1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 16, 2017 17:50:03 GMT
It's extended by 4 weeks...
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Post by chernjam on Mar 14, 2017 22:28:41 GMT
Hey everyone across the pond!
Went to see the ENO production of Sunset Boulevard here in NY on February 4th and still blown away by how much more I enjoyed this production than I anticipated - and felt Lonny Price vastly improved the musical version from the original broadway production I saw 9 times with every actress who starred in the role.
Review aside, we've been having some interesting discussions about the production on Broadway world and I was hoping maybe someone over here could help (since I went searching though the 107 pages here and had to give up)
When those of you went to the Director Q & A - did they explain why Joe's body is visible throughout the show?
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Post by danb on Mar 14, 2017 22:33:57 GMT
Does it need a why? I like to think that it's a reminder of how it will end despite any moments of joy or musical weight.
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Post by chernjam on Mar 14, 2017 22:52:38 GMT
I think for some people it's a distraction... others think it's that there was no place for the manequin to go (haha) I just thought I read somewhere that Lonny had explained this choice.
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Post by steve10086 on Mar 14, 2017 23:52:27 GMT
I think for some people it's a distraction... others think it's that there was no place for the manequin to go (haha) I just thought I read somewhere that Lonny had explained this choice. Isn't it a reminder that the story is being narrated to us by a dead man? Not that he dies at the end and this is all some kind of flashback, but that the dead man is actually telling us the story. Does the body descend just after he's shot? I guess that means from that point on he's no longer narrating and we're on our own to watch the final scene. I don't know really. I just know I didn't like it much! |
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Post by chernjam on Mar 14, 2017 23:55:50 GMT
Steve - I knew you'd have a take on it... (In fact I mistook someone on BWW for you since your handles are similar!)
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Post by ali973 on Mar 15, 2017 13:16:49 GMT
TBH I always sat in the stalls (and generally do) so once the "doll" was lifted up to the ceiling and just hung up there, I totally forgot it existed until the end of the show. I would imagine it's another case if you were to sit in the dress circle or balcony where the body would always be visible.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 15, 2017 14:21:54 GMT
From the front stalls at ENO the doll looked really crap
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Post by chernjam on Mar 15, 2017 14:32:43 GMT
theatremonkey - they said that the souvenier program would be available in March. No reports that it's there yet - but its still on the website for pre-order
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 15, 2017 21:12:53 GMT
I genuinely just assumed there was no-where for the body to go at ENO so they just left it there... Any other meaning completely passed me by. I don't usually expect much of ENO so just assumed they were doing half a job!
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Post by Kenneth_C on Mar 16, 2017 6:02:19 GMT
I saw SUNSET BLVD last week on Broadway, after having seen it last year at the London Coliseum (and, before that, during its original L.A. run back in '94!)
Re: Joe's corpse. It flies up towards the ceiling and, as I was sitting in the Orchestra [Stalls], it was completely out of my view. I imagine, though, that people in the balconies could still see it -- if they can tear their eyes away from the magnificence that is Glenn Close on stage. (The only thing I found strange was that, when Joe is shot at the end, he falls off stage left, whereas the corpse dummy appears stage right.)
Re: Merchandise. I didn't see the costume prints, but they are selling a "limited" line of costume jewelry dubbed "The Norma Desmond Collection". (Yes! You too can accessorize like a crazed, washed-up silent movie star!) Prices ranged from $50 to over $150 -- and they were actually selling! (Pre-show, a necklace of black glass & rhinestones was on display, but it had been sold by the interval. Price $180.)
Re: The Production. I spoke to Siobhan Dillon [Betty Schaefer] after the show. When I told her I had seen it in London, she asked which I liked better. I responded, "Aren't they the same?" She said that they've made a number of changes -- but I honestly couldn't tell you what they are, and she didn't elaborate.
Re: Glenn. Oh. Em. Gee. As spectacular as I thought she was in '94 and again in '16, she has somehow managed to take Norma to new heights. Take, for example, when Hog-eye turns the lights on Norma during her visit to Paramount. Without saying a word, the multitude of expressions that crossed her face -- pride, joy, sorrow, fear -- caused the audience to erupt in applause. I've never seen a response like it. (With one look, indeed!) And "As If We Never Said Goodbye" stopped the show dead in its tracks, eliciting a huge standing ovation that went on & on & on.
