As a huge Sarah fan, it makes me happy to know her performance has been preserved, even if privately. Thank you kindly for this glimpse! When the time is right, I'm hoping you'll allow us more than "one look." ;-)
Her performance was a hot mess and the show was a critical disaster. In Melbourne the ticket sales were so bad they first cut one performance a week, then a second performance per week, and finally ended the run a week early. She was tragically miscast, and that's if I'm being nice about it
I was actually there the following night! It was a terrific production and some great performances. I did think Sarah Brightman was wrong for this role but she took a decent swing at it.
I saw this production last Saturday night. I have seen many productions around the world with Glenn Close, Elaine Paige and Deborah Byrne. This production is utterly spectacular. The cast are magnificent. However, I do feel Sarah's operatic voice is too innocent and sweet for the role of Norma Desmond. Friends I attended with couldn't understand the words she was singing. But on a whole I am so glad I saw it.
When I heard she was going to play it I did think this was going to be either great or terrible, while some reviews have been negative to the point of almost finding new ways to bad mouth it, there's something to say about the way everyone seems to enjoy themselves even Sarah looks so proud and the set is up there with some of the greats so as long as she's happy to do it surely that's enough.
This production design is probably the best since the original. I love Sarah Brightman, but I thought her casting was a head scratcher from the start. I wish I could take this production and swap out Normas on Broadway this fall. Thank you as always for posting Spiderwoman!
So put Sarah in Jamie Lloyds empty minimalist one and Nicole in this one? I could see that working as I was looking forward to seeing Nicole in that old world costume and design but when I saw it was he at it was I decided not to buy a ticket
First of all, thank you so much Spiderwoman for yet another high quality upload; we’re in your debt! Second of all, that set design is incredible! As much as I love Jamie Lloyd’s direction for the upcoming revival, I would have liked to see Sunset in such an aura of extravagance yet again.
I wish I could have seen Sarah in this! I love the set, but, I wish they would have carried the black and white and grey theme into all the actor’s clothing as well!
I would much rather see this classic version, with all the attention to detail. The version that will open soon on Broadway is not something I would see at all.
You guys down there have missed out on the truly awesome brand new Production of Sunset Boulevard ,which played in London last year and now on Broadway……with the amazing Nicole Scherzinger.
The set design is cool. At first I didn't care of it all being so dark, but I guess it is to capture a faded back & white feel. Costume-wise everything looks good IMO, except for Norma's Salome costume at the end. The red and gold just feels off to me, compared to the original from LuPone/Close times. That one was so much more elaborate and really nailed the feeling of madness. This new one feels almost cheap - like Norma made it out of old curtains. I am guessing it is red/gold though to stand out against all of the dark/black of the house set.
@@BroadwayGuy25 I can see that. I think both designs work for her. This new one looks like things from the house. The other one looks like a costume from her silent film era, helping her cling to her past.
@@akrenwinklea chubby Norma also has to be able to deliver on the show stopping numbers. Sarah failed miserably at that. That's if I wanted to be nice about it. If I wanted to be honest I would say a large portion of her singing was unintelligible, she had to talk her way through the lady's paying as opposed to singing her lines, she was overpowered by the orchestra at times, her vocals were devoid of any emotion, her acting was wooden, and for the most part she sounded like a cracked bell with a padded clapper. The absolutely abysmal reviews she received from mainstream critics were absolutely reflective of the substandard performance she gave and a shining example of why stunt casting is not a good practice.
I have an audio of her first preview… I have nothing else to say that’s constructive. It just seems like maybe she was a little out of her element vocally. “with one look, i’ll be ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
I probably have about a dozen audio recordings of her between the the first preview in Melbourne and her final show in Sydney, along with two highlights videos from early in the Melbourne run and a full video of the Sydney production with her. She did not get any better through the course of the run. Then there was Silvie Paladino who was an absolute revelation
As usual you never disappoint!!!
Thanks for a clear beautiful recording!!!
I truly believe this channel deserves an honorary Tony Award one day.
I’ll drink to that!
As a huge Sarah fan, it makes me happy to know her performance has been preserved, even if privately. Thank you kindly for this glimpse! When the time is right, I'm hoping you'll allow us more than "one look." ;-)
I saw it twice. I was moved to tears twice! Sarah is a legend!
Her performance was a hot mess and the show was a critical disaster. In Melbourne the ticket sales were so bad they first cut one performance a week, then a second performance per week, and finally ended the run a week early. She was tragically miscast, and that's if I'm being nice about it
I was actually there the following night! It was a terrific production and some great performances. I did think Sarah Brightman was wrong for this role but she took a decent swing at it.
