Betty Buckley - As If We Never Said Goodbye (live Sunset Boulevard)

I saw Glenn Close as Norma Desmond in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's flawed, erratic and overtly dismal SUNSET BOULEVARD the week it opened back in November 1994, and, despite her undeserved Tony Award win, it was not a very good performance. They had to lower the key for her limited range, rearrange the score, and, more often than not, Close seemed lost in the grand spectacle of the staging, something she wasn't used to as a stage actress. The show was beneath her skills as an actress. It needs to be said that Close was only one of two actresses nominated as Best Actress in a dim year for musicals (the other being Rebecca Luker for SHOW BOAT) and Broadway overall.

How Close garnered the role is legendary in itself...I just finished reading an advance of Patti LuPone's autobiography, PATTI LuPONE: A MEMOIR (release date is September 14 -- if you're a theatre buff, PRE-ORDER IT! It's craaaazy!), who reiterates the horror that was the experience of the show -- especially the back-stabbing and the mendacity attributed to the producers and, especially, Webber himself. The chapters of LuPone's book were a mesmerizing read.

Once Close left the role, in stepped Betty Buckley -- and I was astonished at what she was able to do with the role. She brought Norma to life -- long a Broadway legend for her supernatural voice, Buckley's performance was stunning, each song a show-stopper.

LuPone was treated like garbage by Weber and his evil minions -- and Broadway will never know what they missed. There are some YouTube clips posted of her performances that give us a minute taste of what this incandescent lady might have accomplished had she been given the chance...and here's a mere taste of what I experienced with Buckley in the role. I'm not sure if this was from the London production, or from Broadway -- I downloaded this clip from YouTube from SUNSET BOULEVARD uber-fan HouseOnSunset (go check out his page for all things "SB"), and it wasn't specified. The audio was low, so I encoded it at a much higher rate to better appreciate Buckley's aesthete...it's spellbinding.

To witness Buckley on stage is to be beholden to one of the greatest forces of nature...an unparalleled gale force. And, like LuPone, can brilliantly interpret even the most monumental banalities, like an Andrew Lloyd Webber score.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jeffreychrist
• mynewboyfriend.com
• betty buckley
• as if we never said goodbye
• sunset boulevard
• andrew lloyd weber
• glen close
• patti lupone
• norma desmond
• HouseOnSunset

[HouseOnSunset]

Thanks for giving me credit after reposting my video... NOT.

[jeffreychristIsAlive]

@HouseOnSunset Fixed - I updated the info and also added you to the tags! Sorry for the misunderstanding (I never claimed this vid was mine and stated that I downloaded it from YouTube. But I most definitely should have credited you originally. Bad oversight on my part!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

1) I think Glenn Close is one of the greatest actresses of this era, and she can hold a tune, but she was not Norma material.

2) Betty Buckley is unbeatable. It's just how it is. The voice, the acting -- She's never been topped.

3) I've seen videos of Lupone -- I have to say I'm glad she didn't get the part. Her singing sounded whiny and brassy, and she was wooden as ever. I've liked her in some things she's done, but judging from the videos on here, her Norma was sloppy.

[jeffreychristIsAlive]

@AtLastOnTheGround Agreed - I'm not sure Patti would make a good Norma or not. We'll never know. I won't judge by the low-quality clips on YT (e.g. I saw LuPone in GYPSY, and it was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen, but a few clips I saw on YT would negate that statement). And, you're absolutely right about Buckley - NEVER a less-than-stellar performance, and I've seen every show she's done since CATS. I even saw CARRIE opening night and she was great (not the show, though).

[dsdffdsfdsdsffsd]

@jeffreychristIsAlive i posted performances of glenn close and betty buckley (proshot) in sunset boulevard on my channel...

[jeffreychristIsAlive]

@dsdffdsfdsdsffsd Great! Will go watch!

[kevhippo]

......was the best by far. So much power and so believable.

[kevhippo]

Saw Patti and Betty in London. Betty wasthe be

[karrezza]

I think all the performers are talented but some roles just fit and some do not. Glenn Close simply was not pretty enough to be believable as a great actress of the silent film. And though in same key as Buckley, its her RANGE that limits her performance. I think she also played Norma a little to "Fatal Attraction" crazy.

Lupone's perfect role was Evita. Buckley I think would not fit Evita as I don't think Rose was a good character for her, though, her singing and acting are always the best!

[HouseOnSunset]

FYI, Mr. Hypocrite, Betty Buckley SINGS IN THE EXACT SAME KEY AS GLENN.

[dasher70]

I saw it in Australia with Debra Byrne and Hugh Jackman. Their performances were stellar. I still talk about it to all my friends as it would have to be one of the best musical theatre experiences in my life.

[sbfan1000]

@jeffreychristIsAlive

I was sorry for her, but when I read her autobiograhy, I was shocked at how very rude she was to him in her autobiography. Like him or hate him, he's written amazing shows, and has been responsible, as Hal Prince said for the employment of many performers. I bet he's glad he doesn't have anything else to do with her though! lol

[sbfan1000]

@jeffreychristIsAlive

maybe people didn't like the 'banalities of an Andrew Lloyd Webber show' as you stated .... I watched a video of her singing the role at Sydmonton, and frankly, she was not good at all. Don't get me wrong, I think she is a legend, and the other shows she's done are amazing, such as the Sondheim ones, but I do think Lord ALW was right to get rid of her for Sunset ... she was completely wrong for Norma.

[GlasgowMusicStudio]

Its a real, REAL shame that the original broadway production was cut lose as quickly as it was. I would pay any sort of money to see the original production of this show