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Post by ali973 on Apr 7, 2016 19:18:40 GMT
The logo is the same. It's the background that has multiple versions. This is the "original" orange version. Let me summarize  1-Original London cast (Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson): Orange 2-LA Cast (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell): Actually started off with orange logo and palm trees. Then the grey version followed. 3-OBC (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell) Grey 4-London new cast (Betty Buckley and John Barrowman): Grey but with a silhouette of Norma holding the gun 5-London cast with Elaine Paige, John Barrowman then Alexander Hanson: Grey background no silhouette 6-Broadway with Betty Buckley and Alan Campbell: Grey no silhouette 7-Broadway with Elaine Paige and London with Petula Clark, Alexander Hanson and Graham Bickley: red 8-Australia: Red 9-Germany: Grey with silhouette 10-Canada: Orange with palm trees 11-First US tour: Red Of course these were the "official"incarnations. Some of them used a similar background but with each Norma superimposed over the logo. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 19:31:12 GMT
One of my favourite versions is the red one with the black and white image of Elaine paige as Norma  |
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 7, 2016 19:31:27 GMT
The logo is the same concept, but it's not the actual "image" from the original production. The shape of the sign isn't quite right, and the "10086" font is wrong.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 19:48:08 GMT
The ENO has posted more production shots on their Facebook page, including michael shirtless during the ladies paying for those that want it.
The dummy looks pretty naff in the production shots
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Post by chrismis on Apr 7, 2016 20:58:38 GMT
I enjoyed this but far from "wowed" and so I suppose a little disappointed - my expectations were clearly too high! I didn't like the staging. All those stairs and platforms - one of those multi purpose sets that could have staged virtually any musical - Evita (we had a balcony), JCS, Oliver, West Side Story to name a few. How I missed the John Napier sets - especially the mansion. A cluster of chandeliers flown in and out simply did not cut it. Very cruel of the director/designer to make Glenn Close (at the age of 69) climb all those stairs again and again, night after night and twice on Wed and Sats!! She must be exausted. I did fear for her tripping especially in those long gowns. The show sounded wonderful, however, with the full orchestra and a company who could sing. I loved Siobhan Dillon as Betty - a fabulous singing voice and lovely actress. Fred Johanson as Max had a great voice. Michael Xavier was in fine voice too as Joe Gillis and he has a huge role as the show is seen through his eyes and is rarely off stage. Although gloriously sung I felt he was too nice, and didn't have the darker edge of a gigalo - his cruel outburst at Betty towards the end of Act 2 (although well deliverd) seemed to come from nowhere at all. So I felt this central performance lacking sadly. Of course the show is all about Glenn Close. She is undoubtedly a star and acts the hell out of the role. She would have chewed up the scenery if there had been any!! Her costumes were fabulous especially the ballgown for New Years Eve. But how I longed to hear the role sung. She delivers the two big numbers especially at the end of "With One Look" which guarantees an ovation but for the rest she seemed only comfortable in the middle register and her voice was "thin" and breathy. The audience went wild though - a full and prolonged standing ovation at the end. A few empty seats in the stalls - I was in the side stalls for £105 and glad I did not pay another £50 for centre stalls. Two people next to me did not come back after the interval! Perhaps they did not like sitting next to me? I did have a wander up to the Upper Circle in the inteval and the view from up there is fine - if a little distant but well worth £57.50 or less. I wish I had paid that and not splashed out. Delighted I have seen it but will not be booking a return visit as I thought I would. EDIT - On checking the ENO website there is lots of availability at all prices for this (apart from the last night). Not a "house full" by any means. I suppose the prices are steep for a "semi-staged" show. Thanks Wickedgrin you've said almost everything for me! I saw the matinee yesterday afternoon and agree with every word of your review. Like you,I saw the original London production (several times) with Betty Buckley and John Barrowman. The sets were so magnificent that I knew I would be disappointed with this semi staged version but I didn't expect it to be quite so devoid of props. Max playing the 'air organ' looked ridiculous from where I was sitting in the Balcony.
I enjoyed all the performances and agree that Siobhan Dillon was vocally superb. It's a pity she wasn't on stage more. I really didn't like the 'young Norma' wandering around the stage. What was all that about?
This is one of my favourite shows, the score is magnificent and I'd love to see it back in the West End with its original staging. I fear I may have a long wait though!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 21:02:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 21:05:12 GMT
The ENO has posted more production shots on their Facebook page, including michael shirtless during the ladies paying for those that want it. The dummy looks pretty naff in the production shots The dummy kind of works within the show and once it's out of the way, it's gone. Young Norma can be seen in one of those photos. That really didn't work for me. |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 7, 2016 21:17:41 GMT
Does anyone know if there will be another pre-show talk?
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 7, 2016 21:20:06 GMT
The dummy Joe was ridiculous and did not work at all for me. Neither did the "Young Norma" floating in and out - it took several appearances before I realised who she was meant to be. The "car chase" with the guys running on with the headlamps was another low point!
However what did work were the original pieces of direction - for example when Norma is sat in the chair just stage right of centre and Hawkeye swings the spotlight on to her "lets take a look at you", immediatley before "As if We Never Said Goodbye" - magical!
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 7, 2016 21:30:00 GMT
Am seeing this tomorrow night.
I've always thought the Hogeye encounter to be such a spacial moment.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Apr 7, 2016 21:32:39 GMT
Is Ms Close still being bundled into a car after the show or has it calmed down where she's allowed to sign programmes after the show? Going a week Saturday, never seen the original or subsequent versions of this so I'm a total newbie!
