I have so many reservations about Ms. Brightman's ability to actually act and convincingly play a character at this point in her career - let alone 6 times a week for an extended run. She is a truly bizarre creature -- she has always had a sort of deer in the headlights look when she performs, and her voice is now a covered hooty thing with enunciation that makes lyrics practically unintelligable. I suspect the performance will be high, perhaps unintentional camp. Yet, her long association with Webber, and her own personal eccentricity makes this an incredible event.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
BCfitasafiddle said: "Cautiously optimistic about this. Love Sarah, love Sunset. Just nervous about her vocals. But if Glenn could do it at 70, Sarah can find a way to do it at 63.
Glad to see Sarah will be back onstage, regardless.
"
Diahann Carroll was around the same age ( early 60s) when she starred in the musical.
Seb28 said: "Theatrefanboy1 said: "a woman who made a living from silent film would not necessarily have a strong voice."
We need to get rid of this idea. This idea is the opposite of everything theatre stands for. This art form and language is the opposite of literal.
Not to mention a lot of the "big" and... well... "theatrical" acting you see in a lot of silent and early sound movies comes as a direct result of the actors being imported from theatre. Performers learning to modulate their acting for the camera didn't come until later.
Theatrefanboy1 said: "I’m curious who else they get in the cast. Brenton Thwaites? Hugh Jackman?(I mean who knows) Jacob Elordi?"
Hugh Jackman as Max? I don't think he'd take a supporting role like that. He is also far too old to return to the role of Gillis after nearly 30 years away from it.
Jordan Catalano said: "Says here she’s only doing 6 shows a week (assuming they’re on an 8 show schedule). I wonder if they’ll get someone else with a “name” to do the other two."
"Cautiously optimistic about this. Love Sarah, love Sunset. Just nervous about her vocals. But if Glenn could do it at 70, Sarah can find a way to do it at 63."
Well I don't think Glenn COULD do it, but it doesn't matter because she had other things that make up for it (i.e. she is an excellent actress and a pedigree of film acting that makes her singing "As If We Never Said Goodbye" pretty powerful). Sarah Brightman has just her voice. I have no idea what state it is in, but I suspect this production will only work if she can deliver vocally.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I wish they could figure out a way to make this happen on Broadway and convince Sarah to do a 6 show week for 3 months. Considering the key changes, I think Renee Fleming would be an interesting choice for alternate and could bring in the opera crowd.
There’s now a teaser video on the show’s social media accounts where Sarah turns up in a car at His Majesty’s Theatre. She hesitates before walking out onto the stage, as if she thinks the Phantom is about to jump out and get her.
sbflyfan said: "There’s now a teaser video on the show’s social media accounts where Sarah turns up in a car at His Majesty’s Theatre. She hesitates before walking out onto the stage, as if she thinks the Phantom is about to jump out and get her.
I think team ALW is fairly confident the London production of SUNSET is going to be very well reviewed. This production is six months away and on the other side of the world
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
I wonder if they announced this now, before opening night hoping that every review would at least in passing, mention this other production next year. Great free advertising.
It looks like she's ready for her comeback. I hope so, always found her to be a real hoot albeit a bit strange - which should serve this character rather well.
As someone who saw Debra in the original Australian production, she should shut her mouth. Her alternative Maria Mercedes was stunning in the roll and should have been cast as Norma for all shows.
Tina Arena would have been spectacular in this, her Eva was magnificent. Having seen Sarah in Phantom a lifetime ago, add me to the list of people who are thrilled this is happening.
I sadly don’t think the season will extend beyond what’s booked in.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
I wonder how much creative input she'll have when it comes to this production. She's notoriously headstrong when it comes to the staging, design and production of her own concert tours, photos, album art and music videos. She also famously works with the same makeup people, costume designers and photographers on a consistent basis.
For someone who's so used to everyone saying "yes" to her, I would imagine there must have been some concessions built into her contract before she'd agree to do this.
"I'm seeing the LuPone in Key West later this week. I'm hoping for great vocals and some sort of insane breakdown..." - BenjaminNicholas2
I would hope, as any actress, she would ultimately surrrender to the vision of her director and designers. Unlike her tours, she is not playing the role of Sarah Brightman, she is being asked to deliver a performance as an actress in a very complicated role.
Truly, the last thing I want to see is the Sarah Brightman as depicted in the trailer in a flowing pink frock and waist lenght hair extensions. Unless her Norma is going to be a riff on Mary Pickford, which doesn't feel right either.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
QueenAlice said: "I would hope, as any actress, she would ultimately surrrender to the vision of her director and designers. Unlike her tours, she is not playing the role of Sarah Brightman, she is being asked to deliver a performance as an actress in a very complicated role.
Truly, the last thing I want to see is the Sarah Brightman as depicted in the trailer in a flowing pink frock and waist lenght hair extensions. Unless her Norma is going to be a riff on Mary Pickford, which doesn't feel right either."
I dunno, I think the idea that she was a Mary Pickford/Mary Philbin/Marie Doro type that is clinging on to how she looked at her greatest moment, like an old Miss Havisham, might be an interesting take.
Feel free to disagree, but if I’m paying to see Sarah Brightman in Sunset Boulevard I’m not sure I’m paying to see the director’s vision. I’m paying for crazy.
CATSNYrevival said: "Feel free to disagree, but if I’m paying to see Sarah Brightman in Sunset Boulevard I’m not sure I’m paying to see the director’s vision. I’m paying for crazy."
Without a proper director's vision you will see a Sarah Brightman concert, vacant, wide-eyed, inflated doll look, singing a few sweet sounding songs.
I dunno, I think the idea that she was a Mary Pickford/Mary Philbin/Marie Doro type that is clinging on to how she looked at her greatest moment, like an old Miss Havisham, might be an interesting take."
If they wanted to base it on any real actress in that mold that they should look to Mary Miles Minter, whose career was ruined in the William Desmond Taylor murder scandel. Still, I don't think those actresses are the right mold when you consider the role of Norma Desmond, as written. Norma, ultimately, is clearly based on Gloria Swanson who was a sex symbol. It's hard to imagine Mary Pickford pining to make a comeback as Salome. I also think a wisened baby doll portrayal would feel a little too Baby Jane Hudson. The piece would lose the sexual intrigue that is important to the Joe/Norma dynamic.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
QueenAlice said: "Norma, ultimately, is clearly based on Gloria Swanson who was a sex symbol. It's hard to imagine Mary Pickford pining to make a comeback as Salome.
the sexual intrigue that is important to the Joe/Norma dynamic."
While still giving Brightman a chance, after all, we can't judge her interpretation just yet, I feel that she is the opposite of a Norma. Norma is a beast. Oozing with temperament, passion, sex and desire. Constant fire in her eyes. I feel that many scenes will be extremely uncomfortable for Brightman as an actress, and it will either be very cringe (if not fully committing to that), or if they dare to go all the way (including making her crawl after Joe like a tiger) it could work in a weird, uncomfortable way.
For what it is worth, the director of this revival has directed SUNSET BOULEVARD before. I'm not sure these pictures are any indication of what we can expect in this new productiont, but they look like a fairly traditional take on the material.
QueenAlice said: "For what it is worth, the director of this revival has directed SUNSET BOULEVARD before. I'm not sure these pictures are any indication of what we can expect in this new productiont, but they look like a fairly traditional take on the material.