Carole was amazing (her "Meadowlark", while different than Patti's, is simply wonderful), and I'm sure if the Director/Producers had fired Topol, the love that exits between the two characters would have been there and they would have been able to focus on the real problems: The Book, The Set, and The Orchestrations.
The Book: It was not the strongest thing for a musical, especially when the movie (which had no singing) was great. Merrick thought that the show as too long (despite only running two hours) and thought That "Meadowlark" was too long and got the point across in seven minutes in what could have been done in three (hence the three minute version that was heard in Boston). The song was simply amazing and should never have been cut, in full or part. The weakness of the book led to heavy revisions that left the show with VERY short scenes between the songs by the time it graced Washington (by that time the show ran 100 minutes with the full "Meadowlark"). The show was almost sung-through, the only real scenes were Exposition (after "Chanston") after The Wife leaves (After "Meadowlark") and right before the Finale.
The Set: Served its purpose but, like Sunset Boulevard, moved, but you never knew when. The Cafe would turn during "Gifts of Love" and Patti would have to ignore it, no matter how obvious.
The Orchestrations: BRASS. There was not nearly enough Strings, which you need to invoke a feeling of the French Countryside. The only song that really got this was "Meadowlark" (Especially at the very end, after the long held "And I" when the strings trill and hit the final note - Simply Stephen at his best).
NOW ABOUT "SUNSET BOULEVARD": Patti was fired because of Andrew Loyd Webber, no one else (not the producers). He was so sensitive to bad reception and not only did he revise the show for LA, he lowered the keys for Close (this might not seem like much, but to Patti it was personal as he had refused to lower the keys for "Evita", even though she was killing her voice). After Close got the rave reviews and he wanted her for Broadway (once again for the reviews), He didn't want to be seen as the bad guy so he tried to blame the producers, Paramount, and others that they wanted Close, but they all called BS on him, leaving him to deny that it was him and him alone to choose Close (But we all know it's him).
PS I Personally love both portrayals of Norma, but I though Close went overboard on the crazy (leave it for the end, so it's a shock), and Patti went a little light on it (until she was fired, then she OWNED it). But, if I had to choose a CD, Patti all the time (Close can act, but her singing...)
Updated On: 5/15/13 at 07:56 PM
