Sunset Boulevard... — Page 2

On the subject of Petula's Norma being childlike, I think that she was directed to play the role that way. Trevor Nunn has said a few times, that when he cast Pet he wanted her to bring those qualities to the role.

I saw LuPone and Close. I prefered Close. LuPone sang it better but she played the role too young and seductive for my taste. Yes Close voice was screechy and a bit much, but for me, her annoying speaking voice only added to the realism of why Norma's career died after silent movies faded.

I saw Sunset 10 times

2 - with Close
2 - with Karen Mason (understudy)
2 - Betty Buckley
2 - with Elaine Paige (including closing night)
2 - with Petula Clark (on Tour)

I think that Close was a phenomenal, phenomenal presence - great acting - okay singing.

Seeing Karen Mason (who has an incredible voice) when she went on for close I realized what a woman with that kind of voice could do for the role - I mean the whole score just seemed so much more beautiful. Loved it in a whole new way

Betty Buckley probably was my favorite - her acting and interpretation brought a depth of sadness, tragedy to the role (wheras Close just scared the S@# - T out of me!) and her voice was mesmerizing.

By far, Elaine Paige was the worst. Yes she has a great voice, but her comedic (almost cartoonish) take on SB ruined the show for me.

Petula Clark pleasantly surprised me, as did the entire tour production, which in some ways seemed more effective to me than the Broadway production. Also gives credence to one of the posters comments that the BWAY production was way too overdone - as much as I loved it, they killed themselves.

As for Patti - sorry to her fans, I'm really tired of her bitching - "poor me, poor me..." She bitched after Evita about being mis-treated, she's been known to have complained about Les Miz and not coming to NY with it - and then Sunset... Not saying ALW is the best business man/casting agent, but give it a rest lady - you got a great voice - lose the attitude and you might actually endear yourself to some of us common people who enjoy good singers/entertainment and don't worship you as some idol...

I'd get pissed if I was contracted to open the show on Broadway, yet being told that the plans changed...

Yeah, just ask this girl.

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Uh....oh--kaaay. Chernjam, you're name looks familiar. Anyway, Patti LuPone has had good reasons for her comments on her various shows. Evita: Prior to the Broadway run, there were some rumblings about replacing her. Les Miz: The only thing that I've heard about is her not wanting to reprise her role on Broadway because... " it was the perfect theatrical experience." Sunset: You can write a whole book about that. Around the time that Miss Patti was headed to London to start the World Premiere of Sunset, ALW publicizes the fact that the Actress Known as Cruella is to start in L.A. So, it is understandable that, from experience, Patti LuPone has had reasons to have both positive and negative views of her shows. from Roman in Austin, Texas... the official Patti LuPone FANatic

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I like you pattifan. Anyway, I've been perusing thru You Tube. They're got some interesting clips of various Norma Desmonds performing.. including: Betty, Petula and Glennnis in the Final Scene. Also, there's a documentary about the making of the Australian "Sunset" with Hughie and Debra Byrne. He looks sooo young! Finally, I saw this Dutch(?) performer by the name of Simone Kleinsma singing "As If We Never Said Goodbye" in English at a Dutch musical gala. Her singing was exceptional, except for the deviation here and there with the lyrics. that's all for now.... Roman in Austin, Texas.. the official Patti LuPone FANatic

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I like Patti . . . but I do agree she comes across VERY stuck up in almost all of her interviews (case in point, the interview for the up coming sequel to THE GOLDEN AGE). I have never seen the show, but recording wise I would have to go with Glenn Close, but Patti was good too.

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OH yeah, I saw Petula Clark too.

Saw her in Original London Production.. and then in the US tour.

She was a HOOT!! The goofiest Norma D. you can imagine. I chuckled everytime I saw her shaking that gun around..somehow maganged to hit Joe instead of radom members of the audience.

Thanks KuhnKrazy -- exactly my point...

"Also, a concert version was aired by BBC where Petula Clark, Michael Ball, and Emma Williams sang the lead roles. Michael and Emma were the best singers ever for the roles of Joe and Betty."

I preferred Judy's Betty but I agree with you on Michael Ball. He was also the original Joe Gillis in the workshop production and also had a hit single with the show's title track. I often wondered if he was offered the role and turned it down.
Here's another interesting bit of info. Peter Gallagher was the first choice and offered the role of Joe Gillis for the L.A. production. At the time, he told the LA Times he turned it down because the puny amount of money Lloyd Webber offered him for his services was offensive.

I've never seen the show on stage, but I've heard several Normas on different recordings (Patti, Glenn, Elaine, Diahann and Faith Brown) and for me Patti is the best of the lot.

Glenn just didn't do for me. I got the impression she repeated her over-the-top Norma performance later, in 101 Dalmatians. Even before the show opened in London in 1993 Patti told in an interview her intention is not to imitate Gloria Swanson, but rather to create a somewhat younger and more vulnerable Norma. I think she did that beautifully. And since Sunset Blvd is a musical and not a play I prefer a good singing voice. Glenn's Norma didn't touch me at all; her screaming/shouting instead of singing just was not my cup of tea.

Now, there are numerous ways to create the role and both Patti and Glenn decided for a different approach, which is absolutely fine. I'm sure Patti would won a Tony for her Norma had she been allowed to take the role to NYC.

My other favorite is Faith Brown, who was Norma on the 2000-2001 UK tour. There is a 3-track CD from this production and she sings The perfect year and As if we never said goodbye in an excellent way, both vocally and in terms of acting.

As for Patti and ALW, although I enjoy his shows very much, it seems to me he could have handled the situation with Patti in a better way and not just drop her out without saying a word. He was naive if he expected she'd do nothing about it.