SARAH BRIGHTMAN To Star in Australian SUNSET BLVD.- Page 3

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 9:48am

I have so many reservations about Ms. Brightman's ability to actually act and convincingly play a character at this point in her career - let alone 6 times a week for an extended run. She is a truly bizarre creature -- she has always had a sort of deer in the headlights look when she performs, and her voice is now a covered hooty thing with enunciation that makes lyrics practically unintelligable. I suspect the performance will be high, perhaps unintentional camp. Yet, her long association with Webber, and her own personal eccentricity makes this an incredible event.

[David10086]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 9:55am

BCfitasafiddle said: "Cautiously optimistic about this. Love Sarah, love Sunset. Just nervous about her vocals. But if Glenn could do it at 70, Sarah can find a way to do it at 63.

Glad to see Sarah will be back onstage, regardless.

"

Diahann Carroll was around the same age ( early 60s) when she starred in the musical. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 10:10am

Seb28 said: "Theatrefanboy1 said: "a woman who made a living from silent film would not necessarily have a strong voice."

We need to get rid of this idea. This idea is the opposite of everything theatre stands for. This art form and language is the opposite of literal.

Not to mention a lot of the "big" and... well... "theatrical" acting you see in a lot of silent and early sound movies comes as a direct result of the actors being imported from theatre. Performers learning to modulate their acting for the camera didn't come until later.

 

Updated On: 10/10/23 at 10:10 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 10:44am

Theatrefanboy1 said: "I’m curious who else they get in the cast. Brenton Thwaites? Hugh Jackman?(I mean who knows) Jacob Elordi?"

Hugh Jackman as Max? I don't think he'd take a supporting role like that. He is also far too old to return to the role of Gillis after nearly 30 years away from it.

 

[David10086]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 12:03pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I WILL SELL MY ORGANS TO GO SEE THIS"

If you have any extra organs, please sell those, too, on behalf of me so I can go to see this ! This has always been my dream casting. Always. 

If there is an investor in Broadway musicals who still has an ounce of common sense, THIS is what you need to invest in to bring to Broadway ! 

 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 12:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Says here she’s only doing 6 shows a week (assuming they’re on an 8 show schedule). I wonder if they’ll get someone else with a “name” to do the other two."

Debra Byrne is available!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 12:50pm

LOLOL Was that a real statement from her, that was said above? I couldn't find anything.

[binau]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 12:57pm

"Cautiously optimistic about this. Love Sarah, love Sunset. Just nervous about her vocals. But if Glenn could do it at 70, Sarah can find a way to do it at 63."

Well I don't think Glenn COULD do it, but it doesn't matter because she had other things that make up for it (i.e. she is an excellent actress and a pedigree of film acting that makes her singing "As If We Never Said Goodbye" pretty powerful). Sarah Brightman has just her voice. I have no idea what state it is in, but I suspect this production will only work if she can deliver vocally. 

Updated On: 10/10/23 at 12:57 PM

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 1:13pm

I wish they could figure out a way to make this happen on Broadway and convince Sarah to do a 6 show week for 3 months. Considering the key changes, I think Renee Fleming would be an interesting choice for alternate and could bring in the opera crowd.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 2:33pm

I’m imaging her Norma to be something like this, and I’m fine with that! 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 10:39pm

There’s now a teaser video on the show’s social media accounts where Sarah turns up in a car at His Majesty’s Theatre. She hesitates before walking out onto the stage, as if she thinks the Phantom is about to jump out and get her. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyPT4EkylzU/

[Ensemble1686998462]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 11:01pm

sbflyfan said: "There’s now a teaser video on the show’s social media accounts where Sarah turns up in a car at His Majesty’s Theatre. She hesitates before walking out onto the stage, as if she thinks the Phantom is about to jump out and get her.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyPT4EkylzU/"

Now that's a great teaser! If I were in London and I saw this, I'd be fuming lol 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 11:09pm

I think team ALW is fairly confident the London production of SUNSET is going to be very well reviewed. This production is six months away and on the other side of the world 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/10/23 at 11:27pm

I wonder if they announced this now, before opening night hoping that every review would at least in passing, mention this other production next year. Great free advertising. 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 2:04am

It looks like she's ready for her comeback.  I hope so, always found her to be a real hoot albeit a bit strange - which should serve this character rather well.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 11:17am

As someone who saw Debra in the original Australian production, she should shut her mouth. Her alternative Maria Mercedes was stunning in the roll and should have been cast as Norma for all shows. 
 

