Sunset Boulevard Question - THE LADY'S PAYING

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 10:58am

I have the OLC recording with LuPone and Anderson. Now, on this recording, in "The Lady's Paying", after "Joe, second rate clothes are for second raters" Norma goes straight into "I'm sick to death of that same old filling station shirt..."

When was the whole "Shut Up I'm rich not some platinum blonde bitch..." section inserted into the song? Because it's on a YouTube video with Patti singing it and I was like if she sang it in a video of her performance why isn't it on her cast recording?

Is this section as well as the Charlie Chaplin music section on the Glenn Close American cast recording?

If anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it! Thanks :)

[castlestreet]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 11:03am

The line "I'm sick to death of that same old filling station shirt..." and the Chaplin bit were both cut. The Chaplin bit was cut during previews in London, the line was change when the show made the jump across the pond to LA and changed to "shut up I'm rich not some platinum blonde bitch"

Therefore Patti was the only one to do the Chaplin bit, which is one of the few things from the OLC I wish they hadn't changed, and Glenn was the first one to sing the replacement line.

Remember that once Patti left the London production the show was shut down for a brief time so that all of the LA changes could be put it the London production as well. Rita Moreno then played Norma for a few weeks while Buckley was in rehearsal to take over.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 11:21am

That's really a shame about the Chaplin bit, which I never knew existed in the show until this very second. It's such a wonderfully funny and sad and romantic part of the movie.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 11:40am

I'm fairly certain that some Normas had the Chaplin bit restored, simply because it gave them a break to lighten the show for a moment and show off their "comedic chops." I know Petula Clark performed it in London at some point during her run (I saw it and was totally confused because I had never seen that bit before). I believe Elaine Paige also used the bit.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 11:46am

I saw it a few weeks after opening and they had cut the Chaplin bit - which was a disappointment to me being a Chaplin fan - however, my souvenir program had a photo of Lupone as Chaplin, a photo subsequent editions omitted.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 11:54am

Since we're talking changes, I have a question. I've seen the show in London with Pet Clark, in NYC with Karen Mason on for Buckley and NYC with Elaine Paige.

I thought I remembered that in the Buckley version at the very end of the show there was a quick filmed montage of a star's face, a silent film star type. I didn't remember this in the other productions. Was that the case or am I confusing it with something else?

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 12:06pm

Musicaldude, I'm so glad you created this thread. There's something I've been wondering about, too (not to guano your thread).

I've only listened to the OBC recording as well as seen a number of YouTube video clips of this production, but in this scene, did they stage it in Norma's mansion as opposed to the in the men's store like it was in the movie? If so, why? Norma's line "I had them close the shop just for you" makes no sense. That means they'd have to pack ALL the contents of the shop and temporarily set them up in her house, right? I mean, since they couldn't know which items Norma and Joe would pick? WHy not just set it in the men's clothing store?

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 12:21pm

because Norma didn't leave the house. that's why we are supposed to be moved by her trip to paramount. Thats supposed to be her first time out in years. If she went to the store with no problem the effect would be lost.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 12:53pm

I saw the OLC just after opening and Chaplin was still in- sorry to nit-pick. I saw it about 3 months later and it was gone. I saw the show 3 times with other stars but never saw the sequence again.

Yes, the store has been closed and, I imagine, a huge selection of clothes has been brought to Norma's, anticipating her whims.

In the Buckley version in London, following the walk down the stairs, a film of Norma's "close-up" appeared on a flown gauze. It was highly dramatic and effective!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 2:24pm

Speaking of Charlie Chaplin, the new Google logo for today is a Chaplin-inspired animated doodle.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 3:47pm

I guess I may be mistaken about the Chaplin thing, but I SWEAR there was some funny bit that was added for her (I believe in the "great day" scene). Was there some other comedy bit that was added (at least for Petula)??? I saw it eons ago when I was just a kid, but I seem to remember that she had a moment there that no other Normas I have seen had.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 4:15pm

Petula played the role much more comedic than the other Normas did (I didn't care for her take on the role, but do rather enjoy the 3 track CD she did)

I LOVED the fade out with a wink that they started using with Buckley at the very end- I thought it was a great way to end the show.

And yes, "I had them close it down for the day" means they brought the entire lot to Norma's house, remember she didn't leave the house until the trip to Paramount. There was a great line in the movie when they are watching her old silent movie where Joe says something like "we always watched movies in the living room, so much better than going out she would say"

I love Sunset threads!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 5:29pm

Ugh, Petula's slapstick Norma. I shudder at the memory.

[wiggum2]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 5:50pm

I always thought that the filling station shirt was in the London version because I'm 99% sure ELaine Paige used the line on broadway. I remember because I went to 2nd to last show and was familiar with the LA recording so the line was weird to me. I like the filling station shirt line myself!

Also I love Sunset threads as well! It was my first show on broadway( and I hated musicals until then, that part of my gayness was VERY delayed!)

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 6:05pm

Expanding on SM2, tomorrow would be Charlie's 122nd Birthday.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 6:08pm

"Shut Up I'm rich not some platinum blonde bitch..."

...I own so many apartments I've forgotten which is which.


A truly horrible couple of lyrics that come out of nowhere.

Norma? Apartments? Really??

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 6:12pm

Why? I think it's totally reasonable that Norma, in her heyday, bought up loads apartments and real estate around L.A.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 6:50pm

the reason "filling station shirt" is familiar because it still remained as a spoken line. "You can't come to my New Year's Eve party in that filling station shirt"

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/15/11 at 9:11pm

And in the movie she does talk about all the property she owns, real estate investments, and oil wells in Texas.