|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2020 22:15:45 GMT
That score! Still gets me. I loved that they integrated the projections from the tour into the storytelling. Embracing the environment by making the theatre the set and incorporating the medium of film into the subtext by not hiding any of the camerawork really set this piece off. Brechtian in its influence, they didn't try to obscure or mute the fact that they were filming in an empty auditorium and this echoed the plight of Norma's rejection from her audience.Will definitely be tuning in a few more times over the next few weeks. Completely agree, it was so clever. Norma descending from the top of the circle for her finale was just iconic. |
|
872 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Dec 22, 2020 22:17:16 GMT
I liked it well enough but I think I just can't shake Gloria Swanson as Desmond in the film to like someone else in the role (and I also don't like how strained Ria Jones' voice is). I guess it's better to play it completely uniquely than to attempt a pale imitation but I just don't think you're going to find a better angle than the original. I loved her As if We Never Said Goodbye but everything else did nothing for me (and I don't like how the show ends on a reprise of that section in With One Look rather than "Alright Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my close-up!"). I guess I'm just not a great fan of musicals with such iconic source material because people come in with preconceptions and it's almost certainly never going to live up to them.
|
|
2 posts
|
Post by sootyca on Dec 22, 2020 22:39:31 GMT
Did anyone else have the sound and visual not being in sync, especially in the second act?
|
|
5,795 posts
|
Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 22, 2020 23:21:13 GMT
I really fancy watching this but Ria Jones puts me off. Find her too cruise ship.
If only someone else was playing Norma.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2020 23:36:55 GMT
Did anyone else have the sound and visual not being in sync, especially in the second act? Yes it was fine at the start but drifted out. Agree 2nd act was worse and spoiled it a bit. Otherwise loved it, it’s such a cinematic show anyway it was made to be filmed. I’d seen the tour in Manchester so it was great to get such an intimate take on it. I felt for the cast, such great performances and no applause. |
|
19,659 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 23, 2020 7:51:48 GMT
What’s the process for streaming? How do you get it into the tv?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2020 7:53:30 GMT
Did anyone else have the sound and visual not being in sync, especially in the second act? Yes it was fine at the start but drifted out. Agree 2nd act was worse and spoiled it a bit. Otherwise loved it, it’s such a cinematic show anyway it was made to be filmed. I’d seen the tour in Manchester so it was great to get such an intimate take on it. I felt for the cast, such great performances and no applause.Agree, especially at the end I wanted to cheer and applaud manically. But the deafening silence after 'With One Look' swiftly followed by 'Now go' was even more powerful in the theatre. With an audience that moment of applause gets held for quite a while and sometimes the following line can get lost, but here we go this huge crescendo of epic Norma to an immediate switch with her being done with Joe and telling him to go. It emphasised, so completely, how broken she is. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2020 7:54:38 GMT
|
|
8,096 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Dec 23, 2020 8:18:35 GMT
This is why I don't pay for any of the streaming performances as I don't want to watch something on my laptop, screen too small and quality and sound not that brilliant.
As I am with Virgin I can get YouTube on my TV but the TV is not that "smart" so can't stream stuff on it.
I'd like to see this but don't want to fork out £20 to watch on my laptop
|
|
2,676 posts
|
Post by viserys on Dec 23, 2020 8:53:17 GMT
This is why I don't pay for any of the streaming performances as I don't want to watch something on my laptop, screen too small and quality and sound not that brilliant. As I am with Virgin I can get YouTube on my TV but the TV is not that "smart" so can't stream stuff on it. I'd like to see this but don't want to fork out £20 to watch on my laptop
You can get a HDMI Cable for a Tenner or something. Stick one end into your laptop and the other into your TV and presto.
I didn't bother looking into the capabilities of my (non-fancy, non-smart) television for years and I regret it dearly now, because it's really such an easy and simple solution that heightened my joy of watching streams this year alot.
Speaking of, with all the praise here, looks like I know what to watch in the weekend  |
|
|
|
Post by danb on Dec 23, 2020 11:10:26 GMT
This is why I don't pay for any of the streaming performances as I don't want to watch something on my laptop, screen too small and quality and sound not that brilliant. As I am with Virgin I can get YouTube on my TV but the TV is not that "smart" so can't stream stuff on it. I'd like to see this but don't want to fork out £20 to watch on my laptop
You can get a HDMI Cable for a Tenner or something. Stick one end into your laptop and the other into your TV and presto.
