Norma in Sunset Boulevard transfer- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:23pm

I think I could handle anyone but Petula or Glenn. I missed seeing this during my last London trip. Simply not enough time. But my friends saw it and all loved it. Honestly, I would be happy to see Betty again, but it would be nice to see a new Norma.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:24pm

But can the audience really believe that Kathy Bates was once a beautiful silent film star? (Yeah I know. We never believed it with LuPone).

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:26pm

Sunset had already extended before it closed so it actually closed later than originally planned.

Audiences loved Kathryn Evans in the show and she was not a star name but after the reviews people went to see what the critics were talking about.

Whoever said the production was expensive knows nothing about this production, it hardly had a set and only had a few actors who also played the instruments.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:36pm

I said Sunset Boulevard was an expensive show, but I wasn't talking about the London production. I was talking about the Broadway production. My point being is that if Americans are going to pop $150 per ticket, they need a star and a magnificent set. Karen Ziemba and a black curtain ain't gonna cut it.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:38pm

I would love to see Sunset come back, idiotic lyrics and all, but the London production was not that good. It did the Doyle thing but to no artistic effect whatsoever, and it just made no sense.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:49pm

See, I thought it was a stirring production. Material is what it is (though I wasn't familiar with it prior to seeing the London version), but it has a really strong melody (singular, as it's the same one that's repeated in every song).

The concept worked as well as it did for SWEENEY TODD; quite frankly, I thought Horwood's production was far stronger than any of Doyle's.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:52pm

I didn't think it was awful and I agree that the melody is lovely. In Sweeney Todd, I felt like the concept was relevant because it was new and exciting, but more importantly there was a reason--the production had that whole Asylum performance theme going on. In Company, the instruments were all used throughout as metaphors. Here, I felt like it was just to save money; I never got why they were doing it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 3:58pm

The orchestra of Norma's mind? Notice that she was the only one who never played anything.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 4:06pm

Why are people commenting that "so-and-so" doesn't have the vocal chops? We're talking about a theatre role most Americans associate with Glenn Close. She certainly couldn't sing it, but that didn't seem to bother anyone. Why would they pick someone who can sing this time around? The most important factor seems to be box office appeal.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 5:24pm

I think so many people seem to forget just how young Norma really is. Just following the timeline of Gloria Swanson's career and life as a parallel to Norma's, then Norma should only be 50 or 51. Let's actually look at actresses in their mid 40's to early 50's, as opposed to those who are now over 60 (i.e. Kathy Bates, and now even Glenn Close for those who still think a movie will actually be made any time in the near future).

And I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of somebody like Vanessa Williams, thanks for putting that idea in my head those who've mentioned her.

[Shawk]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 5:58pm

I thought the use of instruments was much more cohesive in Sunset than it was in Sweeney.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 6:02pm

Kathryn Evans performance in THE FIX, particularly her drunken dirge "Spin", pretty much defines the word "fierce". Listen to "Cleaning House" from THE FIX and the word "fierce" will pop up on your ipod. It really will. Or should.

I would do anything to see her on a Broadway stage in this or anything else.

Interestingly, Linda Balgord played Evans' role in THE FIX in its American Premiere after having just finished understudying Norma on Broadway for nearly its entire run.

P

P.S. Patti and ALW are oil and water... Patti being water, the source of all life... and ALW being oil, another word for grease.

P.P.S. Bernadette is the only Broadway performer I can think of who is appropriate for the role and who could get butts in seats for Norma and a black curtain. Plus, she has previously won a Tony for her role in an ALW show so ALW may consider her for Bway.
Updated On: 6/15/09 at 06:02 PM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 6:37pm

50 is the ballpark age range. It's referenced in the line at the end of the show-"Nothing's wrong with being 50, unless you're acting 20".

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 6:43pm

Interesting point, Yankeefan.