I've got to agree with you. The cast was absolutely stellar with the exception of Sarah Brightman. Silvie Paladino was stunning though
I saw this production last Saturday night. I have seen many productions around the world with Glenn Close, Elaine Paige and Deborah Byrne. This production is utterly spectacular. The cast are magnificent. However, I do feel Sarah's operatic voice is too innocent and sweet for the role of Norma Desmond. Friends I attended with couldn't understand the words she was singing. But on a whole I am so glad I saw it.
When I heard she was going to play it I did think this was going to be either great or terrible, while some reviews have been negative to the point of almost finding new ways to bad mouth it, there's something to say about the way everyone seems to enjoy themselves even Sarah looks so proud and the set is up there with some of the greats so as long as she's happy to do it surely that's enough.
This production design is probably the best since the original. I love Sarah Brightman, but I thought her casting was a head scratcher from the start. I wish I could take this production and swap out Normas on Broadway this fall. Thank you as always for posting Spiderwoman!
So put Sarah in Jamie Lloyds empty minimalist one and Nicole in this one? I could see that working as I was looking forward to seeing Nicole in that old world costume and design but when I saw it was he at it was I decided not to buy a ticket
@@kaitlynrowena5463I agree!
I’ve been waiting a long time for this thank u
❤Fantastic❤ love from Finland
Can't wait to see the show on the 26th! 😊
First of all, thank you so much Spiderwoman for yet another high quality upload; we’re in your debt!
Second of all, that set design is incredible! As much as I love Jamie Lloyd’s direction for the upcoming revival, I would have liked to see Sunset in such an aura of extravagance yet again.
I wish I could have seen Sarah in this! I love the set, but, I wish they would have carried the black and white and grey theme into all the actor’s clothing as well!
Looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
So nice to see the original curtain call blocking and musical reprise.
Amazing quality, I hope this production comes to London.
I would much rather see this classic version, with all the attention to detail. The version that will open soon on Broadway is not something I would see at all.
Parabéns felicidades 🎂🥳⚠️🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷⚠️
You guys down there have missed out on the truly awesome brand new Production of Sunset Boulevard ,which played in London last year and now on Broadway……with the amazing Nicole Scherzinger.
Que lugar lindo
Ugh, I wanna see/hear Tim Draxl in this SOooo bad!
Tim Draxl was magnificent. I was very impressed. He truly proved that he can be a leading man.
Maybe she is not the best choice for Norma, but it’s definitely a legendary choice!
No, it was poorly convinced and executed stunt casting and it failed miserably
I was there.
Was the full show recorded or was it just the curtain call?
The set design is cool. At first I didn't care of it all being so dark, but I guess it is to capture a faded back & white feel. Costume-wise everything looks good IMO, except for Norma's Salome costume at the end. The red and gold just feels off to me, compared to the original from LuPone/Close times. That one was so much more elaborate and really nailed the feeling of madness. This new one feels almost cheap - like Norma made it out of old curtains. I am guessing it is red/gold though to stand out against all of the dark/black of the house set.
I think the design choice is a bit more realistic - drawn from things that Norma would have had lying around the house.
@@BroadwayGuy25 I can see that. I think both designs work for her. This new one looks like things from the house. The other one looks like a costume from her silent film era, helping her cling to her past.
I was disappointed that the turbans were ditched for wigs!
I think what she wore for ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’ made her look so frumpy.
camp
A chubby Norma has to be camp. Boo-hiss all you want, folks.
Camp @@akrenwinkle
@@akrenwinkle your response was also camp
@@akrenwinklea chubby Norma also has to be able to deliver on the show stopping numbers. Sarah failed miserably at that. That's if I wanted to be nice about it. If I wanted to be honest I would say a large portion of her singing was unintelligible, she had to talk her way through the lady's paying as opposed to singing her lines, she was overpowered by the orchestra at times, her vocals were devoid of any emotion, her acting was wooden, and for the most part she sounded like a cracked bell with a padded clapper. The absolutely abysmal reviews she received from mainstream critics were absolutely reflective of the substandard performance she gave and a shining example of why stunt casting is not a good practice.
She sure is enjoying it.
Getting paid a fortune to fleece the audience and the Australian taxpayer
@@LJ-kg8zx i don’t like her casting as Norma, I’m looking forward to someone releasing a recording of her live singing this…
Well........
What in the world is she wearing on her feet
She's barefoot most of the show
Weird comment - foot fetish much? She's in bare feet, which is the direction for most of the show.
I have an audio of her first preview… I have nothing else to say that’s constructive. It just seems like maybe she was a little out of her element vocally. “with one look, i’ll be ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
I did not realize you had a UA-cam. Subscribed.
Yeah, because you should TOTALLY judge a performer by their first preview recorded on an iphone. 🙄 Idiot.
I probably have about a dozen audio recordings of her between the the first preview in Melbourne and her final show in Sydney, along with two highlights videos from early in the Melbourne run and a full video of the Sydney production with her. She did not get any better through the course of the run. Then there was Silvie Paladino who was an absolute revelation