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| Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: bobby2 11:19 pm EST 12/02/20 | |
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| Rex Smith, Anastasia Barzee and Jon Cypher were the other leads. Barzee and Cypher never went into other productions that I know of but Smith got the Toronto company lead. Isn't it shocking that nobody (a musician, a production assistant, somebody hasn't gossiped about this infamous moment in theater. |
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| the other alternative... | |
| Posted by: bobby2 05:23 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - bobby2 11:19 pm EST 12/02/20 | |
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| No one has mentioned was that some people thought the bad singing idea was just an excuse. The real problem was the ticket sales were poor for her run. Webber feared the show having a quick closing in LA after Close left would hurt the reputation for the Broadway run.. I think there could be something to that. After all they could have found another star to take the part and just kept the show running with Mason until someone with more experience was ready to step in. It seemed like they were looking for a reason to close it. I saw a matinee in LA and sat one seat over from Christine Ebersole who was there herself. I always wondered if she was being approached or was seeking the role. (not that she was that well known at that point.) It seemed if they really wanted to keep the show going someone with musical experience, Diahnn Carroll even, could have stepped in. |
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| re: the other alternative... | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 07:32 am EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: the other alternative... - bobby2 05:23 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| "It seemed if they really wanted to keep the show going someone with musical experience, Diahnn Carroll even, could have stepped in.' Ms. Carroll would eventually play Norma in Toronto, but in her autobiography "The Legs Are The Last To Go" she makes it plain that she never felt Webber liked the idea of casting her. |
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| Yes, they have | |
| Last Edit: Maguire75 04:52 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| Posted by: Maguire75 04:47 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - bobby2 11:19 pm EST 12/02/20 | |
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| Probably not publicly, but one friend who was in the cast in LA said that the first time Faye was presented to the cast, she was met with great excitement and optimism by the company, but that it became very clear after just a few minutes that she'd never be able to perform the score in public. Apparently, she couldn't get through more than a few notes without stopping and asking to try again, etc. Whatever vocals she might 'have' been capable of, clearly her inexperience and lack of confidence singing was palpable enough for everyone to realize that she wasn't anywhere near ready to take over the part. I don't think she ever got as far as doing a full 'run through' as one poster describes below. I think the producers who were, no doubt, also looking at things like ticket sales, while also facing a very tight deadline to make a decision about the continuation of the run in LA pulled the plug on Dunaway quickly. It is perhaps worth mentioning that this friend said in her (brief) time with the company, Dunaway was nothing if not gracious and professional. Perhaps if she'd actually gotten further into the process, behavior in line with her reputation might have been displayed, but it doesn't sound like temperament had anything to do with her being fired from the show. | |
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| heard similarly; not unrelated: Stritch in "Monty" at Papermill | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 12:17 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 12:08 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: Yes, they have - Maguire75 04:47 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I heard something similar, from someone once removed. Apparently, she wanted to try and "act" the songs "in a Rex Harrison manner," though many people forget that Harrison actually sang, and often quite movingly ("I've grown accustomed to her face" is lovely and serves the song's yearning melody). It's hard to imagine how the Norma material could be treated thus. The only time I've seen something comparable was Elaine Stritch, of all people, playing Jeanette in the Papermill "Full Monty." She was predictably wonderful in the role -- was there ever a more perfect fit? -- but the reason we were excited about her performance -- that one glorious "Show Big Number" -- was a let-down. She talked the entire thing the Sunday matinee I saw (Father's Day). Did anyone else see Stritch and hear the full Stritch vocal treatment. |
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| re: heard similarly; not unrelated: Stritch in "Monty" at Papermill | |
| Posted by: champagnesalesman 06:01 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: heard similarly; not unrelated: Stritch in "Monty" at Papermill - Delvino 12:08 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
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| I don't remember her specifically talking the song..but I do remember her NOT being in full regalia as Jeanette always is, at the end when she introduces the strip....we saw her heading out to eat in between shows with no makeup...it was kind of like her look at the COMPANY recording session vs. her being done up when she came back and nailed the song. Maybe she didn't want to bother for the matinee | |
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| Ms. Stritch | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:37 pm EST 12/05/20 | |
