Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
chanel
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/04
#1Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 10:38am
Having played the ingenue in the Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, etc, she now soared with "As If We Never Said Goodbye" at Feinstein's/54 Below.
Scroll down to "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves".
http://www.out.com/michael-musto/2016/2/08/why-do-so-many-lgbts-hate-each-other
Updated On: 2/8/16 at 10:38 AM#2Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 6:09pm
That would be an inspired casting choice.
TerrenceIsTheMann
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/15
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#5Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 6:31pm
Would it require any acting?
#6Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 6:34pm
Just One Look Sets The Screen Aflame...

#8Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 6:49pm
I'm kind of obsessed with this.
#9Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 6:58pm
LOL that Carrie gif!
I don't really think she's the right actress for the role. She's got the crazy, and I'm very pleasantly surprised at how her voice has bounced back from Next to Normal. But I just can't see her pulling off the glamour and grandeur. But with a strong director, it's possible. I'm sure someone will let her do it regionally at some point.
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#10Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 8:45pm
Her 54 Below "As If We Never Said Goodbye" is OK I guess, but this wouldn't make me rush out and buy a ticket with her in the role.
Updated On: 2/9/16 at 08:45 PM
broadwayboy223
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
#11Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 8:50pm
Behind the distorted vowels and weird vocal placement is a good actress. I think Alice could do Norma well.
#12Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/8/16 at 11:18pm
I had the pleasure of seeing Alice Ripley sing Norma live last weekend at 54 Below and she was amazing. Now mind you I'm biased because I also saw her Margaret White and she blew me away. Her performance in Carrie is one I will never forget and I still think she should teach a master class on dying. But I digress. Her version of "As if We Never Said Goodbye" was one of many highlights of the evening and one that garnered a standing O - not that those mean much anymore, but in a cabaret setting it's pretty cool to witness. She told the story of standing in the wings each night watching all the Norma Desmonds sing the number. She listed all the ones that she watched, she must have played Betty for several years and studied them all. Anyway, I was struck at how well she interpreted the lyrics. I feel like a lot of Norma's rely on heavy makeup, costumes and that damn turban to play the role - Alice didn't have any of that and it felt very raw and real. Her voice was amazing and I am pretty sure she was singing in the original LuPone key. I would love to see her in a revival of the show on Broadway. Done correctly it could be amazing.
#13Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 9:55am
If I'm not mistaken, Alice played Betty the entire Broadway run of SUNSET.
#14Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 10:25am
Never thought about this but this was amazing! i think she would do wonderful.
Shrek3
Featured Actor Joined: 2/1/16
#16Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 10:36am
Broadway Bob* said: "If I'm not mistaken, Alice played Betty the entire Broadway run of SUNSET."
Yep!
http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Cast/2334/Sunset-Boulevard-at-Minskoff-Theatre
#18Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 11:44am
Broadway Bob* said: "If I'm not mistaken, Alice played Betty the entire Broadway run of SUNSET."
Yep!
http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Cast/2334/Sunset-Boulevard-at-Minskoff-Theatre
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except for the night i saw it lol
mtcond
Chorus Member Joined: 5/20/14
#19Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 12:01pm
She could certainly sing it better than Glenn Close, though probably never get to the level of Betty Buckley or Linda Balgord as far as the score goes. The biggest problem would be the temptation to play "crazy Norma" from the top of the show. Her Margaret White was amazing because she was nuts from the start, with flashes of frightening clarity throughout. Her inconsistencies in "Next to Normal" were the same. I saw her be brilliant early in the run, but later she played the show bat-**** crazy for the entire evening. Norma is haunted and disillusioned and self-deluding, but she doesn't go off the deep end until her desperation for Joe (and intense desire for a "return"
take her there. It takes a real, grounded, disciplined actress to give us all of those colors, not just an exciting personality unafraid to play crazy. She's not an uninspired choice, just a risky one.
#20Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/9/16 at 9:18pm
Alice was Betty the entire run except sadly the final shows, she was scheduled off far in advance for her brothers wedding.
bryan2
Broadway Star Joined: 12/19/06
#21Alice Ripley as Norma Desmond?
Posted: 2/10/16 at 11:38am
her voice is so shot...she sounds awful now...I don't see it at all...Her Margaret White was off key and just plain bad
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