Glenn Close as Desiree Armfeldt?

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 7:26pm

I'm not sure what I think of that...

~K
Glenn Close Once Again Considering Little Night Music

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 7:38pm

Ugh. Not exciting. Desiree is a light, comedic presence. A soft at the center diva. I love Glenn, particularly her work in SUNSET, but she's not at her best playing vulnerable. And in her late 50s, when this is to be done -- as someone pointed out, will she be believable as a ravishing star two men duel over?

This is a part for a lady with glamour, but a twinkle in her eye, too. A sense of ridiculous about herself. I thought Juliet Stevenson a chilly, Glenda Jackson-y Desiree at City Opera, and think the role needs to go back to the type who originated it: Glynis Johns. Hers is still my favorite, a woman who was a silly, irresponsible girl underneath the theatrical trappings and world-weariness. Who's a Glynis for our times? Not Glenn. Don't laugh, folks, but I'd rather see someone like, say Goldie Hawn. Someone with some bubbles. Of the stage ladies d'un age certain, I think Christine Ebersole comes closest. Ideas? How about Bacall for Madame Armfeldt? She would nail that, "Liaisons" included, no?

Updated On: 4/26/04 at 07:38 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 8:06pm

Christine Ebersole I think would make a wonderful Desiree. I also saw Hayley Mills play her and she was remarkably, surprisingly good!

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 8:15pm

i think patti lupone would be awsome in the role!!! i know she played the role in the concert version and got rave reveiws!!! :)

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 8:23pm

I know Glenn has a following, but I'm not really big on her myself - she's my least favorite Norma Desmond. I was hoping that maybe Elaine Paige would be a serious candidate for Desiree. I know...I know... a Londoner not too well known here in NY...but she's just so great. I think she'd be splendid. Christine Ebersole would bring a glorious soprano and class to the role. I'm not too sure about Patti LuPone though... she isn't the first person to spring to my mind. And wouldn't it be lovely wishful thinking if we could get Angela Lansbury as Mme. Armfeldt - I think she would be so right. Bacall is an interesting choice as well.

~Kevin

Posted: 4/26/04 at 8:34pm

Wait a minute. We say that Glenn Close could not play Desiree. I would love to see her do it.

But I have to say that I adore Judi Dench.

Posted: 4/26/04 at 9:02pm

My all-Time favorite show. Not too excited about Glenn Close...What about Patti Lupone? She could be interesting. And of course Kristin Chenoweth as Anne. :)

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 9:20pm

Oh, why, oh, WHY do woman who are not excellent vocalists ever get cast as Desiree? Blair Brown in the recent Kennedy Center production just butchered her songs. "Send In The Clowns" should be left to actors with beautiful voices (I think Elaine Paige is a wonderful suggestion), not to those, like Ms. Close, who have to act/sing their songs due to their vocal shortcomings. Don't get me wrong, I like Glenn in many works, but not Desiree! PLEASE, NO!!!!

[tpdc]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 9:30pm

I think Desiree needs to be played by a strong actress with a pleasant but not knock out voice. In the 70s I saw Julie Wilson as Desiree and to prove to us that she still could sing, she belted Glamourous Life. Wilson was fine in the role but she really tried to do more in the songs than they called for. I don't think Close is an ideal Desiree and I was mixed on Brown, but I don't want to see a great singer in a role that doesn't call for impressive singing. I loved Judi Dench in the clips I saw of her in a BBC profile.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 11:21pm

I have the Natinal Theater recording, and Dench is truly wonderful (and that version preserves the best version of "Glamourous life" -- with Fredericka's beautiful, poignant verses included fromt he film. Among Sondheim's best work, IMO.)
I think someone like LuPone -- hardly a Scandanavian stage star at the turn of the century (more like the maid Petra, at age 50) -- will turn the show into a vehicle. NIGHT MUSIC really isn't. It's an ensemble piece in the best, truest sense. To me, any revival should carefullh find the balance, and in Desiree, focus on humor, glamour, elegance, and a kind of girlish wit.

Posted: 4/26/04 at 11:28pm

I think Desiree should NOT be played by a fabulos voiced actress. Someone who is past her prime, as Desiree is. This part is not for the innocent ingenue or the belting diva. This charactor needs to be an againg actress who is touring touring productions as she cannot get the other parts anymore. THAT would be perfect. A Norma Desmond, as you would for the Sondheim lovers.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 11:38pm

Auggie, I think you hit the nail on the head. Patti, though suited for Mrs. Lovett, may not be suited to Desiree. Then when you think about it more, Desiree is not a large role vocally. sings in "The Glamorous Life", "You Must Meet My Wife" and "Send in the Clowns". The notes aren't particularly demanding on the cords, like the operetta material for the others (Mme. Armfeldt and Charlotte excluded, of course). Many great actresses should be able to pull it off unless they are completely tonedeaf.

I think the revival of "Night Music" should be intimate, maybe in one of the smaller theatres that Broadway has to offer. But that's just me. But I'll take a good champagne whenever I can get it.

~Kevin

Now if they'd only reissue the National Theatre recording so I could get my hands on it...