I didn't bother looking into the capabilities of my (non-fancy, non-smart) television for years and I regret it dearly now, because it's really such an easy and simple solution that heightened my joy of watching streams this year alot.
Speaking of, with all the praise here, looks like I know what to watch in the weekend We ended up watching Rent like the this snd the quality was fab. |
|
82 posts
|
Post by mikey on Dec 23, 2020 14:47:04 GMT
Just booked a stream ticket for this evening! Will be a lovely way to start the christmas break.
|
|
3,426 posts
|
Post by ceebee on Dec 23, 2020 16:50:01 GMT
I just watched this, and what a superb effort it is too. The music wins out for me every time, and Adam Pearce is excellent as always. I will definitely watch this again, and this along with A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic has made me grateful for armchair theatre/concerts in these strange times. If in doubt, don't be - buy a ticket and enjoy!!
|
|
3,426 posts
|
Post by ceebee on Dec 23, 2020 16:52:11 GMT
I really fancy watching this but Ria Jones puts me off. Find her too cruise ship. If only someone else was playing Norma. I enjoyed her performance more than I expected to. Thought she was great! |
|
1,210 posts
|
Post by musicalmarge on Dec 24, 2020 21:22:08 GMT
Watching tonight - THIS IS AMAZING!!!
How creative, stylish, clever with an amazing cast. The filming, staging, sound, direction... Wow.
Shame that Ria as Norma is flat, strained, pitchy with surface level obvious acting and and tinny shrill singing voice. She’s not great and I don’t know why she’s leading this show at all. She’s the worst Norma out of all the actress/singers I’ve seen. What a shame Mazz Murray never had a stab.
That aside the production is sensational! 9/10.
|
|
3,303 posts
|
Post by david on Dec 24, 2020 22:35:08 GMT
Just finished watching tonight's stream and hands down that was by far the best streaming production I've viewed this year. The whole piece was just a joy to watch and the editing was spot on. Using the whole auditorium as the set was just a fantastic idea and worked really well, particularly in Act 2 (that final scene in the Circle seating was just sublime). The Curve theatre itself looks a really lovely theatre from tonight's viewing.
For me SB is up there with JCS as ALW's best scores. The orchestra was just fabulous to listen to and those iconic songs sung by a stellar cast.
A great evening's entertainment and a really enjoyable way to start the Christmas holiday. 5 stars.
|
|
2,676 posts
|
Post by viserys on Dec 26, 2020 13:24:16 GMT
Hmmm. I like Sunset Blvd but aren't a massive fan, so only booked the stream following the first enthusiastic reviews here. While I don't regret buying it, it didn't quite cut it for me - certainly not in the same way Hope Mill's "Rent" did, which was 99% fabulous (the 1% goes to the Roger-serenading-the-towel direction decision which ruined "Your Eyes" for me).
Anyway, yes, the use of the full theatre was quite inspired and on the whole I would agree that it was certainly the most ingenious creative way to create a musical streaming experience I've seen so far, both the use of the house, the 50s-style credits and the way they wove some pics of young Norma or Paramount in.
Casting-wise Danny Mac saved the show for me, he was the best Joe Gillis I've seen in... oh, perhaps ever. Just perfect. But I couldn't warm to Ria Jones at all, she was far too much smiley chirpy slightly-batty Aunty Next Door for me with not even a hint of the haughty and yet brittle demeanor of a former superstar. And while it was nobody's fault but enforced social distancing, I felt like there was no chemistry between the leads at all. "Perfect New Year" was almost painful to watch as they tried their damn best to convey emotion with looks and smiles, but this truly needed physical nearness to "sizzle" between them.
So, I'm glad your comments here made me watch this creative version and I AM glad to finally have seen Ria Jones (who seems to have become THE Norma Desmond in recent years), but I'm afraid she isn't my cup of tea and I'd rather wait for a properly staged version of this show to come around again.
