Sunset Boulevard (ENO)

She wasn't ready...

Don't know if any of you have seen this. Gave me a chuckle when someone sent it to me

I can confirm that Glenn's final I'll be M(aaaay) is canned and pre-recorded.

Well I've been told about it, then I just saw it yesterday from the front row. I couldn't tell from With One Look, but because I was looking for it, I saw it at the finale. Sound wise, it's done perfectly and you really would not be able to tell just by listening. It was just a matter of a delay in her miming the word vs the sound pumping through.

The show is a tiny bit different than the ENO in London.

There is a art deco backdrop behind the orchestra whenever we are in Norma's mansions. Also, some parts of the set are lit differently in Norma's mansion than they were in London.
During the car chase scene, when the Sunset Boulevard street sign is projected, the ENO version only had that single logo/street sign enlarged, whereas in this version there are multiples of it flashing all across the screen.
They use a new car on Norma's return to Paramount.
Some orchestral changes from ENO...On Norma's journey to paramount, the music is now more march-like than the normal sounding theme ("if you're with me, next year will be.."). Also, the Joe/Betty scenes at Schwab's and pre-Too Much In Love to Care are slightly re-orchestrated.

Overall the show is fabulous. I think Xavier was by far more tolerable here than he was in London. He's less jazz hands and tress less hard to be funny. Siobhan is gorgeous looking and sounding. Max is great as always. I think the London ensemble was a bit stronger, and I liked the ENO DeMille a lot better.

Standing ovation for As If We Never Said Goodbye.

I should add that this was the former final performance prior to the extension to June 25th. I would have loved to see it again, but I'm fully committed to other shows during the week. Can't wait to see the UK tour though. Have to figure where and when to see it as soon as I go back home.

Ali - loved reading your review/comparing it to ENO.  It really does seem ALW did a lot of work on the orchestrations.  It's breaking my heart that they're not re-recording this with that lush new sound...I've already gone three times and hope to hit it at least once more before it leaves NY (although there's some strong rumors that there might be a return engagement in LA after New Years)  

Honestly found the entire cast superb... which was a pleasant surprise after reading some review on here  Perhaps the extra time really gave them the opportunity to grow into the roles.

As for Glenn's final note being recorded - I really don't believe that to be the case.  The third time I went to see Sunset, she was still fighting her sinus infection.  Coughed/cleared her throat at one point during As If We Never Said Goodbye and definitely talked-sung more than she did the other two times. And her ending was a bit more restrained.  So, I don't know - I don't really think that's happened.

mosiemo - there was some australian press reporting this as well. I doubt the entire broadway company would make the move (hence the ensemble not being confident) but I'm hopeful as it seems that would be the best chance of it being filmed. Perhaps the costs/union rules etc make it easier to do so there - as they did Love Never Dies.

I'm just really hoping this happens. I saw Sunset for the 4th time about a week before it closed (was out of town for the final performance otherwise would've definitely been there) and noticed those subtle changes as well - Norma looking more disheveled... which made it work even more. The human/vulnerable Norma is much more heart-wrenching and Xavier grew so much in the role balancing cynical/manipulative/empathetic all in one. Loved it each time more than the time before. And I left the theatre thinking "they literally put every ounce they had in that performance" - absolutely wonderful.

So - I'm crossing my fingers that somehow Australia will materialize as well as a film. Otherwise I might have to make my first trip to the UK to find the Ria Jones Tour

Would Paramount black ball a filming of the stage production?

You would think that with Paramount's recent difficulties (http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-jim-gianopulos-paramount-20170321-story.html) they'd be a bit more cooperative... I can see making a full blown movie musical version might be a bit too difficult to pull off/make it financially viable. But Universal had great success with Love Never Dies - a far less known entity in the ALW canon... Just foolishness

Given that there are still no real plans to make the film this production has to be Glenn's final outing as Norma, surely? 

Should anyone wish to re-live the revival, a performance from Broadway in its entirety has emerged on youtube  - for now at least before it is inevitably removed.

Completely agree. One interesting point though, did people say that the last note of 'with one look I'll be me' at the very end is not sung live, because in this video it definitely seems live....although could be part of the dodgy recording.