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Post by distantcousin on Apr 15, 2016 8:50:14 GMT
I'm holding off on my review until I've seen it a second time.
For me there are significant faults with the production and the interpretation of the roles by the two leads. Perhaps I will revise my opinion. A great night out, but no better than many of my other Sunset experiences over the years.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 9:57:13 GMT
Well done BurlyBeaR for getting the topic back on track It was BurlyBeaR who took us off topic in the first place...!  I don't go for another couple of weeks and yes, I am very excited. I suppose the thing that made me hold off booking for ages- and I'm still concerned about it, if I'm honest, based on several comments on here- is the casting of Glenn. I'm a big ALW fan, and I love Sunset. I saw the original with Patti Lupone, the tour (in Hull) with Faith Brown and then at the Watermill with Kathryn Evans. I'm not a lover of speak-singing (Judi's Clowns is the only exception...) and love hearing trained singers in musicals belt out their big numbers. If any of his songs need to be SUNG, it's Norma's Sunset songs (weren't they written for show-queens to sing in the shower?) so I'm really hoping I can be won over. She's a lot to do in my book, as I thought Patti Lupone owned the part at the Adelphi all those years ago, and Kathryn Evans was completely mesmerising (why haven't we seen more of her over the years?) a few years back. I regarded Glenn's casting twenty years ago as another of ALW daft attempts at stunt-casting, although I didn't see her admittedly. Friends did and said she was sensational... Anyhow, I've booked on the back of all the hype, because I don't want to miss out, and I love Michael Xavier and Fred Johanson. I'm also looking forward to listening to the big orchestra with Michael Reed conducting. I'm taking myself off to a midweek matinee- ticket for one, near the front, on the side, so I'll be late to the party with my comments, and happy to admit that I was wrong in doubting Glenn could do it! |
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Post by stompboy on Apr 15, 2016 11:14:21 GMT
I don't really understand where this 'speak-singing' attachment to GC has come from... I've never felt she did this in any recording or performance I've seen or heard from the original SB run and she certainly didn't speak any musical lines the night I saw the ENO production. In contrast, I felt she belted out every note, held every tune and literally tore the roof off the building with amazing voice (and that's without her Oscar worthy acting chops going on all over the place too!). I totally understand that she may not be trained singer so may have a slightly different voice or style, and that people have had other favourite Norma's over the years, but to imply she in any way 'cheats' the audience out of any sense of musicality in her performance is quite unfair.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 15, 2016 11:25:46 GMT
Agree with caiaphas. I don't think you will be too disappointed with Close although I longed to hear the role sung especially with that sumptuous orchestra. Too many clipped notes. But she more than makes up for it with star power!!!
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Post by freckles on Apr 15, 2016 11:37:26 GMT
I don't really understand where this 'speak-singing' attachment to GC has come from... I've never felt she did this in any recording or performance I've seen or heard from the original SB run and she certainly didn't speak any musical lines the night I saw the ENO production. In contrast, I felt she belted out every note, held every tune and literally tore the roof off the building with amazing voice (and that's without her Oscar worthy acting chops going on all over the place too!). I totally understand that she may not be trained singer so may have a slightly different voice or style, and that people have had other favourite Norma's over the years, but to imply she in any way 'cheats' the audience out of any sense of musicality in her performance is quite unfair. I thought she gave a fantastic performance and did not feel "cheated" as such, as other aspects of her performance were astonishing, but there is no denying that she doesn't sing the score as written. For example (sings) And this time will be (speaks) bigger!
If you listen to a recording of Elaine Paige, Patti Lupone, Streisand or Maria Freidman, for example, although they each have little variations, they all largely hit the same notes, and Glenn simply does not. |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 15, 2016 11:43:08 GMT
^ I'm not going to make a post claiming that Glenn Close is a fabulous singer, because she's not.
However, she is adequate given the vocal performance she gave twenty years ago, which she more or less duplicates now.
However, I think your comment about about "bigger" is patently false because if anything "bigger" is a much LOWER note if these singers chose not to shout/yell out the words:
-Patti doesn't yell bigger or brighter. On brighter, the note goes down and not up, and she sings it the way it is intended to be sung.
