Showtune Sunday: Battle of Norma Desmonds! Whose version of ‘As if We Never Said Goodbye is your favorite?
Just love watching YouTube videos of the Normas from Broadway and London productions of Sunset Boulevard. Patti LuPone, of course, is the original musical Norma who debuted the role on the London stage and had a contract to continue it on Broadway. Glenn Close, meanwhile, was a sensation in the Los Angeles production and Andrew Lloyd Webber chose Close for Broadway over LuPone who later sued – and won. (She speaks of this in the bottom video). Betty Buckley and Elaine Page also wound up playing the role during those original runs on Broadway and on London’s West End and Petula Clark filled in for Page for several months in London. Close revived the role recently to great acclaim in London and on Broadway.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
mike/ says:
I saw Petula Clark in ”Sunset Boulevard” in London and was blown away! I never think of “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” the same way ever again! She is still doing a concert now & then even being 80!
Eddie says:
Please explain why Barbra Streisand’s and Chris Colfer’s versions were not included?
Greg Hernandez says:
Just featured actresses who played Norma on stage.
Countervail says:
Betty. That’s all.
Stanhope says:
Miserable bitch…yes you..Diahann Carroll’s version tanked everybody’s. Memo: white girls don’t rule.
Greg Hernandez says:
Diahann Carroll’s version was posted last week in a column completely devoted to her. What is wrong with you with this name calling? This is not that kind if space.
Herb says:
Elaine Paige