SARAH BRIGHTMAN To Star in Australian SUNSET BLVD. — Page 14

Jordan Catalano said: "New promo video released by the production "

Thanks. No new footage.

Lol Jordan, well maybe it's looking good for you. Have you been to Sydney/the Opera House before? (assuming this is where you are seeing). Also a stunning venue to see too. 

So Jordan...made your choice?

She makes Beanie seem like a trooper.

The costuming, including hair, aren't doing her any favors.

I agree, clearly mismatched. It's interesting that comments are turned off for this video.

This whole production has been bizarre to watch from afar.  The set and lead up to Melbourne seemed appropriately hyping things up.  Then the reviews (audience and critics) seemed to say what many of us suspected, that Sarah Brightman was miscast in this.  Then weeks of Sarah absent with Silvia taking over many (most?) of the performances due to Sarah's injuries and illnesses and getting lots of acclaim.  Now three months later they FINALLY release a substantial clip of Sarah actually singing in the show?  And not to pile on negativity on her, but having seen many Normas and knowing the score, they carefully selected the least impactful moments of that song... Not sure why they didn't just release Sarah from her contract at this point - blame it on the injuries and go with Silvia for the run in Sydney.

I wanted to go back and just could t bring myself. It still is the worst performance I’ve ever seen on any stage. 

I love me some Sarah but she sounds like she’s auditioning for the Chipettes

“I’m coming out of make-uhh, the lights already burney!

Not long until the cameras will start turney!”

Curious when this was filmed. Didn't people say she improved all of that when she came back from her injury?

I've only seen her in the national tour of Aspects of Love, in which she used her full voice but decidedly favored her classical sound. She was vocally and physically robust, a decisive factor in her success there (if one liked both the show and her overall performance, which was chilly). As I noted above, I'm not necessarily against this fragile, flute-note-centric Norma. If Brightman were acting the song with this register, it might be heartbreaking, as I said above. But she's singing  as if in a concert, a diva past her prime, not Norma Desmond finding her buried sense of artistic purpose. The song bursts with rebirth and epiphany. Brightman seems to believe it's about explaining herself to the gathered grew. Or something. The interpretation lacks intent, motive. It's just a set of ideas about a comeback. 

Updated On: 8/29/24 at 11:30 AM

rosscoe(au) said: "I wanted to go back and just could t bring myself. It still is the worst performance I’ve ever seen on any stage."

Wouldn't go that far. I've seen some community theater acting that was way worse.

Sarah was never an actress. She could sing less operatically, I guess, when she was younger, but she's been relying on that opera sound for so long it's her default setting. She sounds like an old woman in a choir. And I grew up loving her in her prime.