Best Desiree in 'A Little Night Music' ?- Page 2

[HunterK]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 1:35pm

I must add that I thought Emily Skinner, Prince of Broadway, nailed "Send in the Clowns." I know it is one song Desiree sings, but she was able to transform in the character and give a strong and beautiful interpretation. 

[Cesare2]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 4:26pm

Saw both Glynis Johns and Jean Simmons.  Both were wonderful on stage and recorded.  It would be hard for me to choose who was the better.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 4:32pm

I was introduced to this show by the film and enjoyed it very much. Elizabeth Taylor has chemistry with Len Cariou in their book scenes. The cuts to the score are harsh but I enjoy the new "Glamorous Life" and Diana Rigg's additional verse to "Every Day A Little Death." 

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 5:11pm

I thought I never wanted to hear "Send in the Clowns" again but Peters' take on it was so fresh and emotional that I'd vote for her.

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 12:10pm

It's been a VERY long time, but I recall liking Blair Brown at the Kennedy Center production - roughly 20 years ago. That had a great cast: John Dossett (Frederick), Randy Graff (Charlotte), Douglas Sills (Carl-Magnus), Sarah Uriarte Berry (Anne), Natascia Diaz (Petra), Barbara Bryne (Leonora Armfeldt), Kristen Bell (Fredericka). I don't recall the year, but it was summer and there were three Sondheim musicals in rep and then another three Sondheim musicals in rep.

I think Judith Ivey played Desiree in a production in LA almost 20 years ago as well, but I'm not sure.

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:09pm

Judy, Judy, Judy. (supported brilliantly by Siân Phillips and Patricia Hodge)

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:18pm

Please don't revive this show if you can't do the original set and blocking (yes, sorry for the plagiarism).  The show just isn't the show without that set and movement.  No matter WHO you cast.  

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:48pm

Skip23 said: "Please don't revive this show if you can't do the original set and blocking (yes, sorry for the plagiarism). The show just isn't the show without that set and movement. No matter WHO you cast."

The original set with all the sliding panels etc at The Shubert NY.? This was my third Sondheim after Company and Follies. I saw it with my late Aunt who initiated me into theater going with trips to Hello Dolly, Mame and Hair. I dragged her to Follies when she wanted to see No No Nanette. Lol.  Glynis John's and Hermiorne Gingold were wonderful. 

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 2:58pm

Dom P said: "Skip23 said: "Please don't revive this show if you can't do the original set and blocking (yes, sorry for the plagiarism). The show just isn't the show without that set and movement. No matter WHO you cast."

The original set with all the sliding panels etc at The Shubert NY.? This was my third Sondheim after Company and Follies. I saw it with my late Aunt who initiated me into theater going with trips to Hello Dolly, Mame and Hair. I dragged her to Follies when she wanted to see No No Nanette. Lol. Glynis John's and Hermiorne Gingold were wonderful."


Yes...the original Boris Aronson set and Hal Prince/Patricia Birch staging.

 

Those are my 3 fave Sondheim shows.

 

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 8:17pm

KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "I thought I never wanted to hear "Send in the Clowns" again but Peters' take on it was so fresh and emotional that I'd vote for her."

I loved her too, but a lot of people in this board think she's useless.

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 8:24pm

blaxx said: "KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "I thought I never wanted to hear "Send in the Clowns" again but Peters' take on it was so fresh and emotional that I'd vote for her."

I loved her too, but a lot of people in this board think she's useless."

IMHO Bernadette Peter's is far from useless. I remember having seen her wonderful performance in "Song and Dance" at the Royale. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 9:26pm

Dom P said: "blaxx said: "KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "I thought I never wanted to hear "Send in the Clowns" again but Peters' take on it was so fresh and emotional that I'd vote for her."

I loved her too, but a lot of people in this board think she's useless."

IMHO Bernadette Peter's is far from useless. I remember having seen her wonderful performance in "Song and Dance" at the Royale."

