IF Sunset Boulevard should ever be revived, ...- Page 2

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 12:00am

I don't know, WannaBe!
I'm having major identity issues with BWW.com, mainly, it keeps logging me in as Phyllis Roger Stones, and when I finally log in as myself then it does that with my av. and it even says the wrong info, I'm a member since '05 not '07. It's craaaazy. Thanks for noticing though, it's driving me insane

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:23am

Bernadette would rock as Norma. The only problem would be the amount of singing. It would be another show where she can only speak after the show.

I think that it would breathe some life into the show. It is such a slavish adaptation of the movie.

Who's to say that Norma had to be the Gothic, Harpie, Tradgedian that Glenn Close played. Make Norma a former jazz-baby.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:26am

Chrsitine Ebersole or Patti Lupone. I love Bernadette, but I have to agree with foster- Bernadette will always sound too young.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:34am

Based purely on talent, I throw another vote in for Beth Leavel. But, you guys are probably right that producers would want a HUGE box office draw. Back when Glenn was leaving the LA production to come to Broadway there was a list published in Theater Weekly magazine (I think in Ken Mandelbaum's column) of the possible Norma replacements and there were some very interesting names on it. There were also many laughable names listed as well. Does anyone have this list so they could post it? The only names I remember on it were Liza Minnelli, Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Diahann Carroll (who of course played the role in Canada), and Faye Dunaway (and we all know how THAT turned out - heehe). I think Sally would possibly be an interesting... Does anyone know if she can sing?

Updated On: 2/6/08 at 01:34 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:55am

Well, Sally Field did release an album back when she was playing the flying nun. I'm guessing she can sing the same way that Glenn Close can sing. She'd make a great Norma.
I'd love to hear Streep's rendition of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and "With One Look." Really, if she were to be part of this musical I rather it be the film than a Broadway revival.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:00am

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 02:00 AM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:15am

i know "she couldn't/wouldn't do 8 shows a week," and she's a touch too old, but i would love to see liza's take on the role.

[Fan2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:55am

ContactMusic/WENN isn't the greatest source, but here's something posted yesterday:

>>>LATEST: Veteran actresses GLENN CLOSE and BARBRA STREISAND are battling it out to land the lead role in the SUNSET BOULEVARD remake, according to composer SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. The theatre impresario - who wrote the music for his stage adaptation of the 1950 movie classic - has unveiled Close and Streisand as the front-runners to portray diva Norma Desmond, insisting they're both desperate to win the part. However, Lloyd Webber admits he'll have little influence over the outcome of the contest. He tells WENN, "The remake of Sunset Boulevard is not really under my control. It's really controlled by Paramount, because they own the original movie. I am just waiting to hear what Paramount in the end want to do about it. "It is absolutely true that both Glenn Close and Barbra Streisand very much want to play the part. But I'm slightly with my hands tied behind my back about it." Previous reports suggested Meryl Streep and Dame Elizabeth Taylor were also in the race to play Nora Desmond.

LLOYD WEBBER: 'CLOSE AND STREISAND ARE DESPERATE FOR SUNSET ROLE' Updated On: 2/6/08 at 06:55 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:58am

If it opens in London, I do hope it's either Caroline O'Connor or Sally Ann Triplett, I think they'll be INCREDIBLE as Norma... though still abit young.

Bernadette rocks in ANY role she is in!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:11am

Sally Field has the same issue as Bernadette, perhaps to a lesser degree.

She has that cutesy, adorable, young young girly voice.

And please, I do not want another Norma who cannot sing.

Glenn Close butchered what in my opinion is Andrew Lloyd Webber's most gorgeous score.

The obvious box office draw would be Meryl Streep. It's pretty much a no-brainer.

If Paramount wants to make ANY money and receive ANY Oscar recognition, they won't think twice about it.

Glenn Close and Barbra Streisand won't sell a fraction of the tickets Meryl Streep will, and the Oscars will completely ignore the movie.

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:57am

I guess she wouldn't be enough of a "star," but Victoria Clark I think would be AMAZING!

[TheatreBuzz2]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 7:59am

Peters, Ebersole, Monk even Megan Mullally would be great.

I hope they revive this show soon!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 8:47am

even though I stand by my belief that Charles Busch would make the greatest Norma, I've definitely entertained the thought of Beth Leavel in the role. but then I usually follow it up by insisting Danny Burstein play Max...

and, I'm not sure about Victoria Clark, actually. I love her to death, but I'm not sure I can imagine her as Norma.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:07am

Does it really need to be revived?

Outside of providing a terrific role for a leading lady, the piece is just ... not very good.

The only scene that even comes close to the film (which I must admit I think is just about perfect) is "As If We Never Said Goodbye."

