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Showing results for tags 'Glenn Close'.
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I'm not sure how much Glenn Close is getting paid to star in this revival of Sunset Boulevard 26 years after the original, but she is worth every cent - even considering an imperfect vocal performance. This production was called 'partially staged' in London - when it moved to New York they must have fleshed out the staging a bit, but it is still much lighter than the original. After all, you need the space to hold the 40-piece orchestra on the stage which provides rich sound without being distracting behind the actors. The actor playing Joe Gillis (male lead) was fine, but gave a very by-the-book performance with very by-the-book vocals. The night we saw the performance, the woman playing his young love interest (Betty) was an understudy - she was also fine but gave a very by-the-book performance with somewhat thin vocals. This all leads to the production being a bit of a bore until Close takes the stage - it is hard to imagine anyone else in this role (though I'm sure the other actresses involved in the 1991 casting drama feel differently). Even with her breaking BOTH of the two most dramatic notes of the production (With One Look in the 1st act, and the final note of the show in the second), her overall performance carries the show. At the curtain call, Close's behavior was somewhat... eccentric - her small dog coming on stage for a back-and-forth dialogue to raise money for the theatre fund left several patrons wondering how far off Close really was from her character, Norma Desmond. This production is on stage through early June - if you're in the city before then, it is worth the ticket to see this performance. -
From the thread on Amadeus a reference to actress Meg Tilly reminded me of the Big Chill, first the film and additionally the soundtrack. Both are favorites of mine. They ring so close to experience and heart. I lived some of that film w/ my friends; attended college during the same time period referenced in the film, engaged in some of the acts that those characters referenced, had reunions of that ilk with old college friends, even had reunions of that ilk around funerals as was the case in the film. The movie won awards when it came out. It was also an early film for an amazing array of actors that gained significant fame in theater and film over long careers, Meg Tilly being one of them. In fact there have been cries for an adjusted Director's Cut that would have included Kevin Costner in the scenes he filmed. (all of his scenes were cut from the original film and a new version has never been released). The Soundtrack is an astonishing uplifting variety of songs from the 1960's from a host of artists, with a heavy emphasis on Motown. From one who grew up on that music it is a very upbeat emotionally powerful reflection of the best of that decade. I know my reactions to the film and the soundtrack are biased through my experiences. So my question for the rest of you; Is it a period piece or does it transcend the time and place of the film and serve to move you? And for those of you from that time period, how do you feel about the film and/or the soundtrack? Damn. I listen to that soundtrack all the time.
