone suggest Madonna. Which British actresses could play Norma today? I'd suggest Janis Kelly who is happy both in opera and musicals, and darn is she is good actress.
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Post by d'James on Apr 6, 2016 21:23:39 GMT
Thanks for everyone's feedback and reports of the show. For Steve10086 - its nice for us who were fans way back and when it first opened (which is how you and I "met" in the infancy of the internet) to see the show having a "return" of it's own. This is how it has to play - lots of intrigue both on and off the stage. I'd love to see Meryl Streep have a go or some other Hollywood Actress - but I guess ALW learned what happens when you diss a Norma (ie LuPone and her voodoo doll of him  ) Keep looking online for any clips of the "corrected" overture (thanks for the description of it... It's hard to imagine tampering with that at all - it's such a legendary opening sound...) 'Meryl Streep or some other Hollywood Actress.' There are rather a lot. Care to narrow it down? Has Patti ever been a 'Hollywood Actress?' |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 6, 2016 21:43:25 GMT
About Bette, I'm sad that it is Dolly that she is back on Broadway with - such a thin piece. As for other Norma's please don't anyone suggest Madonna. Which British actresses could play Norma today? I'd suggest Janis Kelly who is happy both in opera and musicals, and darn is she is good actress. MADONNA! |
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 6, 2016 21:47:33 GMT
About Bette, I'm sad that it is Dolly that she is back on Broadway with - such a thin piece. As for other Norma's please don't anyone suggest Madonna. Which British actresses could play Norma today? I'd suggest Janis Kelly who is happy both in opera and musicals, and darn is she is good actress. MADONNA! You must love me |
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 6, 2016 21:56:31 GMT
'Meryl Streep or some other Hollywood Actress.' There are rather a lot. Care to narrow it down? Has Patti ever been a 'Hollywood Actress?' Patti LuPone played Harrison Ford's sister in "Witness" (and Betty Buckley played his wife in "Frantic"). Actually, Glenn Close was his Vice-President in "Air Force One". Six Degrees of Harrison Ford! |
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Post by d'James on Apr 6, 2016 22:01:46 GMT
Harrison Ford is hardly one to aspire to.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 6, 2016 22:05:19 GMT
She was bloody robbed for that Oscar. ROBBED I say! |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 6, 2016 23:03:54 GMT
Saw it tonight. Currently working on a detailed review. It was enjoyable, but it was not "wow". It was more "interesting" than "great". I am not a fully paid up member of the Glenn Close fan club so I don't have any particular bias. Will be seeing it again on 30th. Let's say at this point I'm indifferent about seeing it again. It was not the most enjoyable version of the piece I've seen. Not a patch on the original production and no better than the UK tour or the Revel Horwood version.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 4:26:17 GMT
Meryl steep is an obvious choice as she seems to get every role going for older women. It's a shame as I think Glenn Close is an excellent actress but hasn't quite had the career she possibly should have.
Whilst I'm not sure her voice is strong enough, Michelle Pfeiffer is an actress I'd like to see tackle the role. Also Catherine zeta jones would be excellent if she lays off the botox a bit
The only musical theatre actress I could see at the moment is Hannah Waddingham
I think Madonna was excellent in Evita but don't see her as Norma
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Post by panda on Apr 7, 2016 5:19:07 GMT
Meryl steep is an obvious choice as she seems to get every role going for older women. It's a shame as I think Glenn Close is an excellent actress but hasn't quite had the career she possibly should have. Whilst I'm not sure her voice is strong enough, Michelle Pfeiffer is an actress I'd like to see tackle the role. Also Catherine zeta jones would be excellent if she lays off the botox a bit The only musical theatre actress I could see at the moment is Hannah Waddingham I think Madonna was excellent in Evita but don't see her as Norma I'd love to see (in order of preference) Joanna Riding, Rosemary Ashe, Helen Hobson, Ria Jones, Maria Freidman, Claire Moore, or Siobhan Macarthy have a go... Surely Close has the movie in the bag already? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 7, 2016 6:37:52 GMT
Broadway.com are reporting that ENO are looking at a Broadway transfer.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 7, 2016 7:28:15 GMT
Glenn Close said she's in talks for the movie.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Apr 7, 2016 8:08:38 GMT
Imelda Staunton should tackle this!
