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Post by distantcousin on Jan 22, 2021 16:42:59 GMT
I'm loving this thread! It brings back so many memories... In addition to the Nunn staging, I've seen many of the productions that followed. If not all over the world, then at least on three continents. I even filmed one of the performances. It was a stressful experience, and the trauma follows me to this day. I shall never do it again! But at least I was able to document part of Sunset history, and the footage is probably on Youtube. Petula in London: We had terrible seats, but I remember enjoying it immensely. Petula remains my favourite Norma. Sue Mathys in Niedernhausen: One of the last performances anywhere of the original production. It was amazing, and I wish I could go back and relive it. Petula on tour in the US: I didn't like how Petula played it for laughs, but all her big numbers were more or less identical to how she did them in the original production, which I very much enjoyed. Judi Connelli in Melbourne: A fantastic experience with a fresh take on the direction. Judi's voice is very operatic, but it fitted the production. Maria Lundqvist in Karlstad, Sweden: An atrocious production with a down right laughable performance by the lead actress. I loved the eerie opening and the car chase scene though, with miniature cars being moved around on a miniature set by the actors, filmed live and projected on a giant screen. Gunilla Backman in Gothenburg, Sweden: The staging was fantastic, the set was beautiful and very true to the original film. It was marketed as a musical for film lovers. Gunilla was tremendous, and a very vulnerable Norma. Helen Schneider, somewhere in Germany: This was a semi staged concert version, and it was fantastic to hear Helen live. She was every bit as hysterical towards the end as on the German cast recording. Simone Kleinsma, Amsterdam: Probably the only Norma I have almost no memory of. I think she was quite adequate in the role, perhaps slightly too insane, but a decent singer. Kathryn Evans, Newbury: Very talented, very similar to Gloria Swanson in her acting style, but I think her voice was a bit off when I saw her perform. Glenn, London: Another wonderful experience, and Glenn played it very much like on the cast recording. Ria Jones, Woking: I thought Ria did a good job, but perhaps a tad predictable somehow? There were basically no surprises or any big wow moments. I shall dig out my old Sunset CDs and listen to a few of them tonight :-)
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Post by kimu on Jan 22, 2021 16:58:02 GMT
[/div] Cheers! I did not know about it, but I've now requested to join.
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Post by magnificentdonkey on Jan 22, 2021 21:42:36 GMT
I'm trying to watch this but all I keep seeing and hearing during Norma's entrance is Glenn. Apparently I just can't accept any other actress filling her shoes.
UPD: I gave up on Ria and reviewed the matching scene in the 1994 LA video of Glenn I've been blessed with possessing, and there's no comparison of course. I truly believe Glenn's Norma is a real acting masterpiece, I can't wipe a blissful smile off my face while watching her perform, so pleasing to me is what she does, mesmerizing even, every gesture, every pause she takes, her body language is on point, just as a former silent movie star should be, whereas Ria just seems so fake, I'm sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2021 22:24:44 GMT
Are we allowed to post bootleg videos on the forum now? Or is it only admins?
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Post by danb on Jan 24, 2021 6:09:38 GMT
Wow, she’s phenomenal isn’t she?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 24, 2021 8:02:19 GMT
Are we allowed to post bootleg videos on the forum now? Or is it only admins? The guidance is and always has been that short clips of very long runners and closed shows are generally ok. Clips of recently opened shows or videos of an entire production, however old it is, are not. We just try and take the approach of “would the producers be annoyed?”. I hope this helps.
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Post by saral on Jan 24, 2021 18:11:32 GMT
Wow, she’s phenomenal isn’t she? Nods in agreement
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2021 18:12:17 GMT
Shamelessly nicked from another discussion site
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Feb 20, 2021 21:03:24 GMT
I love Christine Ebersole (she's incredible in Grey Gardens) but I didn't really like her there, maybe because of the distortion on her voice (or is that autotune they applied for TV, if so that's shameful I hate when they do that for performers who don't need it).
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Post by saral on Feb 21, 2021 19:30:28 GMT
Did she sing the wrong words...after we all know I can do it (second time)
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Post by chernjam on Feb 22, 2021 5:49:15 GMT
Did she sing the wrong words...after we all know I can do it (second time) Oh this brought back all kinds of sad memories... For those of you not in the US - this was the Kennedy Center Awards - given to different artists every year. They have a 2-3 hour presentation and then decide to race through each of the honorees in speed faster than an Oscars award speech. So ALW's life's work - for which he's being honred - is given 5 minutes. So I don't blame Christine for this. They decided to make AIWNSG usually a 6 minute song into 2:30. Who the hell would know what they were singing at that point? This is one of many areas that the UK beats us. You guys don't race through - you take your time with things like this... had this been done on your side of the Atlantic, we could've gotten an accurate glimpse of her take on Norma rather than a ridiculous snippet. Hardly worth her - or our time
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Post by saral on Feb 22, 2021 21:20:25 GMT
I gathered it was the Kennedy Ctr Honours due to ALW wearing his award, I got that they shortened it, just thought they would have kept the words right and miss out a couple of verses...it probably comes from too many listens to the Original cast recording
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Post by inthenose on Feb 24, 2021 19:16:50 GMT
Kathryn Evans is the best I've seen live. Absolutely bonkers, funny, good singing - but no turban!
