610 posts
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Post by chernjam on Apr 29, 2016 21:51:03 GMT
From what I've heard of Patti on the WPR (which most agree was a rushed, inferior recording - much like the World Premiere Production itself) she's not my favorite... not by a long shot (still think Betty Buckley is the best of all the Normas... vocally, acting, etc - she was amazing) But for pure craziness of creating a stampede and buzz, Patti playing it in NY would be insane - "I've come Home at last" - can see the headlines already
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 29, 2016 23:09:07 GMT
Is there a cast recording of the Betty Buckley version?
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 29, 2016 23:12:36 GMT
Is there a cast recording of the Betty Buckley version? Only the 4 track CD they sold at the theatre in New York. |
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Post by chernjam on Apr 30, 2016 6:11:25 GMT
That's one of the most frustrating things is the lack of full-recordings. How is it we have at least 7 Joseph recordings - more than that of JCS recordings - but really only 2 full recordings of Sunset. Why couldn't they re-use the orchestral tracks and let the leads record?
While Im asking/ranting/moaning... are they recording ENO Sunset? If nothing else, I'd love to hear the orchestra, the change to the overture, and the rest of the cast
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 30, 2016 7:53:53 GMT
Saw the ENO production for the 4th time last night (3rd with Glenn), and she definitely wasn't as good as before her illness. With One Look was not good at all, very painful to watch / listen to, and nowhere near as impressive as it had been. But from WOL onwards she seemed more comfortable, despite being croaky and coughing now and then, and by the end of the show I still felt I'd witnessed something special. I feel for her, as I know she's still capable of delivering a wonderful performance as I saw her do it a couple of weeks ago, and this recent illness has kinda spoilt what should have been a terrific "comeback" (it's a return!!) for her in Sunset. Despite not being at her best, seeing her in the role is still an amazing thing, and I'm glad she's back and allowing more people to experience it.
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Post by crabtree on Apr 30, 2016 8:12:28 GMT
anyone on here there this afternoon...having myself a day trip down from Manchester. Shame the trains don't allow a two show day.
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Apr 30, 2016 12:07:06 GMT
On a slightly different topic..I thought it was peculiar that Betty got to bow AFTER Max, and then was followed by Joe and finally Norma.
Traditionally Max is by far more of a pivotal character and gets third to the star. Betty is great-and especially the one that we get from Siobhan-but Max is by far more important.
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249 posts
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Post by theinvisiblegirl on Apr 30, 2016 13:15:10 GMT
anyone on here there this afternoon...having myself a day trip down from Manchester. Shame the trains don't allow a two show day. I'm in my seat now, row b of the stalls. I'm down from Sheffield for the weekend. |
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Post by brenth on Apr 30, 2016 15:41:54 GMT
I used to live in Sheffield... The bright shiny stuff is called electric lighting... Did you manage to leave your pit boots and whippet on the cloakroom?
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19,694 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 30, 2016 17:22:03 GMT
I'm from Sheffield an'all  |
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Post by crabtree on Apr 30, 2016 19:48:39 GMT
And very much I enjoyed the matinee....just an innocent question - how much of an ENO production is it. No ENO chorus or conductor and the show was not mentioned in their season brochure. No hiccups or anything this afternoon, and we were certainly not flooded like the duke of York's opposite. I'm remembering in the original stage production Norma had more frocks. Only two in the first half today. An impressive quick change for Joe in The Lady's Paying, and for both Norma and Joe into the car scene - mind you we can only see them in the window. a rather hideously ugly brown lump for Norma's massage. not sure the film projections contributed much, and were not very readable when the orchestra were visible behind.
I'm afraid I got into a bit of a short sharp discussion with a father who was trying to impress his teenage girls by saying how good Marlon Brando was in the film as Joe. That could not go unchallenged.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 22:55:23 GMT
Finally got to see this today, overall a special theatre experience
Glenn Close, while not what I'd call a fan, I do enjoy her screen work and have always felt Meryl streep stole some of her career by being the 'go to' for any role over 50. This really is her role.What glenn lacks in the occasional vocal, she more than makes up for in the acting. She inhabits the role like no one else, she becomes norma. There are so many small touches and nuances to her performance. The moment hog eye turns the spotlight on her...her performance almost brought a tear to my eye without her saying a word. I'd much rather have a complete performance like this than powerful vocals for a few songs and ok acting. That's why I think it's an actors role first, the musical theatre actresses who have done this role haven't come close to this.i also think her age worked in her favour, it added to the frailty of the character. And makes the difference between her and joe more significant to modern day audiences, whereas a real 50 year old wouldn't as old now as in the 50s. Plus glenn doesn't look 70 anyway
It's not a performance for those that want the cartoon drag queen version of norma. It's just a shame she doesn't have a strong leading man to work with
Michael Xavier for me was very weak, very 'musical theatre' acting including multiple use of jazz hands. He started off ok but as the show went on he just got worse. The title song included lots of hand acting again and his half nakedness seemed unnecessary and distracted from the moment. He lacked any real bite as joe, opting instead for excessive humour and snark. Tam Mutu, ramin Karimloo or Hadley Fraser would probably more suited
Betty was excellent as was max.
