Liza in SUNSET BOULEVARD- Page 3

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:14pm

Pardon me for being a little off base here - I'm not that familiar with the show (I've seen it once and that was enough for me) but I saw Glenn Close singing With One Look on television and then I've listened to the recording - and what drives me crazy is that the last word of the song is "ME" and she sings "MAY"...It's horrifyingly bad.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:16pm

Yes, redhot, because she does not possess the skill to sing that "ee" vowel on that ending note. She can't help but sing "ay", the easier vowel.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:20pm

"What is the beef with Glenn?"

Her voice for one. I can't listen to the Broadway recording for that reason alone. I also thought she went way over-the-top in her performance. She was clownish and I had no feeling for Norma at all. Ditto with Petula. Betty Buckley blew them both away.

I also think Liza would be a fantastic Norma. Her work on Arrested Development demonstrates that she can still generate sympathy in her loony characters AND that she can be believable in a non-glamorous way.

For the record, I'm severely disappointed that Dunaway is doing the film version of Master Class. I saw in the role and left at intermission. Zero charisma, wooden and totally unbelievable. Zoe and Patti both embodied Callas and commanded the attention from the audience from the moment they set foot on stage. You believed at once they knew everything about opera and singing. Faye walked around and delivered the lines almost completely devoid of meaning. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:30pm

oh don't get me started on Faye Dunaway - I think she'll butcher Master Class if it's filmed - I heard Dixie Carter and Patti Lupone were both marvelous in it on Broadway - I saw Zoe Caldwell and she totally blew me away - brilliant.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:37pm

"I think she'll butcher Master Class if it's filmed"

Oh, it's being filmed, redhot. As we speak. I have friends in Argentina, and they were filming in their neighborhood a couple of days ago. Thing is, I can't find a damn thing about the production anywhere. Not even on IMDb, which usually lists movies that are in the works. I'd like to know who's directing it. Anyone?

Updated On: 2/18/05 at 12:37 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:50pm

Everybody loves Rita.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:52pm

HEYYYY YOUUUUU GUUUUUUYYYYSSSSS!!!

That's my Rita impression.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:59pm

doesn't really come across when it's written down though

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:00pm

I used like six different Search Engines--couldn't get a drip of info on the "Master Class" film.

Sorry, Curtainup2.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:00pm

I know, pop. But I'm not as good at it in person.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:08pm

And there doesn't seem to be anything about it in Variety, which usually knows about every production.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:09pm

Dunaway was notorious for holding the opening night curtain on virtually every stop of the Master Class tour, sometimes for over an hour. Audiences were furious.

[DAME]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:00pm

I saw her do it in Los Angeles and thought she was way over the top. But I never heard that she held curtain. As a matter of fact I have always heard that she was the ultimate professional. And I believe in a union house she wouldn't get away with that kind of behavior.

But anyways... back to Liza. Has anyone gone to her concerts this weekend?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:08pm

I worked box office for the Master Class tour. It was pretty well-known at the time. She pulled the same stunt in Houston.

[DAME]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:09pm

Wowo. Well do hope the union penalized her then. Thats too bad. Shame on her.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:15pm

Why was she allowed to get away with it even once, let alone more than once?

[DAME]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:23pm

Thats why I find it so unbelievable. In a union house that kind of behavior is undeard off.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:27pm

And what kind of company mansger allows the star to behave in such a manner? If it were me, I would just put the understudy on and have said so called "star" escorted from the building.

[DAME]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:30pm

Well; since the Star was one of the producers and in essence the boss... I would imaging the managers hands were probaly tied up. But.. I really doubt the union let her get away with this.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:47pm

When I worked on THE PIANO LESSON, Charles Dutton would show up at 7:57 three - four nights per week. His understudy would be costumed and ready every time. Then Dutton would run in, grunt at whoever was standing in his way, and hurry into costume. I never understood why he was allowed to get away with it.

[ElTico68]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:49pm

I find that so disrespectful to your fellow castmates and production crew. I hate it when I'm in a show and the *star* thinks they can get away with more.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:50pm

I know - I always felt so bad for his understudy.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:51pm

I admit behavior that is being posted is highly unprofessional--but at least the artist eventually shows up.

Everyone knows that if you go to see a show starring Donna Murphy, you're playing Russian Roulette regarding whether or not she will even show up at all for that performance.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:54pm

Everyone knows that if you go to see a show starring Donna Murphy

Not any show, just Wonderful Town. From what I gather, her attendance record has been fine for all her other shows.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:57pm

Pop, its my understanding that towards end of her run in THE KING AND I, she began missing shows on a somewhat frequent basis--although she did not generate the highly negative publicity she did for being a no-show during WONDERFUL TOWN.