Glenn/Petula

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:25pm

I've only seen 2 Norma Desmonds (well three if you count Gloria Swanson).

I thought Glenn Close was amazing, not so much for her voice but for her electricity.

I was not wild about Petula Clark in any way.

Who is your favorite Norma Desmond?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:27pm

Miss Elaine Paige.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:55pm

Did anyone see Diahn Carrol?

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 2:35am

Betty Buckley

[JMVR]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 3:05am

I saw Betty Buckley in London and her Norma was an incredible tour de force. You can't believe such strength and power are emanating from that tiny person . . .
I also saw karen mason and she was a strong Norma too . Sadly, the day I had tickets to see Glenn the Tonys were being broadcast from the Minskoff so the matinee was cancelled. Here's another one that would make a a good mvie musical . . .

[jo]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 5:10am

I saw Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige play the role of Norma at the West End. And of course there were glimpses of Glenn Close ( in the ALW Celebration video) and the Broadway OCR, and some video clips and the London OCR featuring Patti Lupone. I was also able to see the documentary on the Melbourne production with Debra Byrne ( together with Hugh Jackman) in the role of Norma. Likewise, there was a recent concert version of SUNSET BOULEVARD broadcast by BBC Radio in which Petule sang the role of Norma with Michael Ball as Joe.

They all bring something outstanding to the interpretation, except I was somewhat disappointed with Petula's rather weak vocal interpretation ( though she seemed quite good on the emoting side, at least from what I could discern from what she sang - songs and recitatives).

If there were a movie, I would like to see either Glenn or Barbra handle the role of Norma.

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 05:10 AM

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:00am

I only saw Petula, so I can't compare.

[fae]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 7:49am

i saw elaine paige as norma on broadway.... and linda balgord in the national tour.
linda balgord gets my vote... she was amazingly vulnerable.

[fae]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:10am

by the way... what ever happened to linda balgord? i believe she was in "cats" just before it closed and then it seems she just dropped off the face of the theatre world. does anyone have any information on that one?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:49am

Elaine Paige was phenomenal...I saw her first performance in NY and she got a standing O the moment she stepped on stage and the applause barely died down a bit after that - it was a very electric night (I, personally, don't like the show at all because I am not a Lloyd webber fan) But seening Elaine was worth the price of the ticket, Possums!

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:50am

Patti LuPone was by far the best Norma vocally -- don;t only go by the London recording as that was done prior to opening and with little chance for her to grow into the role -- on stage she was so much stronger with more personal interpretation of the music. ANd she is one of the few who sang the role as written

Total package Norma, Betty Buckley -- vocally powerful AND personal and the only Noram I saw who I believed that Joe could have "fallen" for.

I thought Glenn Close was dreadful -- I don't remember who said it in the time -- it may have been Frank Rich, but she seemed like a Kabuki (sp?) doll...almost a caricature of the character -- and her version of With One Look and As if We Never...well it sounded like a cow trying to pull her hoof out of the mud.

Petula -- let me tell you about a message I left for a firend of mine after that one...."Hi Mark, it's me...well I am in Portand and the national tour of SS is here, so why not go out one night during a business trip -- let me tellyou sweetie, save every single penny you have so when this tour with Petula Clark comes to Chicago you can spend those pennies you have saved AND GO SEE SOME OTHER SHOW....

Those are my Normas....

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:55am

I got to London the night after A Little Night Music closed. I wanted to see Judi as Desire badly. Free tix to River Dance were available but I decided to pay and see Petula in Sunset Boulevard. I had liked Glenn on Broadway. The money was not well spent in London and btw I was convinced that cast was having fun by throwing in a guy to play a woman in the number where they were sprucing up Norma.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 8:57am

Well Redhot, it looks like you and I are the only ones who can appreciate the glory that is Elaine Paige.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:05am

Debra Byrne was amazing in the Melbourne production (opposite Hugh Jackman as Joe).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:32am

Betty Buckley was fantastic. She was sympathetic and not over-the-top. Her presence commands the audience's attention.

Petula Clark was cartoonish and camp.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:35am

I still hope someone who saw Diahn Carrol will chime in. :)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:37am

I saw Buckley and Mason. Mason sang it so beautifully - I wish hers had been the voice recorded on the OBCR - however, she couldn't ground herself in the character. She seemed too youthful.

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 09:37 AM

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:38am

you are so right about Petula Matt -- I cringed when she did With One Look and "popped" into a Kewpie Doll pose...UGH!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Glebb -- only heard Diahn -- would have liked to have seen her but did not get to Toronto...

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:38am

i saw Betty Buckley on Broadway but my preference is for Patti LuPone... i have the Glenn, Patti, and Diahann recordings... I wish there was a Betty recording... Updated On: 8/5/04 at 09:38 AM

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:44am

Thanks KMF NYC. :)

BTW, I saw Patti LuPone in EVITA, ANYTHING GOES, MASTER CLASS, and SWEENEY at Lincoln Center.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:47am

me too -- if you can get to Chicago Labor day weekend, you'll have treat with Patti and Audra in a concert version of SUnday in the Park -- I'll be there! She was AMAZING last year in Passion

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:48am

There is a Betty recording, but it's not the complete score. She recorded three or four songs for a CD while she was performing the show on Broadway.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:49am

Ravinia?

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:51am

They did a small recording when Betty was the broadway cast...
Surrender
New Ways to Bream (edit...oops, got excited)
With One Look
As if we Never Said Goodbye
It's pretty wonderful -- there are aslo some "live" recording of Betty doing With One Look and As if on her Carnegie and London concerts....

Updated On: 8/5/04 at 09:51 AM

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 9:52am

New Ways To Bream??? LOLOLOL... i didn't know there were OLD ways to do it!!!

I know what you meant... LOL!