Sunset Boulevard (ENO)

the matinee audience yesterday were respectful and applauding at the end of numbers not interrupting them, and not jumping to their feet every second.
It's an interesting piece isn't it, as everyone loses out one way or another. Norma loses, Betty loses, Joe loses as does Max. Yes it is Norma who is the overbearing character but it is essentially Joe's tragedy. he is the one caught up and destroyed by Hollywood. He has the most complex journey and is on stage more than Norma. Just a thought.

it's not unlike Doctor Faustus......

A friend and his husband went last night, I got them the tickets with my presale access (which turned out to be a waste of money Grrr!) Anyway here's what he just texted:

Saw Glenn Close last night. Seats were amazing thanks to you. We thought it was a superior production to the original west end. Bigger orchestra filling out the music. Great chap playing Joe Gillis. Glenn Close was amazing - chills, chills and chills. Huge star. Super-skilled actress. A proper hurricane atrength tour-de-force.
Very happy xx

Superior production to original West End!? Discuss! 

Thanks for your reply! 

It's not something to turn off, because with great performances/performers (of which there are too many to mention) I don't even think about it at all. It just feels natural and often I'm taken on a journey because of all the musical details and nuances and emotion it evokes. I don't think about "why does this line make me emotional", I just did that for the post because I wanted to explain the importancy and finesse of the art.

The problem is when I see people who don't master it. Within the first moments I am taken out of what they are trying to do. I'm distracted by the inability. I see a person struggling with singing. Nothing takes me out of the acting more than that. I see unnatural choices, a note that should be a bit longer to lift a certain moment because the situation and music ask for it, is suddenly kept short, like a slap in the face, simply because the person isn't up to it. Bam, out of the acting again. Now, someone like Glenn Close could (arguably, I personally think she is too cartoon-esque and drag-queen like) be a fine actress. But I think she should focus on straight plays or movies that require that kind of exaggerated acting). In any case, stay away from singing. Too many moments go to waste because of the lack of mastering this craft. Sure, she has a few good acting moments in spite of the singing, but it's a fight nonetheless.

Because fact is that the audience is still exposed to every note, syllable, line, breath and intonation of every word. There is a reason she is singing. I never want to ask myself: why the hell is she singing? After hearing one unnatural, strained note after another. Then just skip the song.

This "faking your way through a song" only tends to work in scenes where the character is crying, because then it's easier to get away with it, and crying evokes emotion per definition and some people might mistake the "inability of singing" with "too thwarted by emotions to be able to sing". I still see a person struggling, but with singing.

If Glenn is the epitome of one thing, it is "acting in spite of the singing".

This is the exact issue why I can't stand most of the Les Mis film and to answer your question, why I find Judi Dench performances you mention (including her other stuff) just sad and irritating. Completely not believable. Almost laughable when she sings. Nothing to be taken seriously. I just sit there with my head shaking from left to right. Lady, what did you get yourself into? One big exhibition of "look how moved I am by myself, I can't even sing one note, isn't it extra raw this way? Don't I look like a good actress now?" No. You don't.

Now, clearly there are Joe Bloggs' who have made up their minds that she will be incredible, and have completely different visions about what singing/this artform is etc. But as a counterpart, there are many people who are not satisfied at all, while I think if it was both good, many people would take this artform more seriously. But you are right when you say that there are different people. And you are also right when you say that someone who has only ever heard rap, can be astonished by the melody of a Katy perry song. So to speak.

Anyway, feel free to disagree and like what you like.

This is how I felt, just said much more eloquently than I ever could.

Ahh right. I only ask because none of your posts on this subject have referred to your personal experience of her performance


Why did you go if you dislike her so much? 

Because I really love the show, the grandeur and the music. I thought all other roles were cast quite well, and loved the orchestra and overall production and still had a fine night, I just think the production deserved a better Norma. I saw someone acting in an unnatural way and struggling, and avoiding every little detail in the role and music that is important to me. The natural thing I described above.

I kept thinking: "how can she get away with this"? Any other person would be invited to the production office immediately. And even weirder was to see the person sitting next to me hyperventilating with joy, at every completely failed note/wasted moment. I thought: "what is this person's reference"? 

Sondheim thinks "Into the woods" is good too. I thought it was horrific.

Yes I hated Into the Woods, but loved Glenn Close. Go figure!

I don't know you and whilst I appreciate everyone has differing opinions,with respect I'm gonna make Sondheim's opinion over yours any day.

TOTALLY. He "plays the gallery" for most of the duration, trying to get the audience "on side" in a way that is wholly untrue to the character.  A combination of the actor and director has made him a far too likeable Joe.  He is not the "hero" of the piece, for god's sake.

Too much big gesturing too (like you say "jazz hands")

You've hit the nail on the head.  I read a similar observation in quite a detail review only yesterday (of a production in the USA).  SB really is Joe's story/journey, but Norma - especially in the musical version - steals the glory.