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Post by dontdreamit on Jan 12, 2021 19:19:52 GMT
I’m watching this tonight. Is there an interval at all? Yes it’s a 10 minute one Brilliant thank you! |
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 12, 2021 21:51:18 GMT
This is worth twenty quids worth of anyone’s money. Hugely imaginative staging. The orchestra is absolutely gorgeous and a total treat, so nice that absence of an audience meant that they could be on stage and not hidden away round the back. Every cloud etc.
I found the social distancing to be ok until we got to the NYE tango and the seduction scenes. This didn’t work and in the case of the tango was vaguely ridiculous. Couldn’t Danny and Ria have bubbled?
Danny Mac is excellent and the format makes his breaking of the fourth wall particularly effective. Ria? Oh, Ria. I saw the Curve production 3 times when it was in Manchester and very much enjoyed it and her. But I really do wish we could have had a new Norma for this. I have every respect for Ria Jones, her portrayal of Rose in Gypsy at the REX last year was exceptional but I think her Norma on film is a bit clumsy and i would really have liked to hear these songs sung by someone else. I have to say that Adam Pearce is absolutely fantastic as Max and my favourite performance in the show.
It streamed beautifully on the internet browser on my smart tv and sounded wonderful with the sound up. Sorry neighbours! 🙂
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2021 22:02:29 GMT
Running round a revolve in an attempt to show you're driving a car,didnt seem to be highly imaginative staging.
I enjoyed it and it was nice to see a show again, but it being done in the round didnt do it any favours. I wonder if this was the same way it would have been done if it was for a live audience. Why have the 3 revolves if they barely move?
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Post by dontdreamit on Jan 12, 2021 22:09:23 GMT
This was wonderful. I managed to fully-immerse myself in this. I love the fact that people have gone out of their way to still bring theatre to us b
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 12, 2021 22:12:24 GMT
Running round a revolve in an attempt to show you're driving a car,didnt seem to be highly imaginative staging. I suppose he could have stood still and made steering wheel motions with his arms. And there were “projections” of course. How would you have done it? . |
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Post by musicalmarge on Jan 13, 2021 1:13:36 GMT
Running round a revolve in an attempt to show you're driving a car,didnt seem to be highly imaginative staging. I suppose he could have stood still and made steering wheel motions with his arms. And there were “projections” of course. How would you have done it? . A simple steering wheel prop could have helped I agree. Or perhaps a chassis of a car set in the seats of the auditorium? Perhaps the chorus could have all come close (not too close) together and made the shape of a car like Skimbleshanks. Just like the non dance section in A Perfect Year / both were not perfect! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 13, 2021 7:42:05 GMT
I don’t think there was a single prop in it was there? The Lady’s Paying would have benefited from some clothes being thrown around but nothing. I think it was a conscious decision not to.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 9:26:44 GMT
Given the extreme circumstances, I find it maddening people still need to nitpick about creative decisions like blocking or choreography they didn't like and can't find it in them to praise the efforts of teams going out of their way to provide theatrical content mid-pandemic.
Anyway. Who'd have thought a year ago that the British Government would be paying for Sunset Boulevard to be produced on film! Didn't predict that one.
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Post by saral on Jan 13, 2021 17:41:09 GMT
I loved the whole thing, yes they could have maybe had some props, but from when they must have enquired about filming it to actually doing it, they did a grand job
The only social distancing bit I found weird was the 3 of them in the car waiting to get into Paramount, not sure why Norma was in front of Max?
When I saw the tour in Newcastle, I loved the production to bits but for some reason I didn't think Ria was as good as I had hoped, I think her singing was better in this than on tour.
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Post by richey on Jan 13, 2021 18:24:14 GMT
I don’t think there was a single prop in it was there? The Lady’s Paying would have benefited from some clothes being thrown around but nothing. I think it was a conscious decision not to. does the monkey count as a prop? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 13, 2021 18:42:06 GMT
I don’t think there was a single prop in it was there? The Lady’s Paying would have benefited from some clothes being thrown around but nothing. I think it was a conscious decision not to. does the monkey count as a prop? Ooh yes! I’d forgotten him! |
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 13, 2021 19:57:36 GMT
He's a chimpanzee, not a monkey!
"Max shuffling about and a dead ape dumped on a shelf" remember?
