Sunset Blvd Changes Question

OK I'm sure at least a few people will answer this with "not enough" but... Is there a list of, or a good website listing, the changes made to Sunset Blvd from its original London production to the US productions (and later reworked into London?)

The only cast album I own and listen to often is the Canadian cast--partly as that's who I saw in 1996 Vancouver and partly because I think the one disc is ideal--I love the show but there isn't any music left off it I feel the desire to play often and the three leads are as good as on any other recording, at least.

So I knwo that Every Movie's a Circus was added but what did it replace? Any other major changes? And I knwo they initially had a lot of trouble with Napier's set--was it redesigned at all? (I remember reading something about originally the show being more "black and white' in appearance but can't find anything to back that up)

What musical theme did the scene it replace use? Or was it somethign else al together?

The underscore for the scene was the beginning of the car chase music. Then there was a brief reprise of "Let's Have Lunch" that the end of was still retained and used for at the end of "Every Movie's a Circus" in the revised version. It's hard to describe because in the original the scene in Sheldrake's office took place after "Let's Have Lunch" and was incorporated together with Joe and Betty's scene and in the revised version the office scene takes place during "Let's Have Lunch" and then Joe and Betty's scene is it's own separate moment after "Let's Have Lunch".

Updated On: 5/11/07 at 07:52 PM

So nothing changed re set?

I saw the Canadian tour (which basiclaly on played in like Vancouver and Toronto where it opened and maybe Montreal) which had the full set--I always wondered if they were able to tour it anywhere else. I know there was recent.ly a British tour with a new set i believe

The 2nd US National Tour (starring Petula Clark) was re-concieved/directed by Susan Schulman, and choreographed by some Kathleen Marshall gal.

Didn't Joe wear a Bathing Suit and nothing else for The Title song in the second national?

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I saw it a week after it opened in London with LuPone

saw it a few years later in London with Clark

Saw it in LA with Close and Mason

Saw it on Broadway with Buckley and Paige

Saw the 2nd National Tour with Clark



The major difference in the look between L.A. and London was the lighting, color design.

In the UK it was primarily "warm" "sunset" colors.

In the US.. is was stark "cold" black/grey tones.

In the UK, at first, there was no car on stage when Norma returns to the studio. After it close and re-opened with Buckley there was a car as in L.A.

As hard as it may be to believe the Pace 2nd National tour was more imaginately staged than the Nunn version. Much of the recitative in the original score was actually spoken.

example

(sung)

Let me take you back since month...

was now spoken with music as underscoring.

During act Two opening, Joe was not fully dress by the pool as in the UK, but in speedo type trunk. Practically nude on stage it really showed how much he had prostituted himself. Very Smart. Plus the Joe was actually hunky and could act.

During "Too much in Love to care" instead of the "twinkling" star crap that Nunn lifted from Princes "All I ask of you" scene, Joe and Betty playfully run around a sound stage playfully chaning the movie back drop projection and changing their locals for seaside to on the moon to in a forest with the flick of a switch. Very effective.

As a whole the 2nd National tour was just "ok" Clark can't act. But it did us theatrical imagination rather than smoothering it with cash.

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Updated On: 5/14/07 at 12:39 AM

IN my opinion, they butchered the show when it transferred- much the same as ALW does with all of his shows in the end (Jeeves; Evita; Whistle) by cutting perfectly good sections.

As well as those changes mentioned, there were changes before it moved to LA. For a look at how the original Sunset opened get George Perry's great book "Sunset Blvd: From Movie to Musical", usually available from 2nd hand bookstores and eBay. But my favourite bit that was deleted was a Charlie Chaplin tribute- much like they did in the film when Swanson surprised Joe with her impersonation.

Basically during The Lady's Paying, after the "Shut up I'm rich" line Norma continued

N: I own oil-wells in the desert.

Manfred: What a salesman, what a pitch!

Joeto M) I understand your game and I'm not playing.

N: Joe, please don't spoil the fun I get from paying. (Spoken) Let me show you what clothes can do for a man.

Here she went behind the clothes rack, changed from a red jacket to black jacket, put on a bowler and moustache and emerged through the rack and performed a little skit to a ragtime melody.

It was amazing and a nice reference to one of my fave scenes in the movie. If you can track down an original souvenir brochure there is a picture of Patti as Chaplin which is a nice reminder of this long deleted scene.

The UK Tour was very sparsley decorated. Basically there was a staircase, a table full of photos and a chez-longue against a black stage. Again, the brochure for the tour is great if you are interested in seeing it, if not I think the RUG website has photos of the UK Tour in the Sunset section.

I believe that in the original London production, mr Sheldrake's office was located at the top of a staircase (stage right)? Or am I just imagining this? Also, for the final scene, LaLuPone wore a headpiece with extremely long feathers. And for the first few performances, she didn't finish the show with "This time I'm staying etc." She just stood there.

How I miss this show... I saw it a total of twelve times in four different countries. Ah well.

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Updated On: 5/14/07 at 01:42 PM

Thanks for the heads-up. I also have that video of the 1st preview in London. Gotta pull that out of the archives and watch it again.

And yes...that original over-sized head-dress that Patti wore for her staircase descent at the finale' was hilarious. Somewhat reminded me of Lucy Ricardo's head-dress on that episode. I believe that was the first and only performance she ever wore that head-dress.

I'll have to listen to that concert.

True Clark can sing.. one of those great voices.

But I saw both her West End Norma and her US Norma. In my book, both embarassments.

Later I saw her interviewed and she said "hated" the character. But over the many times playing her she had found a way to like her. It was pretty clear in the UK that she was fighting against what the character demanded and what she was willing to actually do.

In the US. She just did whatever she wanted. She mugged and pandered to the audience pulling every trick she could play to get the audience to like her Norma rather that be interested in her.

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Did anyone see Rita Moreno as Norma? I recall reading online somewhere that played the role for a brief engagement.