Did Kevin Anderson get fired from Sunset Blvd with Patti Lupone?

In Nothing like a Dame Patti says that "Kevin was fired" and comments that "that's not talked about". Anderson didn't get particularly good reviews in London so I don't think he was ever meant to cross over: several critics in the States pointed out that Alan Campell sang the role better, although his acting wasn't the best. At Patti's last performance on March 12th 1994 the role of Joe was played by Gerard Casey, so Kevin must have left even before Patti did.

Updated On: 7/10/20 at 07:03 PM

imeldasturn said: "...several critics in the States pointed out that Alan Campell sang the role better, although his acting wasn't the best."

Ain't that the truth. Granted I saw Sunset Blvd. on Broadway a few times as a young babe and thought that Alan Campbell was pretty dishy but had a moment a few years ago when listening to the American Premiere Recording where I thought to myself, "God, that is a terrible line reading, Joe," several times in the first act.

If anyone can further elaborate on why Kevin Anderson and his amazing head of hair didn't make the trip across the pond, please let us know.

I listened to the London recording a lot when it first came out, and I loved Kevin Anderson. In my opinion, he captured the cynical, jaded, blasé character perfectly, and I wish I could have seen him with Glenn and Betty. Alan Campbell was meh, on the recording and on stage. His delivery was just too cheesy for me.

Updated On: 7/11/20 at 10:05 PM

Dollypop said: "I have never met Kevin Anderson but Patti told me he was fired along with her."

He left the show in London months before Patti & from what I remember reading in that (Shawshank Redemption) Evening Standard article quoted above he stated that he removed himself from the toxic environment of Sunset Boulevard in support of his co-star’s treatment (and his own mental health) - effectively ruling himself out of the Broadway run. A shame as he was head and shoulders above any other London Joe & I could never bear listening to Alan Campbell on the American recording. Kevin’s vocals by the end were significantly stronger than those on the OLC album and previews. I can’t stress how great he was in all regards - Truly New York’s loss. (Though I’d say that about LuPone’s Norma as well).

Updated On: 7/10/20 at 10:34 PM

I saw the LA production prior to its move to Broadway with Judy, Allan and Glenn. Having heard the London recording, I'm glad I saw Alan. I thought he was perfectly fine in the role. And IMO, Kevin Anderson really didn't outshine him. Some may prefer him, but I thought AC was very good in the role. And I don't see Joe Gillis as a humble character at all. So if KA played him that way, I wouldn't have liked that. He isn't self-assured at all, but he's pretending to be, hence the contrived cockiness. I think Campbell's take is better.

Anyone who's ever met (or worked with) Patti knows that it's best to take whatever she says with a grain of salt. That being said, I recall her writing about Anderson in a rather snide, backhanded way in her memoir. To paraphrase, it was essentially: Poor Kevin. He thought what happened to me wouldn't happen to him. Fired or not, his motorcycle accident and subsequent recovery would have rendered it impossible for him to open the New York production.

Always loved TOO MUCH IN LOVE TO CARE!

Here's another version -- please click on the link.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hugh+jackman+too+much+in+love+to+care&refig=185047faecf74fff86522f82da204ba0&sp=1&qs=HS&pq=hugh+jackman+&sk=PRES1&sc=8-13&cvid=185047faecf74fff86522f82da204ba0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dhugh%2bjackman%2btoo%2bmuch%2bin%2blove%2bto%2bcare%26form%3dANSPH1%26refig%3d185047faecf74fff86522f82da204ba0%26sp%3d1%26qs%3dHS%26pq%3dhugh%2bjackman%2b%26sk%3dPRES1%26sc%3d8-13%26cvid%3d185047faecf74fff86522f82da204ba0&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=2B6D284CDD4759CDFFB22B6D284CDD4759CDFFB2&FORM=WRVORC

Trevor Nunn cast the actors who played Joe Gillis presumably in the early run. I wonder who his preference was for casting the role on Broadway?

Later on, he cast the Australian production ( see above link) -- and discovered Hugh Jackman. He later cast him in Oklahoma! for the then RNT.

I saw John Barrowman twice -- the first one was with Betty Buckley and the second one was with Elaine Paige, both in London.

It was the musical itself which enthralled me - love this score... and I thought both stagings that I had seen were well-performed.

scripps said: "If we're going to go on a detour, I'll do my part:"Sunset Boulevard" (Hugh Jackman)

Someone above mentioned seeing Bryan Batt understudy and I'm jealous (and I've tried to find "audio" of that for years). John Barrowman had his fans, did anyone manage to see him? I can't say I've been too impressed by what I've found. Anyone see Ron Bohmer on the ill fated tour?

To bring it back to the topic of this thread and the decade I came of age in, here's Kevin Anderson and Julia Roberts trying on hats in a cutesy montage from Sleeping with the Enemy:"Brown Eyed Girl""