Truly, one of the all-time GREAT performances.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2017 12:42:20 GMT
From the front stalls at ENO the doll looked really crap Yes it was the only part of the show that didn't benefit from being close up. and of course, had they not wanted him/it hanging all the way through they could have lowered him/it into the empty pit. They were obviously making some sort of point, I imagined that it was Joe "observing" the action, given that it was all told from his point of view. A bit sledgehammer. Still, didn't detract from the fabulousness of it all. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 13:05:44 GMT
Re: Glenn. Oh. Em. Gee. As spectacular as I thought she was in '94 and again in '16, she has somehow managed to take Norma to new heights. Take, for example, when Hog-eye turns the lights on Norma during her visit to Paramount. Without saying a word, the multitude of expressions that crossed her face -- pride, joy, sorrow, fear -- caused the audience to erupt in applause. I've never seen a response like it. (With one look, indeed!) And "As If We Never Said Goodbye" stopped the show dead in its tracks, eliciting a huge standing ovation that went on & on & on. Truly, one of the all-time GREAT performances. I have to say, that moment when the spotlight turns to her and the music to 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' begins was one of the most thrilling moments. I almost gave a standing ovation at that very moment. I had goosebumps. Even my goosebumps had goosebumps. |
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19,809 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2017 13:43:01 GMT
Re: Glenn. Oh. Em. Gee. As spectacular as I thought she was in '94 and again in '16, she has somehow managed to take Norma to new heights. Take, for example, when Hog-eye turns the lights on Norma during her visit to Paramount. Without saying a word, the multitude of expressions that crossed her face -- pride, joy, sorrow, fear -- caused the audience to erupt in applause. I've never seen a response like it. (With one look, indeed!) And "As If We Never Said Goodbye" stopped the show dead in its tracks, eliciting a huge standing ovation that went on & on & on. Truly, one of the all-time GREAT performances. I have to say, that moment when the spotlight turns to her and the music to 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' begins was one of the most thrilling moments. I almost gave a standing ovation at that very moment. I had goosebumps. Even my goosebumps had goosebumps. Best. Moment. Ever. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 16:32:10 GMT
Christ I wish I saw this last year. Genuinly considering flying out to NY to catch GC in it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 17:29:40 GMT
Re: Glenn. Oh. Em. Gee. As spectacular as I thought she was in '94 and again in '16, she has somehow managed to take Norma to new heights. Take, for example, when Hog-eye turns the lights on Norma during her visit to Paramount. Without saying a word, the multitude of expressions that crossed her face -- pride, joy, sorrow, fear -- caused the audience to erupt in applause. I've never seen a response like it. (With one look, indeed!) And "As If We Never Said Goodbye" stopped the show dead in its tracks, eliciting a huge standing ovation that went on & on & on. Truly, one of the all-time GREAT performances. I have to say, that moment when the spotlight turns to her and the music to 'As If We Never Said Goodbye' begins was one of the most thrilling moments. I almost gave a standing ovation at that very moment. I had goosebumps. Even my goosebumps had goosebumps. Me too and when I listen to the cast recording with Glenn if I close my eyes at this moment, I get the goosebumps all over again. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 17:43:12 GMT
I do wonder if this will extend once again. Even though none of its weeks have been 100% Capacity (selling steady every week at the 78%+ mark), bar the first week of performances, it has made over $1 million every single week, and even then, with the first week, it made over $800,000 on 5 performances alone!
Thus far, in order of most recent week to first week of previews, it has made:
$1,260,957.20
$1,210,262.40
$1,325,121.70
$1,300,708.80
$1,142,253.60
$833,693.80
So clearly, even if it is not a sell out, those going are willing to spend the money!
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Post by ali973 on Mar 16, 2017 22:23:28 GMT
I saw it around six times in London (of this incarnation, I think I saw the original 4 times in London), and on the last matinee at the ENO, the spotlight moment itself got a round of applause. I also recall at one point the audience erupted into an ovation when she sings I've come home at last.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 16, 2017 22:57:30 GMT
I do wonder if this will extend once again. Even though none of its weeks have been 100% Capacity (selling steady every week at the 78%+ mark), bar the first week of performances, it has made over $1 million every single week, and even then, with the first week, it made over $800,000 on 5 performances alone! Thus far, in order of most recent week to first week of previews, it has made: $1,260,957.20 $1,210,262.40 $1,325,121.70 $1,300,708.80 $1,142,253.60 $833,693.80 So clearly, even if it is not a sell out, those going are willing to spend the money! It's lost money. |
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Post by chernjam on Mar 18, 2017 6:34:55 GMT
I do wonder if this will extend once again. Even though none of its weeks have been 100% Capacity (selling steady every week at the 78%+ mark), bar the first week of performances, it has made over $1 million every single week, and even then, with the first week, it made over $800,000 on 5 performances alone! Thus far, in order of most recent week to first week of previews, it has made: $1,260,957.20 $1,210,262.40 $1,325,121.70 $1,300,708.80 $1,142,253.60 $833,693.80 So clearly, even if it is not a sell out, those going are willing to spend the money! It's lost money. Phantom if that's the case, why did they already extend it to June 25th and there's discussion of a further extension?  Seriously, can't stand when people just throw out comments like that. I would guess that it costs around 700,000 a week to run. (Orchestra is about 50-60,000; cast is around 40-50,000 - leads probably another 100,000 - ) after that, the rest of the production isn't that extensive or expensive...and the Palace rent is probably on the lower end as they are preparing for extensive renovations and couldn't accomodate a long running show anyway. |
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Post by showtoones on Mar 18, 2017 6:41:34 GMT
From what I hear, GC is in talks to extend through July when they may replace her with either a Broadway or Hollywood star/icon
Nothing is set in stone either way from what i was told but just doing my duty and passing it to my peeps
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Post by ali973 on Mar 18, 2017 7:55:44 GMT
Sheesh. Here we go again. The 90s.
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Post by ali973 on Mar 18, 2017 7:58:49 GMT
PS-
Highly unlikely anyway because the Palace is going major renovations (this year?)
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19,809 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 18, 2017 8:17:20 GMT
From what I hear, GC is in talks to extend through July when they may replace her with either a Broadway or Hollywood star/icon Nothing is set in stone either way from what i was told but just doing my duty and passing it to my peeps It couldn't be.... you know.... nah..... never. She wouldn't. Couldn't! Not after..... Would she?  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 13:46:27 GMT
From what I hear, GC is in talks to extend through July when they may replace her with either a Broadway or Hollywood star/icon Nothing is set in stone either way from what i was told but just doing my duty and passing it to my peeps I can imagine they will extend it into the Summer for the tourist buisness them close it up. |
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