Norma in Sunset Boulevard transfer — Page 2

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).

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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.

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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.

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

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.

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

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.

"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.

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

When is this thought to be scheduled for, anyway?

Yes, the actors accompany themselves.

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.