-Elaine Paige yellow bigger and speak sings brighter.
-Betty Buckley sings bigger and yells brighter.
..we could go on and on about the variations, but I think it's worth pointing out that while Close's vocal performance is FAR from perfect, this part of the song she does not actually get wrong.
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Post by catqc on Apr 15, 2016 12:21:03 GMT
Do we think there'll be a cast recording of this? Don't want to buy an old one if they'll do one with MX, Siobhan etc
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Post by freckles on Apr 15, 2016 12:26:37 GMT
^ I'm not going to make a post claiming that Glenn Close is a fabulous singer, because she's not. However, she is adequate given the vocal performance she gave twenty years ago, which she more or less duplicates now. However, I think your comment about about "bigger" is patently false because if anything "bigger" is a much LOWER note if these singers chose not to shout/yell out the words: -Patti doesn't yell bigger or brighter. On brighter, the note goes down and not up, and she sings it the way it is intended to be sung. -Elaine Paige yellow bigger and speak sings brighter. -Betty Buckley sings bigger and yells brighter. ..we could go on and on about the variations, but I think it's worth pointing out that while Close's vocal performance is FAR from perfect, this part of the song she does not actually get wrong. That was just an example. It stood out for me as markedly different from the versions I listen to the most (Friedman & Streisand). Are you Seth Rudetsky in disguise?!! |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 15, 2016 12:38:27 GMT
^ Yes, but prettier  Now I'm tempted to do a "Bigger and brighter" comparison and contrast videos you'd see of Wicked on YouTube with 100 versions of "bring me..daaa-haaa-wwwn..ahhhaaa" |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 15, 2016 13:04:42 GMT
I was really upset that she didn't go into a full-on sobbing fit when Joe says he's leaving because that's what she does on the American recording so clearly she's lost it and I feel totally cheated.  I mean really? We're down to nitpicking how individual words are sung/spoken/pronounced? I suggest if that really bothers people then don't ever see another production after the one you consider definitive. You're only going to be disappointed. |
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Post by freckles on Apr 15, 2016 13:29:41 GMT
I was really upset that she didn't go into a full-on sobbing fit when Joe says he's leaving because that's what she does on the American recording so clearly she's lost it and I feel totally cheated. I mean really? We're down to nitpicking how individual words are sung/spoken/pronounced? I suggest if that really bothers people then don't ever see another production after the one you consider definitive. You're only going to be disappointed. I didn't mean to nit pick, I obviously didn't express myself very well. I was merely responding to a poster that didn't understand why many, many people have reservations about Glenn's vocal performance. I don't have a definitive production of Sunset (I need to direct my own version, I think!) or even a definitive recorded version of any one musical number, I was just trying to give an example of where some of Glenn's vocal decisions may have been down to necessity, rather than choice. I picked a bad example, which ali rudetsky has debunked. No offence to anyone's likes or dislikes intended. It's a wonderful show. Let's talk about Xavier in his pants again... |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 15, 2016 13:54:06 GMT
I wasn't really directing that at you freckles, we're all here to nitpick to an extent. That's the whole point of a discussion forum init  |
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Post by argon on Apr 15, 2016 14:45:32 GMT
The Orchestra was sublime and I'm tempted to see it again just to here that music and the duet between Joe & Betty.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 15, 2016 17:50:01 GMT
The Orchestra was sublime and I'm tempted to see it again just to here that music and the duet between Joe & Betty. Yes, indeed. I was in the front side stalls for my first (and only?) visit but would be quiet happy to sit in the Upper Circle or the Balcony just to listen to the show again! The orchestra was indeed sublime - I cannot see it ever being played again in my lifetime with that number. |
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Post by welsh_tenor on Apr 15, 2016 18:29:01 GMT
One more sleep...... Excitement is building....