Tina Arena would have been spectacular in this, her Eva was magnificent. Having seen Sarah in Phantom a lifetime ago, add me to the list of people who are thrilled this is happening. 

I sadly don’t think the season will extend beyond what’s booked in. 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 11:48am

I wonder how much creative input she'll have when it comes to this production.  She's notoriously headstrong when it comes to the staging, design and production of her own concert tours, photos, album art and music videos.  She also famously works with the same makeup people, costume designers and photographers on a consistent basis.

For someone who's so used to everyone saying "yes" to her, I would imagine there must have been some concessions built into her contract before she'd agree to do this.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 12:16pm

I would hope, as any actress, she would ultimately surrrender to the vision of her director and designers. Unlike her tours, she is not playing the role of Sarah Brightman, she is being asked to deliver a performance as an actress in a very complicated role.

Truly, the last thing I want to see is the Sarah Brightman as depicted in the trailer in a flowing pink frock and waist lenght hair extensions. Unless her Norma is going to be a riff on Mary Pickford, which doesn't feel right either.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 10:56pm

QueenAlice said: "I would hope, as any actress, she would ultimately surrrender to the vision of her director and designers. Unlike her tours, she is not playing the role of Sarah Brightman, she is being asked to deliver a performance as an actress in a very complicated role.

Truly, the last thing I want to see is the Sarah Brightman as depicted in the trailer in a flowing pink frock and waist lenght hair extensions. Unless her Norma is going to be a riff on Mary Pickford, which doesn't feel right either."

I dunno, I think the idea that she was a Mary Pickford/Mary Philbin/Marie Doro type that is clinging on to how she looked at her greatest moment, like an old Miss Havisham, might be an interesting take.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 11:43pm

Feel free to disagree, but if I’m paying to see Sarah Brightman in Sunset Boulevard I’m not sure I’m paying to see the director’s vision. I’m paying for crazy.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 9:10am

CATSNYrevival said: "Feel free to disagree, but if I’m paying to see Sarah Brightman in Sunset Boulevard I’m not sure I’m paying to see the director’s vision. I’m paying for crazy."

Without a proper director's vision you will see a Sarah Brightman concert, vacant, wide-eyed, inflated doll look, singing a few sweet sounding songs.

Updated On: 10/13/23 at 09:10 AM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 9:13am

I dunno, I think the idea that she was a Mary Pickford/Mary Philbin/Marie Doro type that is clinging on to how she looked at her greatest moment, like an old Miss Havisham, might be an interesting take."

If they wanted to base it on any real actress in that mold that they should look to Mary Miles Minter, whose career was ruined in the William Desmond Taylor murder scandel.   Still, I don't think those actresses are the right mold when you consider the role of Norma Desmond, as written. Norma, ultimately, is clearly based on Gloria Swanson who was a sex symbol. It's hard to imagine Mary Pickford pining to make a comeback as Salome.   I also think a wisened baby doll portrayal would feel a little too Baby Jane Hudson. The piece would lose the sexual intrigue that is important to the Joe/Norma dynamic.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 9:24am

QueenAlice said: "Norma, ultimately, is clearly based on Gloria Swanson who was a sex symbol. It's hard to imagine Mary Pickford pining to make a comeback as Salome.

the sexual intrigue that is important to the Joe/Norma dynamic."

While still giving Brightman a chance, after all, we can't judge her interpretation just yet, I feel that she is the opposite of a Norma. Norma is a beast. Oozing with temperament, passion, sex and desire. Constant fire in her eyes. I feel that many scenes will be extremely uncomfortable for Brightman as an actress, and it will either be very cringe (if not fully committing to that), or if they dare to go all the way (including making her crawl after Joe like a tiger) it could work in a weird, uncomfortable way.

 

 

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 9:29am

For what it is worth, the director of this revival has directed SUNSET BOULEVARD before. I'm not sure these pictures are any indication of what we can expect in this new productiont, but they look like a fairly traditional take on the material.

 

https://www.paulwarwickgriffin.com/sunset-boulevard

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 3:08pm

QueenAlice said: "For what it is worth, the director of this revival has directed SUNSET BOULEVARD before. I'm not sure these pictures are any indication of what we can expect in this new productiont, but they look like a fairly traditional take on the material.

https://www.paulwarwickgriffin.com/sunset-boulevard"

That production looks very nice. I didn't realize that Jonathan Roxmouth had played Joe.