Just saying, these boards are not kind to her.

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 11:55pm

Bernadette was my fave revival Dolly.

 

Not good in ALM or FOLLIES.

 

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 12:31am

Bernadette's Clowns was stunning and heartbreaking, but towards the latter half of the run, she started overacting it a bit too much. She did the same thing with "Losing My Mind" later in the Follies run. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 3:33am

blaxx said: "KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "I thought I never wanted to hear "Send in the Clowns" again but Peters' take on it was so fresh and emotional that I'd vote for her."

I loved her too, but a lot of people in this board think she's useless."

Mmm I agree people have been quite critical of her over the years. Whatever - if people can't see and hear what she did with "Clowns" in Night Music and much of the Follies score (particularly In Buddy's Eyes) that's their loss. We literally had Sondheim's muse performing Sondheim on Broadway with recommendation and input from Sondheim himself. These are memories I will cherish, always. If people can get their kicks from Staunton or similar croaking out the same songs, or perhaps someone whose voice is healthier but more boring, good on them. I can't see the appeal, personally.

---

As for Zeta-Jones, well she couldn't do "Clowns" like Bernadette could and she may not be Christine Ebersole or one of our greatest stage actors of all time, but I thought it was a beautiful, glamorous event evening at the theatre (particularly with Lansbury alongside) and that sense of excitement and wonder was slightly lost once Bernadette and Stritch took over in my opinion (which I wasn't expecting as I was most excited for Bernadette of course!).

I don't remember CZJ being considered as erratic until the Tony performance happened (nor do I personally think what I saw on stage was anything like the Tony performance). At the time I said it would destroy people's perception of his performance, and I think it has. I hope that the fact she has a Tony Award for this performance suggests to people that there might have been something worth seeing there. I would also say I don't think this sense of glamour has been captured in any other Sondheim revival on Broadway since. Even Jake G in Sunday felt surprisingly low key and understated in comparison in my opinion (and I was at the final performance!).

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 6:11am

https://m.facebook.com/watchthisinc/videos/send-in-the-clowns-sung-by-nadine-garner-with-john-omay-md-daniele-buatti-the-na/1142122489929602/
 

Hopefully this link works, Australian actress Nadine Garner, her Send In The Clowns in the theatre was absolutely stunning. 

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 12:39pm

CindersGolightly said: "I don't know about my opinions on Desiree's - I'll have to think on that - but how good was Erin Davie as Charlotte? She is a masterful Sondheim interpreter."

I was gonna post something about Erin's performance until I saw this post, with which I agree 100%. (Her delivery of the line "Happy Birthday to me" even standing alone, was brilliant. I also liked Leigh Ann Larkin in that production.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 2:56pm

Johns and Peters in the theater, Dench on disc. I saw Simmons at the Kennedy Center and missed the character’s humor. We forget what a relatively small role it is, certainly for a leading lady, requiring every moment of stage time to be illuminating and magical. The blandly forgettable Virginia McKenna in London reminded me: you must bring something personal and specific. Johns and Peter’s made that case. 

[The Other One]

Posted: 8/15/23 at 3:34pm

Glynis Johns was magical as Desiree.  I have seen a few others - Katharine Hays, Dorothy Tutin, Bernadette Peters -- but though all were good none of them equaled, let alone eclipsed, her.  

There are two who never got to play the role who, to quote Sondheim's lyrics, would have been wonderful: Audrey Hepburn and Lee Remick.  The Audrey idea never got beyond the talking stage, but Lee was about to go into rehearsals for a production in LA when the cancer that would eventually take her recurred.  Lois Nettleton assumed the role.  I loved her, but, alas, I did not see her.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 4:25pm

The Other One said: "Glynis Johns was magical as Desiree. I have seen a few others - Katharine Hays, Dorothy Tutin, Bernadette Peters -- but though all were good none of them equaled, let alone eclipsed, her.