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 7, 2016 8:15:01 GMT
Imelda Staunton should tackle this! A few people have said this in the past. Whether she is the "type", I don't know. I'm not 100% sure, as much as I love her. I quite fancied Julie Walters in the role - could be quite an interesting take... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 8:16:20 GMT
She was bloody robbed for that Oscar. ROBBED I say! Haha! She really wasn't. She was good at the lip synching bits and looking like Evita but when it came to any acting bits, she was as wooden as a floorboard.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 8:19:39 GMT
Glenn Close said she's in talks for the movie. And rightly so. They shouldn't make it if it isn't with her. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 8:21:45 GMT
"Nothing's wrong with being fifty sixty-nine! Unless you're acting twenty fifty-acting-twenty!"
(In the interests of fairness, I'll add that I don't look half as good at half the age as Glenn Close looks currently.)
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 7, 2016 8:27:27 GMT
I enjoyed this but far from "wowed" and so I suppose a little disappointed - my expectations were clearly too high!
I didn't like the staging. All those stairs and platforms - one of those multi purpose sets that could have staged virtually any musical - Evita (we had a balcony), JCS, Oliver, West Side Story to name a few. How I missed the John Napier sets - especially the mansion. A cluster of chandeliers flown in and out simply did not cut it. Very cruel of the director/designer to make Glenn Close (at the age of 69) climb all those stairs again and again, night after night and twice on Wed and Sats!! She must be exausted. I did fear for her tripping especially in those long gowns.
The show sounded wonderful, however, with the full orchestra and a company who could sing. I loved Siobhan Dillon as Betty - a fabulous singing voice and lovely actress. Fred Johanson as Max had a great voice.
Michael Xavier was in fine voice too as Joe Gillis and he has a huge role as the show is seen through his eyes and is rarely off stage. Although gloriously sung I felt he was too nice, and didn't have the darker edge of a gigalo - his cruel outburst at Betty towards the end of Act 2 (although well deliverd) seemed to come from nowhere at all. So I felt this central performance lacking sadly.
Of course the show is all about Glenn Close. She is undoubtedly a star and acts the hell out of the role. She would have chewed up the scenery if there had been any!! Her costumes were fabulous especially the ballgown for New Years Eve. But how I longed to hear the role sung. She delivers the two big numbers especially at the end of "With One Look" which guarantees an ovation but for the rest she seemed only comfortable in the middle register and her voice was "thin" and breathy. The audience went wild though - a full and prolonged standing ovation at the end.
A few empty seats in the stalls - I was in the side stalls for £105 and glad I did not pay another £50 for centre stalls. Two people next to me did not come back after the interval! Perhaps they did not like sitting next to me? I did have a wander up to the Upper Circle in the inteval and the view from up there is fine - if a little distant but well worth £57.50 or less. I wish I had paid that and not splashed out.
Delighted I have seen it but will not be booking a return visit as I thought I would.
EDIT - On checking the ENO website there is lots of availability at all prices for this (apart from the last night). Not a "house full" by any means. I suppose the prices are steep for a "semi-staged" show.
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Post by danb on Apr 7, 2016 12:58:10 GMT
I think that a) It is by no means ALW's most popular work and b) The whole concept of a semi-staged musical at an opera house, is unlikely to float the boat of passing tourist trade. I suspect the booking period is about right and we shouldn't expect to see it again for a long time.
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Post by chernjam on Apr 7, 2016 13:26:12 GMT
I enjoyed this but far from "wowed" and so I suppose a little disappointed - my expectations were clearly too high! I didn't like the staging. All those stairs and platforms - one of those multi purpose sets that could have staged virtually any musical - Evita (we had a balcony), JCS, Oliver, West Side Story to name a few. How I missed the John Napier sets - especially the mansion. A cluster of chandeliers flown in and out simply did not cut it. Very cruel of the director/designer to make Glenn Close (at the age of 69) climb all those stairs again and again, night after night and twice on Wed and Sats!! She must be exausted. I did fear for her tripping especially in those long gowns. The show sounded wonderful, however, with the full orchestra and a company who could sing. I loved Siobhan Dillon as Betty - a fabulous singing voice and lovely actress. Fred Johanson as Max had a great voice. Michael Xavier was in fine voice too as Joe Gillis and he has a huge role as the show is seen through his eyes and is rarely off stage. Although gloriously sung I felt he was too nice, and didn't have the darker edge of a gigalo - his cruel outburst at Betty towards the end of Act 2 (although well deliverd) seemed to come from nowhere at all. So I felt this central performance lacking sadly. Of course the show is all about Glenn Close. She is undoubtedly a star and acts the hell out of the role. She would have chewed up the scenery if there had been any!! Her costumes were fabulous especially the ballgown for New Years Eve. But how I longed to hear the role sung. She delivers the two big numbers especially at the end of "With One Look" which guarantees an ovation but for the rest she seemed only comfortable in the