Really excited to see something that doesn't involve a bubble or broom! (Although a Glenn Close Morrible would just be brilliant!)
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Post by richey on Apr 7, 2016 21:35:27 GMT
The dummy kind of works within the show and once it's out of the way, it's gone. Young Norma can be seen in one of those photos. That really didn't work for me. [/quote]
Not if you're sat in the balcony like I was. The dummy is constantly in your sightline
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Post by crabtree on Apr 7, 2016 21:48:18 GMT
Yes rather odd not to include even one photo of Norma in those newly released photos.
Here's a question....is the chorus the ENO's own or have they been supplemented with 'musical theatre' performers, as, I believe, was the case with Sweeney todd. I may have got that wrong.
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Post by fiyero on Apr 7, 2016 21:52:08 GMT
The dummy kind of works within the show and once it's out of the way, it's gone. Young Norma can be seen in one of those photos. That really didn't work for me. Not if you're sat in the balcony like I was. The dummy is constantly in your sightline[/quote] I don't get why they didn't lower it down and just send a weight up. I know swapping it back over would have been slightly awkward but better. |
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Post by chernjam on Apr 7, 2016 23:28:04 GMT
The logo is the same. It's the background that has multiple versions. This is the "original" orange version. Let me summarize 1-Original London cast (Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson): Orange 2-LA Cast (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell): Actually started off with orange logo and palm trees. Then the grey version followed. 3-OBC (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell) Grey 4-London new cast (Betty Buckley and John Barrowman): Grey but with a silhouette of Norma holding the gun 5-London cast with Elaine Paige, John Barrowman then Alexander Hanson: Grey background no silhouette 6-Broadway with Betty Buckley and Alan Campbell: Grey no silhouette 7-Broadway with Elaine Paige and London with Petula Clark, Alexander Hanson and Graham Bickley: red 8-Australia: Red 9-Germany: Grey with silhouette 10-Canada: Orange with palm trees 11-First US tour: Red Of course these were the "official"incarnations. Some of them used a similar background but with each Norma superimposed over the logo. Just a 3a/4 - When Sunset was opening on Broadway, they had the gun silhouette originally (for when ticket sales opened) and then by the opening went simply grey Love that you're as versed in this as I am Ali |
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 8, 2016 6:34:59 GMT
The dummy kind of works within the show and once it's out of the way, it's gone. Young Norma can be seen in one of those photos. That really didn't work for me. Not if you're sat in the balcony like I was. The dummy is constantly in your sightline I don't get why they didn't lower it down and just send a weight up. I know swapping it back over would have been slightly awkward but better.[/quote] m Because we're watching the show through Joe's eyes? So there he is, "floating" above it all and watching it. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 8, 2016 6:56:53 GMT
Sounds similar to the device Kneehigh used in their Rebecca. It started with her body being lowered into a sinking boat, which was then present throughout the rest of the play as if she was "presiding" over it all.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 8, 2016 8:09:00 GMT
Yes rather odd not to include even one photo of Norma in those newly released photos. Here's a question....is the chorus the ENO's own or have they been supplemented with 'musical theatre' performers, as, I believe, was the case with Sweeney todd. I may have got that wrong. The ENO chorus are not in the production at all. The ensemble are all musical theatre actors. |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 8, 2016 8:57:47 GMT
The guy who plays Sammy and the priest in Sampson and Delilah is from Miss Saigon and was the understudy John. He's the only one I recognized from other West End shows.
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Post by broadwaylover99 on Apr 8, 2016 9:00:25 GMT
I believe Young Norma is played by Carly Anderson, who was Kira in the Southwark Playhouse production of Xanadu
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 8, 2016 10:10:05 GMT
The guy who plays Sammy and the priest in Sampson and Delilah is from Miss Saigon and was the understudy John. He's the only one I recognized from other West End shows. I recognised Katie Kerr from playing Big Sue in "Taboo" in 2012. (although that wasn't strictly "West End" of course) Mark Goldthorp (Sheldrake) is a veteran ensemble member! |
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Post by Marwood on Apr 8, 2016 11:32:30 GMT
ENO website had a running time of 2 hours earlier in the week, now its saying 2 hours 30 minutes - I'm assuming there's an interval?
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Post by catqc on Apr 8, 2016 11:50:50 GMT
Wow. Sunset virgin here who absolutely fell in love with the score last night!! Loved this show very much and am desperately trying to see if I can possibly go back. Is there any hope of it transferring to a theatre do we think?
I have to say though, Close must have had a bad night last night because she really was not very good. Her acting is phenomenal but she was straining so much when singing it was painful to hear - and I don't even know very much about singing! Hopefully she'll be better if I go again because I don't understand where the raves about her singing are coming from. Loved Michael and Siobhan and I actually thought the semi staging worked really well (although as I said this is my first time seeing Sunset). I have to agree with everyone about young Norma though who was totally pointless and distracting.
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Post by richey on Apr 8, 2016 13:19:39 GMT
ENO website had a running time of 2 hours earlier in the week, now its saying 2 hours 30 minutes - I'm assuming there's an interval? Yes there is. Act 1 is 75 mins, act 2 is 50 mins and 20 min interval |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 13:22:01 GMT
ENO website had a running time of 2 hours earlier in the week, now its saying 2 hours 30 minutes - I'm assuming there's an interval? Yes there is. Act 1 is 75 mins, act 2 is 50 mins and 20 min interval That's quite unusual, don't productions of Sunset Boulevard usually put the interval after act 1 and before act 2? |
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