Glenn Close in Sunset

Saw the matinee yesterday and, well, tbh, I was somewhat disappointed. I saw the original at the Adelphi many times, the U.K. tour and also the Kathryn Evans revival a few years back and enjoyed all of the versions.

The main disappointment was actually Glenn Close. I know she has received unanimous rave reviews, but I was massively underwhelmed, even with her acting. i wasn't expecting fantastic singing (she clearly finds this score difficult now), but I was expecting a masterclass in acting. I actually found Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige's versions much superior. Close completely flubbed lines two or three times, especially during her final 'mad' scene and she rambled slightly to 'get it back', but it was very noticeable.



The introduction of the ghost of young Norma just didn't work for me. The montage at the end (whilst Betty was on the road to Norma's) showing, I assume, the random thoughts of Joe towards Norma and her actions worked well though.

The pared-down production itself works well and the music sounded beautiful. In my opinion, however, the reviews completely flattered Close. I didn't see her as a star turn at all (certainly not in the league of Staunton's performance in Gypsy). I wanted to like her, but was unmoved and slightly 'so what's all the fuss about?' at the end. She was well-received, though, and got a standing ovation - but I just couldn't really see why. I really felt I had seen better Normas.

I've seen LuPone, Close, Buckley, Paige, Clark as well as Daniela Ziegler and her alternate Cristina Grimandi in Germany. All these ladies brought in something special. If all of them I think Betty Buckley was the best.

Having said that, I saw the premiere of the ENO production as well as the second performance and will be there at the last show (Sunset is an old favorite!). While it did not feature my favorite Norma, Glenn Close was fantastic in every imaginable sense, and the production, though a staged concert, captured the grandeur and the essence of the original version, luckily erasing memories of the recent actor/musician nonsense that was on the West End a few years ago (I saw that too, but don't count that along with the second US tour). I don't think this is a conversation of the best Norma when it comes to this production, although with no doubt the Brits showed much appreciation and love to Glenn Close. A few years ago when Patti LuPone did her concert at Leicester Sq Theatre with Seth Rudetsky, she performed With One Look for the first time because of the overwhelming demand and love of the show in London amongst its fans. I think it just showed that London actually LOVES Sunset Boulevard, and that there is warm welcome to just about any formidable Norma.

Sorry, but she stinks singing that role 30 years ago. I can't imagine it now.

Patti forever!

^ Thank you. I wouldn't really say Patti stank because she is a magnificent talent and pretty much a living legend.

The problem with Patti's Norma wasn't entirely her fault. Patti was misdirected from the start. Andrew Lloyd Webber wasn't too involved. The creative team only really figured it out once they did the production in LA with Glenn Close, where Nunn and Lloyd Webber were very hands on and decided to up their game. They opened it in London again based on LA with Betty Buckley (divine) and John Barrowman and it finally clicked.

I seriously think that if the show re-opened again with Patti basing it on the LA blue print, she would have been much better. Her singing was of course beautiful.

Updated On: 4/7/16 at 03:02 PM

imeldasturn said: "Come on, Patti wasn't good in it. Yes, the score she had to sing was harder, but she sounded exactly like a owl and her acting was a true embarrassment. It's her worst performance after Passion and A Little Night Music. I mean, even Patti said she wasn't perfectly cast for the role, just perfectly cast to sing it.



"

Actually, I find LuPone rather brilliant on the OLC recording. It's the show that stinks, not she. Granted, she doesn't look like a woman who would have been a silent film star, but I believe I could get past that if I ever saw her play it live. (No, I am not one of the LuPonistas, just giving credit where credit is due.)

I DID see Close in LA, twice. Her camping hid the weakness of the material somewhat, but ultimately she and the show were simply dull. Don't get me wrong: I think Close is a very, very talented film actress; I just haven't found her exceptional in stage musicals (and I am counting BARNUM).

Updated On: 4/7/16 at 10:58 PM

imeldasturn said: "Come on, Patti wasn't good in it. Yes, the score she had to sing was harder, but she sounded exactly like a owl and her acting was a true embarrassment. It's her worst performance after Passion and A Little Night Music. I mean, even Patti said she wasn't perfectly cast for the role, just perfectly cast to sing it.



"

Tend to pretty much agree with this. While Patti can sing, she could never act the role like Close. Glenn Close fully embodies the role. I'd argue Paige has done the second best job. I don't believe Patti was able to convey that necessary sense of vulnerability to the audience, which is desperately needed when playing this role.

I have always felt for Patti regarding the way ALW handed the situation. She deserved better. At least she was paid out.

Updated On: 4/8/16 at 08:36 AM

I don't know what Close did in New York. In LA, she played Norma Desmond as if she were playing Cruella DeVille. She got laughs, not pathos.

I saw Close 20-odd years and 400 or 500 performances ago!

Nobody should base his ticket buying on my opinion. (I'm not saying you are, Giants.) As I said above, she's a very talented lady; I just felt her take on Norma was more from the outside, whence Norma must seem more than a tad ridiculous. At least on the recording, LuPone plays the character from the inside, with heartbreaking effect, whether or not anyone believes she is actually a silent film star. IMO, obviously.

I thought Paige was the best of them, having seen just about all (except Petula Clark and Diahann Carroll). In a way, she was the only Norma unafraid to borrow freely (steal, if that works) from Gloria Swanson. I thought it was Swanson's performance with songs added; she looked uncannily like her. And in a way, it gave the material new life, oddly enough. But Close put her mark on the show, and I thought she was fearless for not eschewing the outre aspects (how do you wear that drag and avoid inhabiting it fully?). Buckely, who so many here prefer, to me played the end of the show from the top, the victim Norma rather than the one fighting for the comeback. I thought her performance was by far the best sung, but devoid of humor, not even for an instant. I will stick with Paige.

Updated On: 4/9/16 at 09:48 AM