| In reply to: re: heard similarly; not unrelated: Stritch in "Monty" at Papermill - champagnesalesman 06:01 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
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| She enthusiastically attended EVERY Liza gig in Manhattan, (as did I) and she was in full Elaine regalia (that shirt!) at Chita Rivera's closing matinee ("A Dancer's Life"). And she was sober as hell (that afternoon). She is missed. I'd love her observations on 2020. |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: young-walsingham 03:15 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - bobby2 11:19 pm EST 12/02/20 | |
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| One sad aspect of all this is that Faye Dunaway presumably thought her singing was good enough or getting there. Makes you wonder what feedback she was getting from the musical staff. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:01 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - young-walsingham 03:15 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| Why am I suddenly thinking "analogy"? | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: GavinLogan1 01:24 am EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - bobby2 11:19 pm EST 12/02/20 | |
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| I haven't heard anything about Dunaway... But I thought Rex Smith was AWFUL on the Canadian Cast Recording. Awful. |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 03:43 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 03:41 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - GavinLogan1 01:24 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I haven't heard the Canadian cast recording, but Smith sounds fine on this press reel from the Toronto production (below). Smith's Broadway credits include ''Grease,'' ''Grand Hotel,'' ''The Human Comedy'' and ''The Scarlet Pimpernel.'' But I remember him most for playing Frederic in Joseph Papp's ''The Pirates of Penzance,'' and he won a Theatre World Award for it. |
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| Link | ''Sunset Boulevard'': Toronto press reel with Diahann Carroll and Rex Smith |
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| Damn. Diahann is great | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:33 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - WaymanWong 03:41 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| She never really got her due. I'm glad this is preserved. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:17 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - WaymanWong 03:41 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| Rex Smith should have had a much bigger career. Who dropped the ball? | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 09:19 am EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - GavinLogan1 01:24 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| My understanding is that Dunaway was hired to replace Glenn Close in SUNSET BLVD in L.A. ALW and Trevor Nunn came to LA to catch a rehearsal and determined that Dunaway, despite months of prep, couldnt hack the music. They fired her (she had never signed her contract!), and although Karen Mason was filling in beautifully, they closed the show and sold the physical production to the Toronto production. That production starred Diahann Carroll as Norma Desmond. As far as I know, Dunaway never played Norma in a performance. (PS. Patti Lupone's payoff for NOT doing Normal o nBroafdway was $1 million) | |
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| KAREN MASON | |
| Last Edit: shocktheatre 04:24 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:22 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - NewtonUK 09:19 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I saw her in a workshop and met her afterwards. What a nice person she is. She can also sing and act. I should have gone to see her as Norma. "Sunset Blvd." (the Webber version) is, truth be told, a musical. The film version I could watch three times a day. I've done it more than once. |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: champagnesalesman 10:30 am EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - NewtonUK 09:19 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I believe Mason said Dunaway was fantastic in the scenes in rehearsal, but her singing wasn't great. I also recall reading that the main reason the LA company closed was a low advance sale. By then Dunaway's movie stardom was pretty much over. I assume she had to have gotten through the 2 big songs at her audition or...why would it have gone further?Did they expect a miracle? You can hear her sing in a COLUMBO from that period...and she sang a tiny bit in CURSE OF AN ACHING HEART on Bway and in MASTER CLASS on tour. I'm guessing she could have sung Desiree or Phyllis but not something as tough as Norma Desmond. When the Glenn replacements on Bway started coming I remember thinking of Jill Clayburgh, Mia Farrow....names like that who could sing but not good enough. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Last Edit: T.B._Admin. 04:43 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:05 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - champagnesalesman 10:30 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| This "What Were They Thinking?" casting will always fascinate me. Of course, most things do right now. As I said previously, "analogy." Georgia, Georgia........................ |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: tandelor 01:54 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - champagnesalesman 10:30 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I would have given anything to see Dunaway's Norma on stage, but only with Betty Buckley singing it. