SUNSET BOULEVARD

[jo]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 11:00pm

After the recent concert performance in Ireland of SUNSET BOULEVARD, there will also be another one in Australia on May 2/3. The concert in Australia will feature Anthony Warlow as Joe Gillis while the recent one in Ireland had Petula Clark and Michael Ball in the lead roles.

Check out --

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/musiclive/whatson.shtml#sunset for the BBC Radio 2 broadcast of the Ireland concert performance -- on Sunday, May 2, 2004 from 18:00 to 20:30 GMT.

I wonder if this is an indication from ALWebber's Really Useful Group that the stage musical is fresh for a stage revival or, even better, a filmization of the musical?

Hope so! Updated On: 4/30/04 at 11:00 PM

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 11:06pm

This has been chatted up for a film. More interest now because POTO film comes out in December. Hugh Jackman is on the "short list" for the role of Joe Gillis and other big names for Norma, Max, etc.

Could be that musicals really are making a big screen comeback.
We'll have to see how POTO is received.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 11:38pm

while i am all for movie musical comebacks, i hope they do not do the original film "sunset boulevard" the injustice of re-making it into alw's musical version.

as tempting as seeing hugh's joe gillis is

[kec]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 5:10am

Well, even if they were to remake the original film, I should think that Hugh could still play Joe Gillis

[Lori]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 10:22am

I was lucky enough to attend both of the performances in Cork. Absolutely fabulous both nights. I had heard and read mixed reviews of Petula's performance in the role in the West End, but I thought she was great in Cork. Michael Ball was amazing as Joe Gillis. I expected him to be the vocal standout (and he was), but he proved himself to be an outstanding actor as well. Emma Williams (the original Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) is a name to watch...beautiful girl, gorgeous voice and she can act! The rest of the supporting cast were all above average, particularly Michael Bauer as Max (great voice).

The show was put together over only 3 days of rehearsals and although billed as a "Concert Version" it was the full libretto. There were teleprompters on each side of the stage but none of the cast used them. The three leads were "miked" so they could act out their scenes, and the show included costume changes for Petula, Michael and Emma. I'd encourage anyone who is a fan of Sunset Boulevard to listen in to the BBC2 presentation of the show on Sunday (should be 1:00pm EST). Well worth listening to (and yes, the three leads all hinted separately at the stage door that there might be additional performances if their schedules could be worked out).

[kec]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 5:19pm

Just moving this to the front in case anyone in the U.S. wants to catch this on BBC2 via the internet. It should be on 1 p.m. EDT.

[jo]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 12:47am

That's 1:00 am in the wee hours -- on this side of the world, KEC

But I'll probably keep vigil - even if it's likely that BBC will replay the broadcast ( or have a LISTEN AGAIN feature).

Jo

[alterego]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 10:04am

Hugh Jackman was Joe Gillis in the original Australian production here in Melbourne back in 1998 (?).

[sharon1]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 4:07pm

Just listened to it. Loved it. Petula was properly demented. Michael Ball sung the sox off the part. Emma Williams has a beautiful voice. Great job by everyone

[mominator]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 4:39pm

oooh, this sounds almost too good too be true.

[kec]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 4:46pm

It was an excellent performance. I've heard that Ms. Clarke was not good when she played the role on stage before, but she sure sounded like a demented, ageing film star to me. The duet between Michael Ball and Emma Williams (Too much in Love to Care) was simply outstanding. I have to confess, hearing Emma do an American accent surprised me -- I'm so used to hearing her British accent from her time in Chitty!

I sure wish they had filmed this for dvd release...

[jo]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:18pm

Great concert !!

Bravo to Petula, Michael, Emma and the actor who played Max!

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:19pm

has the concert already aired on the online radio station?????

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:23pm

i am on the site but i cant get it to replay!!!! is there away to replay the concer???? thanks :)

[jo]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:24pm

Yes, it was played on BBC Sunday night ( May 2). But it's now on LISTEN AGAIN status - not sure how long the LISTEN AGAIN feature runs ( some have mentioned it could be as long as a week on the site)


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/musiclive/whatson.shtml#sunset



Updated On: 5/2/04 at 09:24 PM

[Mollyfair]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 2:43pm

Two and a half hours of sheer heaven!

The orchestration was superb - a 72-piece BBC Concert Orchestra.

Petula Clark was moving and vulnerable in her role. Michael Ball sang magnificently. Emma Williams is definitely a star for the future. Michael and Emma's duet was just beautiful. I am still bowled over by the whole production.

The only jarring note - all the principals could have done with some training by you guys with their American accents! Well dodgy!

[Plum]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 2:54pm

This was my first time listening to Sunset Boulevard, and I was pleasantly surprised. The last ALW score I listened to was Evita, which I really didn't like, but Sunset was much stronger. Some of the upbeat songs were horribly repetitive, but the rest of the score made up for it.

Emma Williams and Michael Bauer were wonderful, and I liked Petula Clark as well, but Michael Ball...not as much. He was good, but I felt like some parts could have been better. I don't know. I'm glad I gave this a listen, though. :)

[kec]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 5:14pm

Actually, Mollyfair, Emma wasn't too bad with her accent. When I first heard her speak I didn't realize it was her until she introduced herself as Betty. I'm told that Michael's American accent was spot on on Friday, but apparently they aired the Saturday performance, and yes, Michael's American accent went back to British here and there

Michael Ball is doing a series of summer concerts in August throughout the U.K. -- I'm going to his concert in Edinburgh. I just found out today that Emma Williams will be one of his special guests, so I've got my fingers crossed that they'll reprise that duet.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 6:08pm

Saw the original show with Glenn Close & enjoyed it immensely. The set was fantastic . A minor flub was during the scene where she visits De Mille on the set of Samson & Delilah where a few stagehands were clerly visible & made no attempt to hide it. Great shw though

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 1:02pm

They used Saturdays performance??? That's nice to know I was there that night.

Brilliant evening!! I can forgive a wandering accent or two :) actually they weren't so obvious in the theatre,as they are on on the radio broadcast.

Amazing evening...........I wouldn't have missed it.

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 01:02 PM

[Lori]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 1:51pm

Yes Ria, it was definitely Saturday night's performance. I was there both nights and on Friday Michael's American accent was nearly flawless, but Saturday he did have a few slip-ups...most notably in the final scene, when he tells Betty the address over the phone and it it's "1086 Sunset Boolevard" LOL! But his acting in the scene was brilliant, so I forgive him! Wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that they rehearsed non-stop from 11am on Friday and went right into the performance. Saturday they didn't start until much later.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 2:12pm

Listening to it now... any pics from the concert? Haven't found any yet. If anyone has a link, please post!
Thanks!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 2:19pm

Well, I answered my own post... I found these! Enjoy!
Sunset Blvd. Concert

[jo]

Posted: 5/7/04 at 10:22am

It looks like the possibility of a film version of the musical SUNSET BOULEVARD is still strong. I have just read this on an online edition of USA TODAY re an interview with Hugh Jackman --

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-05-06-hugh-jackman_x.htm


"...Of>http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-05-06-hugh-jackman_x.htm>http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-05-06-hugh-jackman_x.htm


"...Of course, a movie musical would be perfect. But not just any movie musical. Jackman turned down Richard Gere's lawyer role in Chicago ("I wish I could have seen myself in the part but I didn't — I'm too young") and was otherwise engaged when asked to star in the upcoming Phantom of the Opera. But Jackman does reveal that ' I've been talking to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber about Sunset Boulevard. With the right people, that could really work.'..."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/7/04 at 1:59pm

I saw Petula do the show when it toured and I thought she was the best Norma ever!