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 13, 2021 20:00:12 GMT
He's a chimpanzee, not a monkey! "Max shuffling about and a dead ape dumped on a shelf" remember? Are you going to watch this anthony40? Or did our Glenn experience at the ENO spoil you for any other version? |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 13, 2021 20:02:32 GMT
This is worth twenty quids worth of anyone’s money. Hugely imaginative staging. The orchestra is absolutely gorgeous and a total treat, so nice that absence of an audience meant that they could be on stage and not hidden away round the back. Every cloud etc. I found the social distancing to be ok until we got to the NYE tango and the seduction scenes. This didn’t work and in the case of the tango was vaguely ridiculous. Couldn’t Danny and Ria have bubbled? Danny Mac is excellent and the format makes his breaking of the fourth wall particularly effective. Ria? Oh, Ria. I saw the Curve production 3 times when it was in Manchester and very much enjoyed it and her. But I really do wish we could have had a new Norma for this. I have every respect for Ria Jones, her portrayal of Rose in Gypsy at the REX last year was exceptional but I think her Norma on film is a bit clumsy and i would really have liked to hear these songs sung by someone else. I have to say that Adam Pearce is absolutely fantastic as Max and my favourite performance in the show. It streamed beautifully on the internet browser on my smart tv and sounded wonderful with the sound up. Sorry neighbours! 🙂 I agree - Adam Pearce is consistently excellent (or has been in his performances over recent years that I've seen). I thought his Max was a revelation - I wish it could win an award, as he found depths in the role I've not previously seen. A really excellent actor. |
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Post by anita on Jan 14, 2021 12:43:52 GMT
Would like a DVD as no internet at home. I can't see anything that is being streamed.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 14, 2021 18:02:49 GMT
Would like a DVD as no internet at home. I can't see anything that is being streamed. Me too. Internet is OK but don’t like the risk of having to watch at a certain time. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 14, 2021 19:06:01 GMT
Me too. Internet is OK but don’t like the risk of having to watch at a certain time. I agree streams that can only be watched at a set time can be a bit tricky but I find it helpful if you have to watch something within 24 or 48 hours as it makes you get organised & watch it. Things that are available for, say, a month I find myself keeping on putting off watching until the last minute. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 1:08:48 GMT
I suppose he could have stood still and made steering wheel motions with his arms. And there were “projections” of course. How would you have done it? . It wasn't the initial car chase scene that stood out, because that was covered by the projections, It was after Norma calls Betty and then Joe tells Betty to come to the house. Hey, Maybe Betty did run to the house from hers, I don't know, but that's when it stood out to me more. Given the extreme circumstances, I find it maddening people still need to nitpick about creative decisions like blocking or choreography they didn't like and can't find it in them to praise the efforts of teams going out of their way to provide theatrical content mid-pandemic. Given that they were already going to do the show, they were hardly going out of their way and whilst it was great to see the show filmed, given lockdowns etc, it was a money making scheme for them to make money back, they weren't doing it for "those wonderful people, out there in the dark" |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 9:25:39 GMT
I suppose he could have stood still and made steering wheel motions with his arms. And there were “projections” of course. How would you have done it? . It wasn't the initial car chase scene that stood out, because that was covered by the projections, It was after Norma calls Betty and then Joe tells Betty to come to the house. Hey, Maybe Betty did run to the house from hers, I don't know, but that's when it stood out to me more. Given the extreme circumstances, I find it maddening people still need to nitpick about creative decisions like blocking or choreography they didn't like and can't find it in them to praise the efforts of teams going out of their way to provide theatrical content mid-pandemic. Given that they were already going to do the show, they were hardly going out of their way and whilst it was great to see the show filmed, given lockdowns etc, it was a money making scheme for them to make money back, they weren't doing it for "those wonderful people, out there in the dark" I was under the impression it was actually funded under conditions of their successful application for the Arts Recovery Grant and produced as part of a loss-leading exercise to keep the actors, musicians, technicians, copyists, directors, theatre staff, and so on, all in work. As is The Colour Purple. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 17:00:47 GMT
Yes it was partly funded through the grant, which they received late last year, when the 3 show season was announced, and people were hoping to see it in person. But the decision to film it, and charge £20 a go came after. Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed seeing it, and didnt mind paying the money, but people are still entitled to an opinion when its a money making exercise. They weren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Hopefully it made them some money. They streamed it numerous times a day and for an extended period. Good for them and i hope other people recognise there is a way forward.
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Post by thenightowl on Jan 18, 2021 13:52:40 GMT
Incase anyone wanted to watch the Q&A with the team behind Sunset Boulevard, Curve recently put this video up to their YouTube channel.
I'm guessing this is the pre-show talk that was £30.00 ? Enjoy  |
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Post by theatreian on Jan 18, 2021 14:27:34 GMT
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 18, 2021 22:59:01 GMT
The pre-show talk was absolutele GOLD for a Sunset obsessive like me! Could have listened for hours! Much food for thought, and how wonderful to get the writers "together" and talking about it.
I do hope some kind of "film" will get made. Even if it just a Netflix or Amazon Prime exclusive (which might allow for less dilution/meddling from the Paramount side?....)
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 18, 2021 23:01:36 GMT
Wonderful. Much better than Ria Jones's voice to be honest. Her voice is more robust and has a more dynamic range.
Also love the slight raspy quality and a more American accent (most Norma's seem to do with a "Transatlantic" accent) - Mazz's delivery is very much in keeping with Gloria Swanson actually.
Hope she gets to play it soon!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jan 19, 2021 7:50:13 GMT
Much better than Ria’s grating shrill pitchy tones but I have to say I was still very disappointed in Mazz too, it’s not enough just to “sing it” like this. She hardly acted the song at all. No thought process, too American (Glen Close has that Hollywood old school mid Atlantic thang going on), and no sense of character from Mazz. Shame. It’s like the opposite of Ria now! Considering she’s a much better singer, she still doesn’t work for me. Norma is such a difficult role to play. Can’t sing it too much, can’t over act, can’t be too much of a diva or OTT, needs the sub text, hope and loss mixed with ego and the faded star. I think Glen Close (though vocally not the best singer) is the best followed by Kathryn Evans. She was sensational. I’d love Barbara Streisand to play her, or to see and hear her - though too old, the surgery would match the part and she has that star quality already. |
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