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Post by distantcousin on May 17, 2023 11:49:41 GMT
The casting of Norma Desmond certainly evokes very strong feelings. I guess it is one of the all time great musical theatre roles. Would I be committing heresy in these parts by saying I didn't like Glenn?! (It's ok, I already know the answer....). I understand people thought her characterisation was next level but for me it couldn't detract from the anxiety wondering how she was gonna cope with the musical crescendo and final notes of With One Look and As If We Never Said Goodbye (alas she didn't nail either). I dunno. These are such incredible songs that I just want to hear them sung with perfect pitch, power and tone. For that reason I'd definitely take a Nicole over a Glenn. (Caveat is that I did see her at the ENO just after she'd got back from being off and on the IV drip so maybe she wasn't at her best. Also all the acting in the world couldn't translate to my million miles away (100 quid plus) upper circle seat. I do have the OBC though and personally for me, her singing voice just doesn't have the most pleasant quality. Anyway, as I said, I do appreciate I am fully in the minority here). Patti LuPone was my favourite of the "Nunn's Normas" (shame she's gone increasingly angry about everything in life ever since) closely followed by Betty Buckley - both of whom for me proved that you can be am amazing singer and actor. EP a very close third. Absolutely nailed the vocal. Characterisation was excellent but just a modicum too camp. I wish I could remember better what Faith Brown was like in the RUG tour. Only went once. I liked Kathryn Evans in the CRH version. And Ria was Ria in the most recent tour. I liked her and she can certainly sing it, but was also slightly too camp - much of this may have been in the direction though I guess. Anyway, if these rumours are true, then I await with great anticipation who it will be! Have to agree re Elaine - I adored her interpretation - as she was my first Norma - at the time, but contrasting with others over the years - yes it was too camp, and a bit too much of Swanson impersonation. Faith was brilliant. Very naturalistic. I also adored Kathryn Evans, but yes, it had moments of veering into camp. I liked Ria. Her acting went between serviceable and very good, and I didn't always like/feel confident of her voice. |
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Post by BVM on May 17, 2023 11:50:33 GMT
Totally agree with BVM. Kevin Anderson was the best Joe. Just perfect and worked really well with LuPone. For me it was just the perfect match. It really was - that original version was just perfection. Meredith Braun and the guy who played Max were also wonderful. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 17, 2023 11:51:01 GMT
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Post by BVM on May 17, 2023 11:52:37 GMT
Retitled: "Sunset Boulevard - Next To Norma" Strapline ". "Nothing's wrong with being 44" Not to be that person, BUT Patti, Glenn, Betty and Elaine were ALL around that age when they first donned the turban....  Totally agree. Norma is meant to be mid 40's and still very striking. The point is that her career was over way too young due to the advent of the talkies. |
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Post by BVM on May 17, 2023 11:54:37 GMT
Really like it; quite a unique quality to her voice. (I don't think she was really known for being a singer was she?!) |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 17, 2023 11:54:56 GMT
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19,657 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 17, 2023 12:54:25 GMT
Really like it; quite a unique quality to her voice. (I don't think she was really known for being a singer was she?!) She did singing impersonations- Barbra Streisand was a popular one. I think she sounds a bit like like Ria Jones in the Salome clip. |
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Post by newyorkcityboy on May 17, 2023 13:03:43 GMT
The first time she’d sung this in almost 30 years - back in the original key! The ending is phenomenal.
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Post by og on May 17, 2023 13:14:01 GMT
The first time she’d sung this in almost 30 years - back in the original key! The ending is phenomenal. Goddamn, what a voice. I know she said she's not doing Musicals anymore, but I'd pay a stupid amount of money so see her sing Norma. |
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Post by alece10 on May 17, 2023 13:16:46 GMT
Really like it; quite a unique quality to her voice. (I don't think she was really known for being a singer was she?!) She did singing impersonations- Barbra Streisand was a popular one. I think she sounds a bit like like Ria Jones in the Salome clip. She was big back in tbe 70s. Became famous off the back of one of the TV talent shows of the time. |
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Post by max on May 17, 2023 13:20:44 GMT
Retitled: "Sunset Boulevard - Next To Norma" Strapline ". "Nothing's wrong with being 44" Not to be that person, BUT Patti, Glenn, Betty and Elaine were ALL around that age when they first donned the turban.... Fair, because....Facts! Though none of them had the to-die-for looks of Nicole (by today's beauty standards, incl. Hollywood's). I think Nicole can act - her 'Don't Cry For Me, Argentina' on that ITV ALW special was terrific, singing and acting-wise; just don't know if she can be ungainly, desperate, ugly on stage in the way of my favourite actors that have zero vanity. It would be all the more revelation if she's prepared to scrabble in the dirt as it were. Just don't know how many layers of meta self-irony an inexperienced actor can shoulder - if it is her, and if it is high concept. |
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Post by theatrelover97 on May 17, 2023 13:23:07 GMT
I really hope it goes ahead. Will certainly be booking.