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 15, 2016 18:32:02 GMT
One more sleep...... Excitement is building.... I've been waiting 20 years Joe! Whats a few more days my dear? |
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 15, 2016 19:09:05 GMT
The question on Glenn's vocal ability, now let me tell you when I saw her in previews and I couldn't fault her, when she has that spotlight on her, she oozes star quality.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 15, 2016 20:05:44 GMT
The question on Glenn's vocal ability, now let me tell you when I saw her in previews and I couldn't fault her, when she has that spotlight on her, she oozes star quality. Exactly one week ago at around this exact time Anthony and I were watching that, riveted! I WANNA GO AGAIN!  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 15, 2016 20:07:39 GMT
Touche
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Post by djp on Apr 15, 2016 21:15:31 GMT
The question on Glenn's vocal ability, now let me tell you when I saw her in previews and I couldn't fault her, when she has that spotlight on her, she oozes star quality. Exactly one week ago at around this exact time Anthony and I were watching that, riveted! I WANNA GO AGAIN! Indeed, I saw matinee mid week and Glenn is phenomenal . You can see why the cast were so impressed when they first heard her. Her vocal follows the story ,where its weaker it should be in the story, and when it needs power and impact, its fortunately there in spades. If she doesn't get some acting awards, it will make a nonsense of them - she just is the character, whether she's playing someone alone and weak, or playing the star to her global audience. She even visibly changes age, to match her emotions in the story. Siobhan Dillon is also outstanding - boy can she sing beautifully, and carry a role . She and Michael Xavier make a superb pairing. Someone needs to have the wits to put them together in something else. I have another visit booked....... |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 15, 2016 21:25:24 GMT
Despite my reservations about the production and GC's vocals it certainly is the "theatrical event of 2016" .....so far. I may have to go again too, even after saying I wouldn't! The spotlight moment and "As If We Never Said Goodbye" are worth the price of admission alone, and the orchestra, and Siobhan Dillon and GC's costumes...oh hell I've sold it to myself!
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Post by catqc on Apr 15, 2016 23:45:09 GMT
I am dangerously in love with this show and running the risk of spending all my money and time seeing it get again. Is 3 times in 3 weeks too much?
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Post by goergoerson10 on Apr 15, 2016 23:51:25 GMT
Not at all. I am going four times in total. I shall be at The Opera Populaire once more on Monday - front row stalls.
We will not see a better production than this in 20 years - and we will certainly not see a star who plays it like La Close. She is the definitive La Desmond. All reviews have been triumphant.
A good friend (a top theatre PR, who has seen and worked on countless major shows over his long career) saw it again last night and reported that La Close has taken the performance to another level entirely.
Another friend (a successful playwright) saw it again last night and described witnessing La Close as "a near religious experience."
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Post by littlesally on Apr 16, 2016 0:24:20 GMT
I've stalked this thread from the beginning. Through the early excitement, the doubts about her singing, the early great reviews on here, a few dissenters and then the amazing reviews.
I saw it tonight from the back of the upper circle. Nothing prepared me to be as amazed and thrilled as I was. Everything about it is spot on. GC's "weaker" singing seems to fit the action perfectly. When she needs to stun, she sets it to 11!!
I had already booked a further visit from side stalls next week. I've broken the bank and booked a further visit, frontrow centre stalls for the following week.
Events like this come along so rarely. I'm making the most of it, while I can.
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Post by chernjam on Apr 16, 2016 2:38:33 GMT
I've stalked this thread from the beginning. Through the early excitement, the doubts about her singing, the early great reviews on here, a few dissenters and then the amazing reviews. I saw it tonight from the back of the upper circle. Nothing prepared me to be as amazed and thrilled as I was. Everything about it is spot on. GC's "weaker" singing seems to fit the action perfectly. When she needs to stun, she sets it to 11!! I had already booked a further visit from side stalls next week. I've broken the bank and booked a further visit, frontrow centre stalls for the following week. Events like this come along so rarely. I'm making the most of it, while I can. Have to admit - it's been nice reading all these reviews. Although I was definitely a doubter about Close 20 years later. I will add though, it's too bad you guys didn't get to see this with the original sets. The score, the story, the cast - those are essential - but the original set made it even more breathtaking. When Norma descended the stairs (as the mansion "flew" in) after saying "You There, why are you so late" - have goosebumps just remembering it |
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