middle register and her voice was "thin" and breathy. The audience went wild though - a full and prolonged standing ovation at the end. A few empty seats in the stalls - I was in the side stalls for £105 and glad I did not pay another £50 for centre stalls. Two people next to me did not come back after the interval! Perhaps they did not like sitting next to me? I did have a wander up to the Upper Circle in the inteval and the view from up there is fine - if a little distant but well worth £57.50 or less. I wish I had paid that and not splashed out. Delighted I have seen it but will not be booking a return visit as I thought I would. EDIT - On checking the ENO website there is lots of availability at all prices for this (apart from the last night). Not a "house full" by any means. I suppose the prices are steep for a "semi-staged" show. Thats strange, NY media is talking about how tickets were already selling well before it opened and now was an "impossible ticket" with talks to bring it to NY: nypost.com/2016/04/05/this-andrew-lloyd-webber-musical-is-finally-getting-some-love/ I have to admit, the thought of them transferring this production to NY seems the excitement of the moment - I mean the ENO has what, 3,000 seats? And theres speculation even with a almost-sell out if it's making money for them with the 50 piece orchestra. I don't know where they would stage that here. And part of the excitement in London is seeing Close in the role - we had her for close to a year in what I think has been an unfairly dismissed spectacular production. (Yes the score, and story are fantastic, but Napier's sets were amazing) |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 7, 2016 13:50:18 GMT
I enjoyed this but far from "wowed" and so I suppose a little disappointed - my expectations were clearly too high! I didn't like the staging. All those stairs and platforms - one of those multi purpose sets that could have staged virtually any musical - Evita (we had a balcony), JCS, Oliver, West Side Story to name a few. How I missed the John Napier sets - especially the mansion. A cluster of chandeliers flown in and out simply did not cut it. Very cruel of the director/designer to make Glenn Close (at the age of 69) climb all those stairs again and again, night after night and twice on Wed and Sats!! She must be exausted. I did fear for her tripping especially in those long gowns. The show sounded wonderful, however, with the full orchestra and a company who could sing. I loved Siobhan Dillon as Betty - a fabulous singing voice and lovely actress. Fred Johanson as Max had a great voice. Michael Xavier was in fine voice too as Joe Gillis and he has a huge role as the show is seen through his eyes and is rarely off stage. Although gloriously sung I felt he was too nice, and didn't have the darker edge of a gigalo - his cruel outburst at Betty towards the end of Act 2 (although well deliverd) seemed to come from nowhere at all. So I felt this central performance lacking sadly. Of course the show is all about Glenn Close. She is undoubtedly a star and acts the hell out of the role. She would have chewed up the scenery if there had been any!! Her costumes were fabulous especially the ballgown for New Years Eve. But how I longed to hear the role sung. She delivers the two big numbers especially at the end of "With One Look" which guarantees an ovation but for the rest she seemed only comfortable in the middle register and her voice was "thin" and breathy. The audience went wild though - a full and prolonged standing ovation at the end. A few empty seats in the stalls - I was in the side stalls for £105 and glad I did not pay another £50 for centre stalls. Two people next to me did not come back after the interval! Perhaps they did not like sitting next to me? I did have a wander up to the Upper Circle in the inteval and the view from up there is fine - if a little distant but well worth £57.50 or less. I wish I had paid that and not splashed out. Delighted I have seen it but will not be booking a return visit as I thought I would. EDIT - On checking the ENO website there is lots of availability at all prices for this (apart from the last night). Not a "house full" by any means. I suppose the prices are steep for a "semi-staged" show. Thats strange, NY media is talking about how tickets were already selling well before it opened and now was an "impossible ticket" with talks to bring it to NY: nypost.com/2016/04/05/this-andrew-lloyd-webber-musical-is-finally-getting-some-love/ I have to admit, the thought of them transferring this production to NY seems the excitement of the moment - I mean the ENO has what, 3,000 seats? And theres speculation even with a almost-sell out if it's making money for them with the 50 piece orchestra. I don't know where they would stage that here. And part of the excitement in London is seeing Close in the role - we had her for close to a year in what I think has been an unfairly dismissed spectacular production. (Yes the score, and story are fantastic, but Napier's sets were amazing) Not at all - I saw chunks of empty seats at all levels last night. |
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Post by chernjam on Apr 7, 2016 18:50:26 GMT
Here's another slightly silly question. Any reason they screwed up the show logo for ENO? I mean the original, the American premiere version grey or the later red version all seem better than the new one or is that just me?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 19:00:54 GMT
Here's another slightly silly question. Any reason they screwed up the show logo for ENO? I mean the original, the American premiere version grey or the later red version all seem better than the new one or is that just me? Probably because it's a new production so wouldn't/shouldn't use the original logo |
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