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 11:42pm

Let me clarify -- I don't think Desiree needs to be an actress with a big, strong, belty voice a la Patti L. But, folks, Blair Brown couldn't carry a tune! I think that the person in the role should have a lovely, tuneful voice and be able to sing on key. I don't think Desiree's songs should just be croaked out by just any ol' actress. Just my opinion.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 4/26/04 at 11:57pm

i love how thoughtful you all are in sharing your opinions of who, what and why. i must simpley say that i have vowed that glenn close's singing voice shall never again touch my eardrums. remember her version of "send in the clowns" at the '92 carnegie hall tribute? deadly. betty buckley did a fab desiree on BBC radio a few years back but i think she doesn't look the part these days.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 12:03am

I think Glenn is a very weak vocalist. I had the hardest time with her performance on the American Cast Recording of "Sunset Boulevard", especially since the three notes of the "With One Look" lie on her passagio. The contrast between head and chest voice is enough to make one cringe. One note she bellows and the next she barely gets out in a thin, strained squeak of a soprano. (Not to mention how over-the-top she was - nowhere for the character to go) "Night Music" would be guaranteed a long run with her marquee value though. I would still prefer someone else.

~Kevin Updated On: 4/27/04 at 12:03 AM

[jo]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 12:34am

I have not seen A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC performed on stage - and would look forward to a re-staging soon. Elaine Paige sounds like a good suggestion ...not too sure about Glenn Close ( whom I have not seen onstage)as her screen personality comes out too strong for me.

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 3:36am

I think Glenn is a very interesting choice. The role is not meant for someone with the greatest vocal chops ever heard. Glynis Johns was NOT a "singer." Sondheim wrote the role with her acting in mind, not her vocals. Patti L. would overpower the role and Betty Buckley would too. I think Glenn might be just perfect. But lord help us if Kristin Chenoweth is considered for the 19-year-old Ann! Ann needs to be silly and a bit ditzy, but she has an old-fashioned charm to her. Kristin reads like Legally Blonde in everything she does. It's wonderful for Wicked, but not what Night Music calls for.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 4:27am

Anne Egerman? How about Anne Hathaway or Emmy Rossum? I was surprised to see that Emmy was only 16 when she made "Mystic River" where she played a 19 year old so convincingly. Besides I think Kristin is a little too old for the role.

~K Updated On: 4/27/04 at 04:27 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:20am

this is a tough thread because many of you have made some really good points. I, myself, think Glenn is all wrong for the role. I lover her film work, but when I saw her do excerpts from Sunset Boulevard in that birthday tribute to Andrew Lloyd Weber - I shuddered at how bad she sounded and overacted. I also have the Sondheim at Carnegie Hall recording of her singing Send in the Clowns and all I can say is - Horrendous. I don't have any suggestions as to who SHOULD play the role - but I definitely think Glenn should not. (anyone think she was right for the role of Nellie in South Pacific a couple of years back? THATS MY POINT!)

[alterego]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:39am

I couldn't agree more with everything Auggie27 has said, and I think Goldie Hawn would make a damn good Desiree.
Please don't ANYONE suggest Bernadette Peters gggrrrrrrrr.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:52am

Not that I think she's be a great choice for the role - but whats wrong with Bernadette Peters? She's pretty amazing, no matter what she does.

[henry]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:53am

I don't know why Desiree is always cast with actresses over 50. In the original Bergman film "Smiles of a Summer Night," Desiree is in her early-to-mid 40's.

There's a wonderful bit of dialogue in the film when Desiree and Frederick meet again after the performance. Speaking of Anne's tantrum at the show, he says to Desiree, "She said you must be at least 50." Desiree: "Oh! She IS angry."

I think Donna Murphy would make a fine Desiree. Emmy Rossum is an interesting choice for Anne - her singing in that film "Songcatcher" was lovely.

BTW, "Smiles" should be required viewing for anyone, especially fans of "Night Music." It's coming out on DVD soon.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 10:40am

I will go on record as saying the better a vocalist someone is, the worse their SEND IN THE CLOWNS sounds. The song is written for a non-singer, in very short phrases. To elongate those phrases to show off one's voice distorts the song.

Nothing compares the the fragile, bird-like rendition by Glynis Johns. Simply stunning.

However, if you can get the Judy Dench version on CD, do so. The orchestrations and tempi are just ravishing! Dench is a little too strong for the role, but pulls it off quite nicely. And the extended GLAMOROUS LIFE is delightful.

Whatever happened to Tony-nominee Annette Bening doing this role?

Updated On: 4/27/04 at 10:40 AM

Posted: 4/27/04 at 10:51am

The song is definitely written for a non singer. It took me forever to finnaly decide to read this thread. Because the idea of Close doing this just sounds so boring.

[emonkeygirl]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 11:34am

Dame Judi Dench! The be-all-end-all for me. I was lucky enough to be in London at the National at the time and sat not even 10 feet away from her doing Send in the Clowns. Amazing. Especially, 'cause I normally hate that song.
I don't think that Glenn Close can do the self-bitterness/sadness well enough. Dame Dench was secure enough to play the weaknesses & the strengths of the character.
As a side note, I love the title Dame!