|
|
100 posts
|
Post by noboiscout on Dec 27, 2020 17:35:23 GMT
Hmmm. I like Sunset Blvd but aren't a massive fan, so only booked the stream following the first enthusiastic reviews here. While I don't regret buying it, it didn't quite cut it for me - certainly not in the same way Hope Mill's "Rent" did, which was 99% fabulous (the 1% goes to the Roger-serenading-the-towel direction decision which ruined "Your Eyes" for me). Anyway, yes, the use of the full theatre was quite inspired and on the whole I would agree that it was certainly the most ingenious creative way to create a musical streaming experience I've seen so far, both the use of the house, the 50s-style credits and the way they wove some pics of young Norma or Paramount in. Casting-wise Danny Mac saved the show for me, he was the best Joe Gillis I've seen in... oh, perhaps ever. Just perfect. But I couldn't warm to Ria Jones at all, she was far too much smiley chirpy slightly-batty Aunty Next Door for me with not even a hint of the haughty and yet brittle demeanor of a former superstar. And while it was nobody's fault but enforced social distancing, I felt like there was no chemistry between the leads at all. "Perfect New Year" was almost painful to watch as they tried their damn best to convey emotion with looks and smiles, but this truly needed physical nearness to "sizzle" between them. So, I'm glad your comments here made me watch this creative version and I AM glad to finally have seen Ria Jones (who seems to have become THE Norma Desmond in recent years), but I'm afraid she isn't my cup of tea and I'd rather wait for a properly staged version of this show to come around again. I think that is a very fair appraisal. I do love Ria in the role, but agree with your comments. Much better chemistry between Fanny and her when seem 'live/. She can play it more than 'slightly batty' aunty, but I guess it was a bit trial and error, as to what they thought would come across best in this stage/film, hybrid. Definitely worthy a £20 punt though. |
|
375 posts
|
Post by Theatre Fan on Dec 30, 2020 16:12:57 GMT
|
|
3,325 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Dec 31, 2020 16:08:46 GMT
Finally saw this at the matinee today and I think this is best one of the recent streaming productions I've seen. Very high production values, the theatre used creatively, clear audio, enough graphics to set the scene without losing the concert feel, no technical issues and a decent high resolution stream. It probably helps to have seen the tour but they really used the cameras here to add to the staging, rather than just recreate a concert.
This is certainly broadcast quality and hopefully it will make it onto Sky Arts, or another similar channel, once the initial streaming period is over.
|
|
|
|
Post by scarpia on Jan 3, 2021 0:08:21 GMT
Finally got round to watching it. Love how they made it an event - it was the closest I've got to live theatre in a while. And I particularly loved the unusual camera angles and video layering effects with the footage they had.
I still have some reservations about the casting (and I still don't understand why Hog-Eye is played by someone younger than everyone else and who wouldn't remember Norma at Paramount). Danny Mac is gorgeous and definitely a leading man, but I'm not sure he's jaded enough for Joe and his lower range isn't quite there. Ria is delightful as a person, but I've never quite bought her Norma, except once when she was understudying Glenn. The wobble that deters me is even more pronounced than usual.
Some odd editing/directorial choices - some of the delivery of the lines was off, e.g. Norma's 'I am big' line and DeMille's line about not knowing what Norma meant when he didn't call personally. I wasn't very convinced by the final scene.
But overall enjoyable and well run as an online event and worth seeing. And the 16-piece orchestra sounded surprisingly rich.
|
|
2,242 posts
|
Post by richey on Jan 8, 2021 23:05:02 GMT
Streaming now extended to 17th January
|
|
1,995 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Jan 8, 2021 23:47:47 GMT
Finally got round to watching it. Love how they made it an event - it was the closest I've got to live theatre in a while. And I particularly loved the unusual camera angles and video layering effects with the footage they had. I still have some reservations about the casting (and I still don't understand why Hog-Eye is played by someone younger than everyone else and who wouldn't remember Norma at Paramount). Danny Mac is gorgeous and definitely a leading man, but I'm not sure he's jaded enough for Joe and his lower range isn't quite there. Ria is delightful as a person, but I've never quite bought her Norma, except once when she was understudying Glenn. The wobble that deters me is even more pronounced than usual. Some odd editing/directorial choices - some of the delivery of the lines was off, e.g. Norma's 'I am big' line and DeMille's line about not knowing what Norma meant when he didn't call personally. I wasn't very convinced by the final scene. But overall enjoyable and well run as an online event and worth seeing. And the 16-piece orchestra sounded surprisingly rich. The casting for this tour has always been weird.
De Mille and Max completely age inappropriate, as well as some of the minor roles. It was some sort of stylistic decision, I understand.
|
|
|
|
Post by dontdreamit on Jan 12, 2021 19:03:55 GMT
I’m watching this tonight. Is there an interval at all?
|
|
1,929 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by LaLuPone on Jan 12, 2021 19:11:02 GMT
I’m watching this tonight. Is there an interval at all? Yes it’s a 10 minute one |
|
