Sunset Boulevard- Page 3

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/17/04 at 4:49pm

agreed. And I get what you are saying about Kevin Anderson. But i think the quality of his voice is very...i dont know...EMPTY. I didnt say that I LOVED Alan Campbell either. I prefer when John Stamos was in the role. What are you talking about, you ask? just a fantasy.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/17/04 at 7:42pm

First of all, Bogey, If Kevin Anderson's voice is empty then crawl inside of it and fill it up. Second, my porn direction is none of your business. You called the number on the business card I gave you. It wasn't my fault that you couldn't hack it. Third, I was reading today that Justin and Kelly are both sewing you due to your inept ability to write material that lived up to their talent. So who's on top and who's on bottom now, friend?

[moljul]

Posted: 8/17/04 at 10:32pm

WHOA! Where in the world did you hear Betty got better reviews than Bernadette in Song and Dance. Bernadette got phenomenal reviews, won every award in site and stayed with the show for over a year. Betty replaced her and the show closed in a month. I can't even imagine there was time for Betty to be reviewed.

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 1:34am

usually...i bottom...and i tried crawling down Kev Andersons throat and it didn't seem to go anywhere. I don't like your attitude or your tone of voice. All I am saying is that I adore Patti LuPone. I want to have her children. My 'not cuttin it' had nothing to do with getting in the porn business, it's just that when I called the number on your card and your mom answered...well, anyone would be scared off.

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 1:44am

yea, and I dont know about this Betty/Bernadette thing either. I adore Berny too much. If Betty was so good, why didnt it last. Although sometimes the best shows don't make it long, so who knows.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:25am

First off, whoever said the show closed down or whatever because Patti was such a horror to work with, and then it went on with Betty - that makes NO sense. NO ONE is more of a horror than Betty. If they had to shut things down because Patti was difficult, then they wouldn't have lasted a day with Betty.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:39am

Clarification:

The whole "show closing down" with Betty in it, involves replacing Bernadette Peters and "Song and Dance."

The whole "she's a horror to work with" involves replacing Patti Lupone and "Sunset Boulevard."

Note, they had shuttered SB after Patti left for a bit, to incorporate some changes from the LA/Glenn Close production, I thought.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:42am

They may have - I just know Betty replaced in London and then came back and replaced Glenn here, but there was no break for the show.

[JMVR]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 2:53pm

They DID shut down in London after Patti left while they made some changes and got Betty ready to go on as Norma and John Barrowman as Joe Gillis. Then they moved the L.A. production to Broadway and then sent Betty to replace Glenn (no break here) and then Elaine Paige replaced Betty in London. When Betty left Broadway, they Brought Elaine and Petula took over in London.

Can someone please tell me why Betty was such a horror to work with?? Is she like a total bitch? Maybe having John Barrowman so nclose by made her uneasy, I mean he is just sooo gorgeous. Onstage, it was like seeing a young Tom Cruise who could also sing.

[bogey_LIVE]

Posted: 8/18/04 at 3:14pm

Who cares WHO was such a horror to work with? Let them be horrors. I would be too!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:24am

I personally prefer the Canadian cast recording myself, with Dianne Carroll. I recommend it to everyone, it's very very good.

Can someone tell me why Sunset Blvd was such a flop? It was a very high-profile musical. Was it the utter dependence on strong Normas? Was it the cost of mounting the production?

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 12:24 AM

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:43am

Well, the production costs of labor, in terms of the maintaining that amazing set were high enough. And with the lack of "high profile stars" to keep it going, the costs just became too much. I was lucky enough to see BB's last performance where she was gracious enough to welcome Elaine Paige, who was in the audience, and also the last performance itself, where Elaine Paige paid tribute to Glenn Close and Betty Buckley, both being in the audience themselves...

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 3:08am

What have they done with the set? I want it

[jo]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 7:02am

I saw two versions of Sunset Boulevard in London, one with Betty Buckley and later on with Elaine Paige. If I recall right, Joe Gillis was played in both versions by John Barrowman. Sorry, but I didn't think John was forceful enough in the role, acting- and voice-wise.

In the original Sydmonton ( the estate where ALW premieres the first draft of new musical scores) concert, I understand it was Michael Ball who sang the songs of Joe Gillis. Interestingly, he was asked to release his version of the title song as a single, even earlier than the OLCR. Early this year, Michael sang the role of Joe Gillis in the new concert version that was staged under the auspices of BBC . Michael has a golden and a powerhouse voice and he was very impressive in the role.

I have also just recently seen a documentary on the ill-fated Australian production of SUNSET BOULEVARD. I think Debra Byrne ( famous for her many ALW roles onstage in Australia...and also as Fantine in the Comnplete Symphonic Recording of Les Miserables) is also a very good Norma -- good dramatic acting and wonderful, powerful voice. Hugh Jackman was a bit young for the role of Joe Gillis then, but he would be perfect for it now. His duet (with the actress who played Betty) of the song TOO MUCH IN LOVE TO CARE is wonderful. He does well with his musical theatre voice --which is very different from how he sings Peter Allen songs.

The film is a classic. However, the music of SUNSET BOULEVARD is likewise a winner. Hence, my wish to see it filmed.

Barbra ( who was the first to record WITH ONE LOOK and AS IF WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE, even before the London cast album)... or ...Glenn?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 11:05am

If it was such an expensive flop, why so many productions around the world? Did ALW not face the fact that he didn't have a success in his hands?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 11:08am

That was the hype at the time. But where have those productions gone? They all pretty much tanked at around the same time.

I believe the original Broadway set was used for the German production.

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:21pm

Meredit Braun was the London Betty.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:37pm

What do they do with set to Broadway shows when they're done with them if there's no other production to move it to?