But the rest of it is just pale imitation.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:33am

Patti LuPone or Christine Ebersole. My money is on Patti. Close is more likey than Babs, but something tells me of the four, there are only three who have a shot at actally

Never been a fan of the show. Although Michael Ball as Joe doing the song SUNSET BOULEVARD gives me CHILLS... the good kind. That song-done right- is the best part of the show.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:41am

If this is ever revived again, it needs to be someone with a strong presence and voice. While most of these suggestions could act it, strong belt vocals really need to be in place to sing "This time I am staying, I'm staying for good I'll be back where I was born to be. With one look I'll be me!"

While my Whitney Houston suggestion was somewhat tongue in cheek, I do expect Broadway to look to pop vocalists to cast this the next time around.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:29am

If this is ever revived again, it needs to be someone with a strong presence and voice. While most of these suggestions could act it, strong belt vocals really need to be in place to sing "This time I am staying, I'm staying for good I'll be back where I was born to be. With one look I'll be me!"

yes, exactly. although my test is always the "I've come home at last" part in "As If We Never Said Goodbye". and Patti is pretty much the best ever, IMO. I loved seeing Christine Ebersole sing it at the Kennedy Center Honors (blunder and all), but...I just don't feel it. on the other hand, Patti was too young when she played the role in London, meaning even she wasn't perfect.

I don't think the show will ever be revived, because I think it's a horribly bloated show that honestly had so much potential. I mean, let's look at the source material. Billy Wilder's movie is pretty much as close to perfection as you can get. what made it all wrong? ALW did, honestly, write a great score, as repetitive as his scores tend to get. The lyrics, though? they're not so good. I believe it was Patti [or maybe I'm just making that up] who said that the show would've done better if he hadn't been so focused on having a hit. I read somewhere else that the book suffered because they were too busy with this enormous clunky set. the show needs a lot of work before it's ready for a serious revival.

or they could go in the total opposite direction and play it for camp. but I honestly don't think ALW is willing to have his work taken for anything less than s00per srs biz.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:41am

Sarandon would be a great idea, but I don't think she can sing. Maybe she could do the movie. Maybe Madonna? HEE HEE.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:54am

"yes, exactly. although my test is always the "I've come home at last" part in "As If We Never Said Goodbye".

I had thought about that, and it should be belted, but an actress could get away with not belting it by giving it a sentimental interpretation or using a grand gesture with little vocal support. I didn't particularly like Petula Clarke's interpretation because she did that and wasn't as fierce as I think Norma should be. To me the test is the ending of "With One Look". If the actress can't blow the audience's wigs off with that song, then there's no use coming back for Act 2. LOL.

Updated On: 2/6/08 at 11:54 AM

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 11:57am

"Sarandon would be a great idea, but I don't think she can sing. Maybe she could do the movie. Maybe Madonna? HEE HEE."

Um, you are kidding, right? Rocky Horror...

That aside, I do doubt her voice would be strong enough for the role.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:22pm

Oh I was kidding!!!!
Sarandon has always reminded me of Swanson, especially as she ages.I know she can't sing,but she is a hell of an actress. This is the sort of show that we won't see again until Encores does it in 2015. The Madonna thing was a huge joke

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:09pm

Marin Mazzie

[BkCollector]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:11pm

Leslie Uggams

[dchesnutny]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:40pm

If Charles Busch doesn't work.. how about Nathan Lane? he'd make the show enjoyable. ...

[choitoy]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:33pm

"While my Whitney Houston suggestion was somewhat tongue in cheek, I do expect Broadway to look to pop vocalists to cast this the next time around."

EEKKKKK!!!! You said it again when I made a request that no one ever mentions this again!!! LOL!!!

Anyway, with all the arguments going on over a good singer/belter, I remember wayyy back when I had to do a review of a theatre show that I saw for a class in college. Faye Dunaway was touring as Maria Callas in "Master Class", and I took it as an opportunity to comment on her being kicked out of Sunset.

While I agree that Dunaway only had a passable singing voice (unless she was directed to sing her part in Master Class a little more cracked), I could have still seen her as Norma. What's funny is that why would a silent screen movie star who couldn't make it into the world of talkies for whatever reason (age, acting, VOICE), why would she posess a great singing voice. I think this is what drew me to Glenn Close's interpretation in the first place. She is not the greatest singer, but does fine on her own style. It has been more about the acting and the journey that she takes from broken down actress who has a (delusional) glimmer of hope of returning to celebrity and stardom, to broken down madwoman, so whipped up over lust and broken dreams that she kills a man. Glenn Close, while I do agree that she did play it a little over the top at times, put across this despiration the best for me. It was a little more about the acting than the singing.

I actually think the biggest problem with the show was the specticle of the mansion coming up and down. It was too much to concentrate on, both during pre-production and during the shows run, that the book did seem to suffer a tiny bit. Though the Petula Clark tour that came through with just the suggestion of the mansion (mostly done with just the staircase, a few pieces of furniture, and a lot of curtains) seemed a little too sparse.

Oh, and reading that mini-article that Elizabeth Taylor was once in the running made me die from laughter asphyxiation! Even on her best day in the last 10 years, she couldn't get through a whole day of doing it!