Glenn Close?- Page 3

[emlodik]

Posted: 7/18/12 at 6:27pm

Ah, I see your point now. I guess it's all subjective in the end, but I swear to God, hearing Petula Clark as Maria von Trapp and/or Norma Desmond causes me physical pain.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/18/12 at 10:28pm

I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more off the mark if you tried. In so many interviews, time and time again, Close remarked at the power of the role and how she night after night would simply get lost in the material- even if you don't care for the score, you are still playing one of the greatest roles every written.

Oh, please. Close did so much extraneous schtick with her "claws" it seemed she was already auditioning for Cruella DeVille. And I hate to break it to you, but actors lie to the press almost as often as they lie to themselves. (And, yes, most of my best friends are actors. None of the above should be construed to mean I don't love them.)

(ETA Just to be clear: I think Glenn Close is a fine film actress and has many wonderful (mostly dramatic) performances on her resume. And I only know LuPone's Norma from the recording, but to my ear, SHE is the one who takes the part seriously and the flaws in the show are all the more apparent because of it. I am not what you'd call a fanatic (for or against) either actress.) Updated On: 7/18/12 at 10:28 PM

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 7/19/12 at 5:01am

One thing people forget....Glenn Close was FUNNY too. Laugh out loud, hysterically funny line readings readings laced with wonderful wit and irony. Paige tried but Lupone and Buckley didn't seem to even realize there was humor in the script. Billy Wilder wrote the original folks!!!

[castlestreet]

Posted: 7/19/12 at 8:45am

^ Agreed- someone has got a fairly pristine copy of Sunset on Broadway that they keep posting tiny bits here and there on Youtube- in the last year The Lady's Paying was uploaded- and her delivery of that scene finds the humor.

I can't remember if it was Canaby or Barnes, maybe it was even Rich- but someone said in their review of LuPone in the show that her Norma came off as "bitchy" and therefore unsympathetic. Glenn's had heart, was funny at times, and in the end incredibly tragic.

As far as the hatred of Close's voice- I don't know what else to say- I don't remember any uproar's about her rendition of Send In The Clown's in the Sondheim Concert years ago- it wasn't until she replaced La LuPone that her singing voice became totally unsuitable.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 7/19/12 at 12:29pm

I love her humor in the role. It balances everything out.

Her rendition of "Send in the Clowns" is one of the best I've ever seen. She really seemed to "get" the song.