Adored that Craig Revel Horwood production. Much preferred it to the Curve, 2001 tour and ENO versions. Personally (and I know this is a really unpopular view) I'd take Kathryn Evans over Glenn Close as she is now any day.
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 25, 2021 15:08:46 GMT
Even though I was still living in Australia at the time, I did get to see the original Trevor Nunn West End production three times with three different Norma's and Joe's.
First was Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson Second was Betty Buckley and John Barrowman Third was Elaine Paige and Alexander Hansen
Co-incidentally, the first time I saw the musical was my first exposure to Sunset Boulevard. I had never seen the film or was even aware of the story.
My best friend (still my best friend) who I was with had.
I was so engrossed in the story as a whole and the opening scene with the body floating the pool- I still remember it.
I have since seen the ENO production with BurlyBeaR with Glenn Close and Michael Xavier and the touring production at Wimbledon with Ria Jones and Danny Mac.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 26, 2021 7:13:37 GMT
Thinking back to the ENO, the only two things I didn’t like were the “floating” body, and “Unnecessary Norma” lurking around in the background.
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Post by richey on Feb 26, 2021 19:32:23 GMT
Thinking back to the ENO, the only two things I didn’t like were the “floating” body, and “Unnecessary Norma” lurking around in the background. That floating body was just bizarre and actually really distracting where I sat up in the cheap seats as it was just at eye level.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 26, 2021 22:22:53 GMT
I never saw a sausage roll either 😡
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Post by chernjam on Feb 27, 2021 1:06:25 GMT
Interesting - I actually liked the Ghost Norma - I didn't think I would after reading some of you folks reactions to it in England - but particularly during New Ways to Dream and The Perfect Year I thought it was really effective and moving
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Post by theatreian on Mar 6, 2021 23:24:19 GMT
Just thought I would share this clip of Denise Nolan singing 'With One Look'. She gives it some welly!! Costume a bit dubious, but not sure were it was filmed. Denise played Mrs Johnston from Blood Brothers a fair bit back in the day too.
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Post by danb on Mar 7, 2021 7:01:34 GMT
Looks like its from a panto or cabaret or something. She certainly commits doesn’t she.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 7, 2021 8:14:09 GMT
There’s a Documentary on YouTube about the Melbourne production with Debra Byrne and Hugh Jackman. Search: Sunset Boulevard palace documentary.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 13, 2021 9:06:58 GMT
Curve production streaming again 10th to 15th May.
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Post by richey on Apr 13, 2021 12:11:23 GMT
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Post by mkb on Apr 14, 2021 13:13:07 GMT
I know Glenn Close is highly accomplished, but isn't she a bit old at 74 to be playing a character who is around 50, or are they resetting the film to the 70s?
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Post by kimu on Apr 14, 2021 17:24:08 GMT
I know Glenn Close is highly accomplished, but isn't she a bit old at 74 to be playing a character who is around 50, or are they resetting the film to the 70s? Joe: "Nothing's wrong with being 74, unless you're acting 50". Norma: "Get out!" Joe: "So, now it's okay to leave a star?" Norma: "Shut your pie hole!"
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 14, 2021 17:47:04 GMT
I know Glenn Close is highly accomplished, but isn't she a bit old at 74 to be playing a character who is around 50, or are they resetting the film to the 70s? See the previous 65 pages of discussion on this... 😉😂 Yes she's too old for it but she's so synonymous with the show and she gave such a magnetic performance in London that I don't mind. Previous suggestions have been CZJ, Renee Zellweger, Michelle Pfeiffer... some really great choices. I also smile when I picture Cher doing it. CAN YOU IMAGINE! Or if anyone can reanimate Carol Channing. That would be priceless 🤣
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Post by inthenose on Apr 14, 2021 20:50:43 GMT
If it does finally (hopefully!) get made, I can see it being Glenn Close, but it wouldn't be outside of the realms of possibility to go completely the other way and get a different quality actress who is perhaps a slightly hotter ticket presently. The likes of Olivia Colman or Gillian Anderson spring to mind.
Personally I'd love to see Catherine Zeta-Jones do it!
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 14, 2021 21:15:26 GMT
Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson are terrific actresses, but neither of them can sing this.
The tricky part is that it can't just be a good singer either. These songs need to be acted. You also need this woman to have star power that radiates off her. It's a virtually impossible casting challenge really.
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Post by inthenose on Apr 14, 2021 21:25:23 GMT
Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson are terrific actresses, but neither of them can sing this. The tricky part is that it can't just be a good singer either. These songs need to be acted. You also need this woman to have star power that radiates off her. It's a virtually impossible casting challenge really. Couldn't agree more. Really, it's a very narrow pool of the same names that circulated for years. Streep, Close, Streisand. The problem is of course, is this production has been in development hell for so long that the last two I mentioned are too old for the part as written. I picked Colman and Anderson (maybe add Frances McDormand into that) as they all are very popular actresses, with credibility and recent major award wins. Producers that... In Colman and Anderson's case, they've also played larger than life characters very much against type, showing their range and ability to give "big" performances convincingly. Given how out of fashion dubbing is, I'd worry for the singing though as you rightly say.
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 14, 2021 21:35:02 GMT
It's almost a perfect riddle.
There are singers who are famous enough but can't act.
There are actors who are famous enough but can't sing.
There are theatre performers who can sing and act, but aren't famous.
Maybe it's like when you get the builders in and your options are 'good, quick and cheap', but you can only have two of them 😂
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