And it is kind of funny that Norma is only 50, I think it's wise to cast an actress a little older. I was watching Sunset Boulevard on TCM the other night and, don't get me wrong, it's pretty much a perfect movie, but it bugs me that all the characters act like Gloria Swanson is such a washed-up old bag and she really doesn't look bad in the movie. I mean, she's intentionally freakish, but she's not a mummy.

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 6/15/09 at 7:28pm

>>>"But isnt it true that sometimes NY audiences will flock to see someone who got amazing notices in another production overseas."

Can you name a production where this happened? <<<

Les Miz, Phantom... in today's time, Norman Conquests.
I saw the production in March and loved it! I knew of Kathryn Evans because of The FIX. Ironically, I didn't know she met the height quota like Elaine! But no massive staircase in this one.

I also liked the fact they had dedicated that production to Gerry Schoenfeld. I nearly cried when I saw that.

[choitoy]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 4:33am

"Interestingly, Linda Balgord played Evans' role in THE FIX in its American Premiere after having just finished understudying Norma on Broadway for nearly its entire run."

PGenre, you're mixing up Normas here. Karen Mason understudied nearly the whole run. Linda Balgord did the first American tour that played only three or four stops before closing up shop because it was too dang expensive for a replica of that set to be shipped around, and that no one knew who Linda Balgord was as the time (except for a few Sondheim fans that knew she was the understudy for Fosca in Passion). Then a different tour came back many years later with Petula Clark and a much scaled down set (I'm so glad that I was able to catch Diahann Carroll in Vancouver Canada).

Anyway, to stay on topic, I saw a clip of Kathryn Evans doing "With One Look" on the Paul O'Grady show, and I think she does a fantastic job. If it does transfer, I hope that they can get a recording done, as it would be interesting to hear the actor/musician orchestrations.

[ladybegood]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 7:42am

Kathryn Evans was really very good indeed. And it would be nice is she could get to do the transfer. Vocally, she was just stunning! And although some still seem to not grasp it, whatever Broadway might be thought to expect or deserve, this is NOT a "BIG" show transferring. It might be big in stature, but it is very small and relatively inexpensive as far as such productions go (from necessity at the original Watermill Theatre). So in a very small theatre, for a limited run, the normal necessity to have to have the "name" might not be so crucial.

But in respect of Norma in general, the point with her only being around 50, is that it has to be seen to be reasonably easy for Joe to be seduced. She is supposed to be a faded beauty, not in, or nearing, her dotage. And when Norma is too old, too physically unattractive, too obviously unhinged, it becomes gross that he would go there. It effectively changes the nature of the relationship and the whole story.

[ladybegood]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 7:53am

But re the transfer, is anything substantive actually known about when or where it is scheduled for?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/16/09 at 8:31am

How about Ellen Greene?

[ladybegood]

Posted: 6/17/09 at 3:07pm

When is this thought to be scheduled for, anyway?

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 12:41pm

I'm not familiar with this new production. Is it just like the Doyle Sondheim shows where the actors play all the instruments and there is no orchestra at all?
Also on a related note.... Anyone know if there is an Original Broadway cast recording of Sunset? I did a little research and can only find the "American Premiere Recording" with the LA cast. Was a B-Way recording ever made or was it considered kinda unnecessary since the only major casting change from LA to BWay was Alice Ripley? That's actually why I was looking for it. I cannot imagine her singing Betty and wanted to hear it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 12:51pm

Yes, the actors accompany themselves.

[Tag]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 12:54pm

Cher!
(Wasn't she supposed to do it in Toronto?)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 1:04pm

Interestingly, Linda Balgord played Evans' role in THE FIX in its American Premiere after having just finished understudying Norma on Broadway for nearly its entire run.

Exactly. You're confusing Linda Balgord with Karen Mason. Balgord NEVER appeared in the Broadway production in any capacity. Karen Mason was the show's official (and only) Norma standby during its entire Los Angeles and Broadway run.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/3/09 at 3:51pm

I really hope this comes over! This is my favorite Webber show, and I think the material was overshadowed by the production values. Not saying it's a masterpiece, but it's not bad.