Orchestra sounded great to
Loved the set and staging, definately more than the standard semi staged concert. Loved the use of projections
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Post by shady23 on Apr 30, 2016 23:01:18 GMT
Michael Xavier weak?
Not one bit.
The naked scene unnecessary?
Now you are just being silly.... It was a particular favourite of mine and a lot of the audiences I suspect.
Was at the matinee today and left definitely feeling I had witnessed something special.
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Post by Sue on May 1, 2016 6:51:38 GMT
Finally got to see this today, overall a special theatre experience This really is her role.What glenn lacks in the occasional vocal, she more than makes up for in the acting. She inhabits the role like no one else, she becomes norma. There are so many small touches and nuances to her performance. The moment hog eye turns the spotlight on her...her performance almost brought a tear to my eye without her saying a word. I'd much rather have a complete performance like this than powerful vocals for a few songs and ok acting. That's why I think it's an actors role first, the musical theatre actresses who have done this role haven't come close to this.i also think her age worked in her favour, it added to the frailty of the character. And makes the difference between her and joe more significant to modern day audiences, whereas a real 50 year old wouldn't as old now as in the 50s. Plus glenn doesn't look 70 anyway Completely agree. The Hogeye/spotlight moment I saw with Ria Jones passed without that tear-inducing/heart-racing moment. It just felt like a long pause...nothing more than that. That really saddened me, as it should have been so much more than that and clearly it is when Glenn Close is on. Having missed Glenn on the one and only visit I was able to make during this run (sniffle), I will be hoping and wishing for the DVD as Burly said. |
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Post by ali973 on May 1, 2016 7:02:59 GMT
I'm with Joe on this. Xavier is serviceable, but really not a match to his Norma, Max and Betty. He's of course vocally very capable, but..
He lacks the self-hate and the grit Joe should embody. In the title song he just whizzes through it without much depth. And I agree with Joe that it's all very jazz-hands with him (though I also think that he's been directed this way).
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 7:56:12 GMT
Yeah it could be a direction thing. It just seemed very basic acting, oh I need to emphasise an emotion I better throw my arms and hands out. I've liked michael xavier until this, but I'd be put off seeing him in another dramatic role now. Shame as I think joe is one of the better male roles in musical theatre
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 1, 2016 8:06:14 GMT
Difficult to portray self hatred when they've got you prancing about in your pants.
It it was more randy opportunist who got annoyed when things weren't going his way, wasn't it?
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Post by danb on May 1, 2016 8:43:00 GMT
I'm with Joe on this. Xavier is serviceable, but really not a match to his Norma, Max and Betty. He's of course vocally very capable, but.. He lacks the self-hate and the grit Joe should embody. In the title song he just whizzes through it without much depth. And I agree with Joe that it's all very jazz-hands with him (though I also think that he's been directed this way). Yes, it's the acting that's a problem; his voice is perfectly servicable and soars on occasion. |
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Post by crabtree on May 1, 2016 9:56:40 GMT
I'm still replaying everything after yesterday's matinee.....truly loved the show. I was a little disappointed in Norma's outfits, as apart the black and white one for the trip to the studio, the other's didn't read as strong shapes or as a design. There was a lot of flowing glittery fabric that for me, didn't read a few rows back in the grand circle.
I have no complaints about Michael at all - I could really see how he was torn, and how in 'Sunset Boulevard' he had finally surrendered.
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Post by alece10 on May 1, 2016 12:00:04 GMT
Well I hope she is taking a nice rest today as I want her on top form tomorrow night.
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Post by Dave25 on May 1, 2016 12:07:59 GMT
I'd much rather have a complete performance like this than powerful vocals for a few songs and ok acting. I'd much rather have both. I would not call this a complete performance at all. The most special and magical moments come from the rising, placement, polishing and perfect finesse, the lifecycle, building up, middle, and end, of a note and all emotional layers and different depths of a note, the whole palette from soft to loud and knowing that even the slightest vibrato can change the course of the emotion the note evokes, because that is exactly what creates magic in this artform. It is the basis of the acting in this artform. This understanding is necessary for a complete performance. Sure, she can make a good face in a moment without song, but all the other moments are not fully used to it's potential because of this inadequacy. It is cute when someone is able to act in spite of singing, but I am talking about a whole different level. Acting through song. |
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Post by Dave25 on May 1, 2016 12:50:24 GMT
Listen to this, very emotional performance. What she does is taking the listener on a journey. I could write 5 pages about what is so great about this, and her notes and acting through them, from the warm round timbre she gives a note when she sings about a longing from the past, to the way she intonates the first "I can make your sad heart sing", to the marvelous transition between "with one look you know, all you need to know", where the word "all" feels very hopeful and "need" gets a touch of melancholy because of her magnificent intonation. Etc, etc, etc. She completely masters the craft.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 12:56:44 GMT
Thank you for the slightly patronising posts, I stand by my opinion
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 14:33:22 GMT
Xavier is fine, but it isn't his show. It's Glenn's. I would have loved to have seen what a stronger actor could have done with the role.
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Post by ali973 on May 1, 2016 16:56:27 GMT
Interesting thing I found out today..
Since it's an ENO production, it's opera tradition for the leading lady/man to ask their understudy to go on if they're indisposed.
Apparently this happened during Glenn's absence last week. I think it's lovely. No I'm not being facetious, really it's lovely!
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