There are two who never got to play the role who, to quote Sondheim's lyrics, would have been wonderful: Audrey Hepburn and Lee Remick. The Audrey idea never got beyond the talking stage, but Lee was about to go into rehearsals for a production in LA when the cancer that would eventually take her recurred. Lois Nettleton assumed the role. I loved her, but, alas, I did not see her."

Ooh, Audrey Hepburn and Lee Remick both would have been wonderful. Now I have to wonder if Audrey was ever considered for the movie or if it was built around Taylor's casting?

Another in the dream casting, realm, and maybe a divisive take, but I think Ann-Margret would have made a delightful Desiree, nailing both the glamour of the role, but for some reason I also see her giving it an earthiness that sometimes is lacking in the casting. And if we are talking a revival in the next few years, I think she'd now make a wonderful Madame Armfeldt. 

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 4:29pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "The Other One said: "Glynis Johns was magical as Desiree. I have seen a few others - Katharine Hays, Dorothy Tutin, Bernadette Peters -- but though all were good none of them equaled, let alone eclipsed, her.

There are two who never got to play the role who, to quote Sondheim's lyrics, would have been wonderful: Audrey Hepburn and Lee Remick. The Audrey idea never got beyond the talking stage, but Lee was about to go into rehearsals for a production in LA when the cancer that would eventually take her recurred. Lois Nettleton assumed the role. I loved her, but, alas, I did not see her."

Ooh, Audrey Hepburn and Lee Remick both would have been wonderful. Now I have to wonder if Audrey was ever considered for the movie or if it was built around Taylor's casting?

Another in the dream casting, realm, and maybe a divisive take, but I think Ann-Margret would have made a delightful Desiree, nailing both the glamour of the role, but for some reason I also see her giving it an earthiness that sometimes is lacking in the casting. And if we are talking a revival in the next few years, I think she'd now make a wonderful Madame Armfeldt."

I agree Elizabeth Taylor was a legend. But why oh why cast her as Desiree? 

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 4:43pm

Hepburn would have been lovely in the movie, but Taylor was wonderful; I have no problem with that casting. One of the least disgraceful post stage casting performances... Peters was very good; Dench was sublime. I have a soft spot for Sally Ann Howes in the City Opera performance which was filmed live... yes, she has far too much voice for the role but she makes it her own and her SITC is heartbreaking and she has the right amount of 'diva' for the role. Gorgeous. 

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 4:53pm

Musicaldudepeter said: "Hepburn would have been lovely in the movie, but Taylor was wonderful; I have no problem with that casting. One of the least disgraceful post stage casting performances... Peters was very good; Dench was sublime. I have a soft spot for Sally Ann Howes in the City Opera performance which was filmed live... yes, she has far too much voice for the role but she makes it her own and her SITC is heartbreaking and she has the right amount of 'diva' for the role. Gorgeous."

The film is available on Dvd on Amazon. Im going to revisit. Yes to your opinion on Audrey Hepburn. What a gorgeous, talented, actress and human being.

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 8:22pm

I was a big fan of the last revival and got to see Jones, Peters, and (understudy) Jayne Paterson and they were all phenomenal and brought different qualities to the role.  Jones had glamour, Peters had pathos, and Paterson had joie de vivre. I did think that the production as a whole was elevated and more humorous when Peters and Stritch came in.

[The Other One]

Posted: 8/16/23 at 10:42pm

"Another in the dream casting, realm, and maybe a divisive take, but I think Ann-Margret would have made a delightful Desiree, nailing both the glamour of the role, but for some reason I also see her giving it an earthiness that sometimes is lacking in the casting. And if we are talking a revival in the next few years, I think she'd now make a wonderful Madame Armfeldt."

Too earthy for Desiree, if you ask me, but her young self would have been a wonderful Petra.  The Sondheim role that best fit her is Phyllis. I wish Follies had been filmed in the mid-80s to mid-90s, when she was most right for it.