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:26 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - tandelor 01:54 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| What a surreal thought. So 2020. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: Delvino 12:13 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - shocktheatre 04:26 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I saw Dunaway's Callas in Boston, and thought she was simply dreadful. All one note. Those mannerisms intact. Norma Desmond would exploit that side of Dunaway; but the show is built on the songs taking the roof off, though people who saw Moreno in London said it was her acting that sold it. Did anyone else see a Norma who wasn't a stellar vocalist? Even Petula Clark had the notes (if an odd American accent.) |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 12:54 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - Delvino 12:13 pm EST 12/04/20 | |
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| I mean, we hardly need to rehash this again... :-) But Glenn Close is not a stellar vocalist. But of course the characterization is masterful. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: fosse76 10:25 am EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - NewtonUK 09:19 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| Maybe it wasn't really the singing? Dunaway isn't known for her professionalism. | |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:08 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - fosse76 10:25 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| What are you saying? She always knows where's the BOOZE and the BOYS. |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: mlop 01:33 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - fosse76 10:25 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| All I know is that I was going to California to see Karen Mason do Sunset, she was filling in for the week between Glens leaving and Faye Dunaways start. I was flying out on Sunday, had a place to stay. Three days before Parting with a friend who was going with me. He was at an event with someone connected with the show and he told that person the plans. He was told that the show was going to close on Sunday and obviously my friend told me. The cast was told on Friday and I had to keep my mouth shut and not contact Karen Mason on that. Faye kept posponing reheashals as she was doing something else. I had cancelled my plans. Apparently Karen was going to do two weeks instead of the one to make sure Faye was ready. The good thing about this is that Karen would not have been able to come to New York to cover Norma in New York. Faye Dunaway pulled something like that just rescently and caused a show to shutter before it had opened on Broadway. |
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| re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:11 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - mlop 01:33 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| Yes, Faye was a naughty Kate Hepburn out of town. I'm sure MASTER CLASS will be eventually finished and in theaters soon! Perhaps Faye should explore a Sidney Powell biopic for a future network. |
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| re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... | |
| Last Edit: bway1430 12:40 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| Posted by: bway1430 12:36 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Has any of the rest of the cast ever spoken about Faye Dunaway's singing in Sunset Boulevard? - fosse76 10:25 am EST 12/03/20 | |
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| If memory serves, he said she was hired because her vocal audition was promising and they felt that if she did the work they could have her ready by opening. Sadly, the work put in (as well as lowering all of her keys to basically speaking level) wasn't cutting it. There was a disastrous run-thru on stage with the cast and it was clear this was a catastrophe so they closed it down. | |
| Link | News coverage with an official statement from the ALW camp |
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| re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:37 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... - bway1430 12:36 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| But what does Patti think of all this many years later? | |
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| re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... | |
| Posted by: pecansforall 01:30 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... - bway1430 12:36 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I would KILL to have been a fly on the wall at that run-through. | |
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| re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... | |
| Posted by: bway1430 01:42 am EST 12/04/20 | |
| In reply to: re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... - pecansforall 01:30 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| I wish I could remember the name of the cast member who mentioned it in an interview (maybe a Seth Chatterbox?) but allegedly it was more than a bit jarring to the cast hearing the show backstage via intercom. They could not believe their ears and not in a good way. They knew at that point there was no way they were going to continue with her in the lead. | |
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| re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... | |
| Posted by: shocktheatre 04:16 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
| In reply to: re: ALW mentioned her reasons for being fired around the time that it happened... - pecansforall 01:30 pm EST 12/03/20 | |
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| "I don't know what I'm thinking......" | |
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