GUYS & DOLLS, SPIDER WOMAN & Block in SUNSET BLVD at the Kennedy Center — Page 6

I have pretty much opposite feelings about it. Overdone, arch and not a nice vocal sound to my ears. And that spin back to the piano?
Enjoy it if you go, and I’m glad some folks love what they’ve seen, but this clip has made the decision for me to skip it.

TaffyDavenport said: "Derek Klena sings “Sunset Boulevard":

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpKj7Wo/"

All the cynism that makes the song is wasted on his one note interpretation. Shame.

Sunset was my first Broadway show.
I don’t know, when they first announced this I felt Stephanie was wrong for the role. I feel like she’s conducting a loud seance in that clip. I’m rooting for her though

TaffyDavenport said: "Derek Klena sings “Sunset Boulevard":

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpKj7Wo/"

Did he totally butcher the last note or did the clip time run out on TikTok?

Another case of contemporary physicality and random gestures in a period piece. A guy in the late 1940s wouldn’t do half the stuff Derek did. If he hasn’t watched any movies from that time, he maybe should.



Edit to add: Found the full song on his tagged Instagram. Last note was flat as a pancake with a weird bottoming-out yelp at the end, followed by an “aw shucks” kick of the leg. How is this a leading man of musical theatre. Alfred Drake is spinning in his grave.

Updated On: 1/25/23 at 07:50 PM

blaxx said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Derek Klena sings “Sunset Boulevard":

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpKj7Wo/"

All the cynism that makes the song is wasted on his one note interpretation. Shame."

Frankly, I always thought that the song itself was a comically blunt, witless, one-note idea of cynicism.

I have an extra ticket for the 2/4 8pm performance. Looking to get face value back ($109) Row O seat 6. It's a physical ticket so we'd have to meet to do that handoff.

I wish they had waited a bit to record/release these. These are clearly early rehearsal videos where they're just focusing on learning the music, and here everyone is judging the entire performance based on it.

(Knowing that these are early rehearsal videos, I'm still quite excited for this cast.)

Damn! They are both chewing a lot of scenery in an empty room!

They're gonna be out of control when they get a set to chew on!

PipingHotPiccolo said: "All due respect to Ms. Block--who is surely talented and seems like an incredibly lovely person!--I have never been the biggest fan of her over-stylized pronunciations, almost like an SNL caricature of a Bway stahhhh. And this clip was ROUGH on that score. Yikes.

Ironically, while I didnt see the Cher Show, I thought that role was perfect for her because its so exaggerated/over the top. (And I did think she was lovely in the clips I saw from Into the Woods). But this seems irredeemably off the rails."

jacobsnchz14 said: "SJB sings “As If We Never Said Goodbye”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cnz6MB_Jrvi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y="



Love Stephanie but hated her interpretation and how she sounds. We shall see ...as we have tickets for Feb 4.

Nathan I bet will be amazing Max as for Derek as Joe - eh!

Betty Buckley is my favorite Norma and was lucky to see her at the Minskoff. She's my one and only Norma. Just WOW! Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c5Xovcjp00

I’m glad I had waited on getting tickets. Derek’s casting already gave me pause, but these videos did nothing to sweeten the pot, IMO - and I’m a massive fan of SJB.

Block is honestly kind of hit and miss for me. I feel like she’s often trying to do too much, and that’s the case in this video. But at least it feels like she’s doing something, unlike Klena. He’s got the look, he’s got the voice, but I just don’t find him interesting at all as an actor.

Glenn Close sang AS IF WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE at the Royal Albert Hall for a celebration of ALWebber's birthday.

What a magnificent performance! This is Norma Desmond!