How was Rita Moreno in Sunset Blv.?

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 1:40pm

I just saw that she played the role for a short period and can see her being interesting in the role! How was she?

[greensgreens]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 1:54pm

YES! Inquiring minds must know...

And perhaps even more importantly, how was Faye Dunaway. Surely someone somewhere who isn't under a gag order must have been in those rehearsals and knows exactly what kind of performance that could've been!

[twinbelters]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 2:14pm

Been watching OZ and am falling in love with Rita all over again. She is so amazing. I'm sure she was wonderful as a mere presence, but that score might be a bit demanding for her.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 2:31pm

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 3:15pm

Apparently Faye couldn't sing the role. ALW seems to cast a lot of people then fire them.

Roger Moore anyone?

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 3:20pm

Was was Roger Moore cast in?

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 3:25pm

Roger Moore was originally to play George in Aspects of Love.

I heard somewhere I think on the London board that Rita was dreadful in the role

[greensgreens]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 3:56pm

Well, we know she couldn't sing, but what I want to know is more nuanced... Just how bad was it? Just amateurish or literally nails on a chalkboard?

I'm more of the camp that he used Patti & Faye as scapegoats to hide financial woes and concerns of the production, which were really the ultimate motives for his decisions. But, we may never know...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:04pm

Here... have a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZGbFwWsVDA

[Weez]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:10pm

Ooh, thank you! Y'know, I've heard much worse. And I bet she acted the S*** out of it! I'd MUCH rather have a vocally sub-par Norma who can nail the crazy than the best singer in the world who doesn't bring a single chill to my spine. :3

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:34pm

Like Glenn Close? Or did she over do it?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:34pm

Or you can have Betty Buckley and enjoy the best of both worlds! One of the best performances I've ever seen.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:47pm

Betty Buckley - nailing the crazy since 1982!

I'm not sure if I want to get into a discussion on the specific merits of people who have played Norma, as I've only seen one onstage (Kathryn Evans - also nailed the crazy and the vocals! ), and the rest of my actual knowledge is based on cast recordings. But for what (little) it's worth, I do favour my Glenn Close recording over my Patti LuPone one.

... is it just coincidence, or is there something more sinister afoot that three Normas mentioned in this thread have all been in Oz? XD

Updated On: 1/28/10 at 04:47 PM

[greensgreens]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 4:55pm

Yes, Betty was frightening. I mistakenly got front row for her performance and literally held onto my seat during some particularly frightening moments. Her "New Ways To Dream" on the EP they put out is one of my most cherished of all the Sunset recordings.

I also really enjoyed Helen Schneider from the German cast, she nailed it all as well, but seemed a little youthful at times (probably b/c she was the youngest Norma of the bunch I think). Petula Clark and Linda Balgord would definitely be my least favorites. Good voices, but very bland performances.

At one time wasn't there talk of Chita Rivera doing the Canadian version? I think that would've been really incredible and her take on the role (especially the vocals, if they're in her range at all) would've been decidedly different and potentially wonderful!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/28/10 at 5:15pm

Personally, I think Diahann Carroll was the best Norma Desmond of the ones I've seen. I never saw Buckley, but I think she would be the best.

I am seeing Rita with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at the end of February and I am excited. Can't wait to see this living legend!

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 5:57am

As much as she gets slate, the best Norma, in my opinion, was Elaine Paige.

She just nailed it. She shoul dhave done it originally.

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 7:38am

I have Rita's insert that has 3 other pics of her, but I can't be bothered to scan it

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 8:43am

I would have LOVED to have seen Moreno. I'd also love to see this show revived with Vanessa Williams, who could nail both the crazy and the singing.

[The Other One]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 9:10am

Rita sounds pretty good singing Just One Look. I saw her sing Some People on Rosie's show around 10 years ago and she was not up to it at all (she was well over 60 at the time) so this was a pleasant surprise.

[goodoneinlou2]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 10:28am

I am a MAJOR fan of Sunset. I find it to be ALW's best score by far. It's highly underrated, and often looked over.

IMO, Elaine Paige's take on Norma was the best. She sang the songs beautifully, and actually delivered the character powerfully. She looked so much like Gloria Swanson it was uncanny! The only flaw was the fact she was so small in stature. The set literally swallowed her up.

Glenn Close's Norma was fantastic. The acting was so good that it masked the fact that she didn't quite have the pipes for the upper notes. She sang it really well, but her voice tended to go "fruity" on the higher notes. She owned this role. I'd kill to see her in it again.

Patti Lupone seemed sub par to me. She couldn't act the role, was too loud, too boisterous, too sing songy, too Ethel Mermany. I kept waiting for her to break out into "Some people can get a thrill..." and that was waaay before she ever played Mamma!

I hear Diahan Carroll (SP?) was mediocre in the roll. I didn't see her perform it, however know 2 people that did. I do own the cast recording and vocally she was sub-par. Many keys seem lowered to fit her register. BTW - Rex Smith - eeeyikes! He sounds as though he sings every song with his teeth clinched.

Linda Balgord (National Tour)sang the role well, and her acting was passable. However she lacked any sort of "presence" and star power. She too was swallowed by the set. That having been said, Ron Bohmer was by far the best Joe IMO.

Betty Buckley.... ick. It still amazes me that so many hold her in such high regard. I find her vibratto voice so off-putting that I avoid listening to her sing. There's times that her voice quivers as much as Cher's. Quite frankly I got the feeling Ms Buckley thought she was the savior of the show and far superior than it. When in fact, I just couldn't get past the idea that I was watching Abby Bradford in drag.

I skipped Petula's version. I was curious, but just couldn't bear to see it without the full scale mansion. After all, the true star of the show was the set.

I never saw Rita. (Heeeeey you guuuuys!) However didn't the show close in London after she took on the role? Enuff said.




Updated On: 1/29/10 at 10:28 AM

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 1:39pm

I could be wrong, but I dont think it closed with Rita, I remember Rita only being a limited run and Petula came back to close it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 1:50pm

The set literally swallowed her up.

Really now...

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 1/29/10 at 3:20pm

sitting front row center watching Betty Buckley in this role was the musical theatre equivalent of a religious experience.

[Fanb]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 9:52pm

Glenn Close's acting was great, but if I'm going to listen to the cast album, I prefer to listen to a singer - Patti.

[cliffarico]

Posted: 1/30/10 at 11:15pm

Lizzie, Elaine is barely 4'11", I think that is what he meant by The set literally swallowed her up. He probably should have written figuratively.