Glenn Close in Sunset Blvd revival

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 7:13pm

Does anyone know if this is actually happening?  Riedel suggested it was going into the Palace in January.  Any word?  Or just another example of Riedel speculating? 

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 7:50pm

... it's happening.... just be patient 

Updated On: 10/11/16 at 07:50 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 7:59pm

Do you yourself know this as fact, rangersrule132?

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 8:12pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Do you yourself know this as fact, rangersrule132?

 

"

it is factual, unless something changed since mid September.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 8:48pm

It is indeed happening.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 9:01pm

the real question is WHY is it happening

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 9:26pm

gypsy101 said: "the real question is WHY is it happening

 

"

Because she is available.

Because Webber wants to.

Because it made enough money in England to spark interest stateside.

Because, as a barebones production, it will likely make money.

As long as it really does make money, then it's not a bad idea. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 10:29pm

Oh great! More crap on Broadway! Now I can truly sleep well at night! 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 10:33pm

Sunset has been victim of a bad rap...

It came out during the last, waning days of ALW'S height...

The music and lyrics are some of his best...

[Oak2]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 10:52pm

I love ALW and would love to see as many of his works live as possible. Just from the cast recording, I'd love to see this, though is it true that if this does come, it won't have that big impressive moving staircase set that was in the original? I read somewhere that it wouldn't be in the newer production, but might have been mistaken.

I honestly wouldn't mind of ALW had even more works on Broadway at the same time. Though for me personally, I really want to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Starlight Express get revivals again -t hose are the two I REALLY want to see live. I LOVE what I have heard/seen of them!

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 10:56pm

Yes, that big staircase and set will not be present...This production is very pared down...

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 11:20pm

Would love to see any revival of Sunset - but with someone that might be able to sing it.  Whatever happened to Donna Murphy leading a revival?

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:27am

Love SB...my favorite ALW show. Not to hijack this thread, but with all the revival chatter here and in London, does a film version ever get discussed? I haven't seen anything. I'd love to see a film version. Love Glenn but I'd like to see another actress in the film. 

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:58am

Always felt Close was a bit horsey for the role.  Would love to see a film version, not a filmed stage version.

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 1:00am

Doubt ALW would allow another Norma fiasco and go with someone else for a film version (or a broadway revival for that matter since Glenn seems to have hijacked it like Carol Channing in Hello Dolly)

I'd love to see Meryl Streep in the film of it.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 3:11am

There should never be another film of Sunset Boulevard. 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 3:51am

Something of a grand finale for The Lord?

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 10:29am

Grand finale?  Is he going somewhere?

[Sauja]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 11:09am

I would say that the first act of Sunset Boulevard is quite strong, but that second act, with its seven reprises, the musical low-point of the show (the title song), and the flailing of the book to try to do SOMEthing with the Joe and Betty storyline...it has never worked for me. There are great moments in the show, but it feels like it didn't pull off what it was going for. And truly, nothing can touch the film. Will I still go see Glenn do it? Sure. But my expectations will be quite tempered.

[newintown]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 11:43am

After suffering through Close hooting her way through the score and acting the role like a deranged drag queen twenty-two years ago, I'll pass on what can only promise to be a macabre experience at best, a snoozefest at worst.

However, that iconic movie will always be welcome.

Updated On: 10/12/16 at 11:43 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:09pm

To help with many questions, what is being brought to Broadway is the concert-style staging that was recently done in London with Glenn.  It is not a full-scale production.  The orchestra is on stage and there is use of scaffolding sections to represent locations.  Norma's staircase is represented very minimally.  The only full-scale prop used is Norma's towncar.  It's a minimal concert-style production.  

 

This is what the staging looks like: 



 

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:10pm

To find someone like Gloria Swanson today who could pull off the role is probably impossible.  She had that rare mixture of surface hardness and inner vulnerability, lapsing into madness, that was a once in a lifetime thing: the perfect actress for the role and the times.  Handsome actresses like Streep and Close, while great performers in many ways, would have credibility problems portraying a once great beauty. I wish VivienLeigh could be cloned and brought back.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:13pm

Also, many seem to forget that Norma Desmond is 49-50 years old not 70 like many assume.  She's not a crazy old lady.  Gloria Swanson was 49 when the film was made.  

[LarryD2]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 12:21pm

Betty Buckley remains the ultimate musical Norma, and the only one who could come close to approaching Swanson's brilliance. She is the only actress I've seen who didn't play Norma like a raving loon from the first moment. And she was around the same age as Swanson when she played the role.

The show itself, though, really isn't good. The lyrics are pedestrian and the music isn't memorable. It's not as offensively bad as some of ALW's other compositions -- but that's like saying a wet diaper is better than a s*itty diaper.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/12/16 at 1:43pm

The character is larger than life...the nuisances that Swanson could play in the film simply could not be recreated in a huge musical theater production...

I maintain Close acted the role best, followed by Paige...