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Post by max on May 17, 2023 13:27:46 GMT
Just saw Dominic Cooke's 'Good' with David Tenant. (NT Live - Encore)
Set in a sort of cell/interview room - presumably a prison of the central Nazi-colluding character's own making.
Fluid multi-role (regardless of gender) from the other two actors (not as originally performed when there was a cast of over 10).
Turned it into a very effective 3 hander.
Just saying..... lol
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Post by theatrefan62 on May 17, 2023 14:09:32 GMT
If they are doing some sort of minimal concept type of show then I think the savoy is the wrong venue. A more intimate show would be better suited to a more intimate venue. A bit like the west end revival that played the comedy theatre (I think), although that flopped so the show definitely needs a star.
Curious to see what (if anything 🤣) is annouced
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 17, 2023 14:16:26 GMT
The ENO was a minimal concept version though wasn’t it. There was nothing high concept about that scaffolding. Give us a luxury version pleeeeeaaaase!
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Post by theatrefan62 on May 17, 2023 14:28:35 GMT
The ENO was a minimal concept version though wasn’t it. There was nothing high concept about that scaffolding. Give us a luxury version pleeeeeaaaase! Haha I guess, but it had a massive orchestra and was directed for a big stage, and the scaffolding was big. Rather than an empty stage with 3 people on it, white walls and hand held mics. I agree though, I would like something more luxurious and traditional too |
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Post by bimse on May 17, 2023 17:23:54 GMT
Really like it; quite a unique quality to her voice. (I don't think she was really known for being a singer was she?!) She did singing impersonations- Barbra Streisand was a popular one. I think she sounds a bit like like Ria Jones in the Salome clip. Thanks for posting these @burlybear I saw Faith Brown in Sunset Boulevard and she was stunning, easily the best Norma Desmond I’ve seen (including Patti LuPone who was fantastic) . Faith lived the part, with incredible acting and singing, she deserved the standing ovation at the Blackpool Opera House when I saw the show. Memorable performance. |
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Post by saral on May 17, 2023 17:59:43 GMT
I didn't like Faith Brown or that production at all, I'd probably been spoilt seeing Betty in London and New York but I've very much enjoyed the Coliseum and Leicester's productions since
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Post by mattnyc on May 17, 2023 18:10:50 GMT
I don’t think anyone has ever sung Norma as brilliantly as Betty did and she showed that while you can maybe get away with not being the most amazing singer (Glenn), it sure doesn’t hurt if you are.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 17, 2023 18:40:20 GMT
While SB is back in the news around here I can thoroughly recommend the podcast The Sunset Project by Broadway Bob.
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Post by showtoones on May 17, 2023 19:18:28 GMT
Does anyone know when this is going to be announced?
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Post by joeyk713 on May 18, 2023 6:09:54 GMT
I don’t think anyone has ever sung Norma as brilliantly as Betty did and she showed that while you can maybe get away with not being the most amazing singer (Glenn), it sure doesn’t hurt if you are. I think Elaine sang it best. Betty, I feel she sang it best towards her final on Broadway. Elaine’s first on Broadway - aka her long awaited debut - was beyond amazing and emotional. The fact elaine played it like Gloria wasn’t hidden. On the south bank show she played Gloria in a weird video. I saw Patti, Glenn, Betty, Susan dawan, Karen mason, diahanne carrolll (I know misspelled), Petula Clarke, Maureen Moore, Linda Balgord and Elaine. Thanks for the faith stuff, one Norma I never heard. |
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Post by joeyk713 on May 18, 2023 6:20:33 GMT
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Post by Mark on May 18, 2023 7:37:56 GMT
Oh that’s such a wonderful performance. |
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Post by distantcousin on May 18, 2023 8:02:05 GMT
I don’t think anyone has ever sung Norma as brilliantly as Betty did and she showed that while you can maybe get away with not being the most amazing singer (Glenn), it sure doesn’t hurt if you are. I think Elaine sang it best. Betty, I feel she sang it best towards her final on Broadway. Elaine’s first on Broadway - aka her long awaited debut - was beyond amazing and emotional. The fact elaine played it like Gloria wasn’t hidden. On the south bank show she played Gloria in a weird video. I saw Patti, Glenn, Betty, Susan dawan, Karen mason, diahanne carrolll (I know misspelled), Petula Clarke, Maureen Moore, Linda Balgord and Elaine. Thanks for the faith stuff, one Norma I never heard. And also it was a product of necessity in some ways. Elaine first 'donned the turban' when La Buckley was ill and had to learn the role from scratch very quickly. I've read/seen an interview with her that she made a conscious decision to channel Swanson, because she needed a fast-track route into the role. She didn't have the luxury of developing much of a fresh approach, given the short notice she was brought in at. |
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