jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Aug 7, 2020 4:44:12 GMT -5
We were also lucky that the documentary of the major renovation of the Regent Theatre to house the new musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber was released then and it covered many scenes from the production. It also included short clips of interviews with Hugh Jackman. I have seen clips from it uploaded on YouTube every now and then. The Aussie production however was hampered by so many problems so the expectations of a major success did not come to pass. One tragedy was the fatal accident of the assistant musical director, IIRC, the day before Opening Night. Debra Byrne, the actress who played Norma ( and she was excellent in it) suffered many health issues, including some emotional issues ( she was undergoing marital problems) and was absent from the daily shows many times... To the point that the run was cut short unexpectedly. PS: Eventually Debra was able to record an album called NEW WAYS TO DREAM ( a song from Sunset Boulevard) but in the same album, there was a duet with Hugh from the Sondheim musical called INTO THE WOODS. The song was No One is Alone/Children Will Listen. This music video was made by a fan...and used the duet of Hugh and Debra as the featured music. I know this is not from Sunset Boulevard but I just want to share it with others - it is one of the most gorgeous recordings of Hugh! I posted this earlier on this thread - but please excuse my enthusiasm for it  Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Aug 7, 2020 13:47:38 GMT -5
Someone noticed my tweet-- Yes, the famous Broadway star Betty Buckley  Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Aug 10, 2020 23:01:36 GMT -5
My favorite song from the show... and according to Hugh -- it is also his favorite song from SUNSET BOULEVARD. I didn't know that when I first saw the show in London Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Aug 28, 2020 5:39:17 GMT -5
The actor ( Sunset Boulevard) writes back to a fan --  He had known he is a high baritone since way back! Love TOO MUCH IN LOVE TO CARE - even when I had no idea who Hugh Michael Jackman was! Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 9, 2020 6:27:32 GMT -5
|
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 21, 2020 12:34:03 GMT -5
An update from Glenn Close (Vogue article dated October 21, 2020) on the film adaptation of the stage musical ( which was adapted from the Billy Wilder film) -- www.vogue.com/article/glenn-close-broadway-for-bidenExcerpts -- If this is a Paramount project ( because they owned the original film rights to the Billy Wilder film noir) -- Hugh knows some people over there -- *Jim Gianapulos - Chairman/CEO, not sure of his exact title but he is head honcho. *Emma Watts - President of the Motion Picture Group, not also sure of her exact title but she heads the film business side. Jim and Emma were main supporters at FOX of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN...and LOGAN! Ahem! Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 21, 2020 12:45:50 GMT -5
|
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 21, 2020 12:48:37 GMT -5
PLease VOTE on the poll --
Current results --
Downey Jr.
9%
Gyllenhaal
41.3%
Hiddleston
22.8%
Jackman
26.9%
Some 160+ have voted.
Let's show support for Hugh in this project which suits him to a "T"!
I think Glenn Close's film persona and her interpretation of the Norma role needs an actor with a strong persona as well. I cannot see that with Jake or RDJ. They might look puny against the virago-portrayal of the Norma Desmond character.
Of course, Hugh has the advantage, too of having sang the role in the Australian production.
I do wonder if they will follow the sung-thru format ( like Les Miserables) or depart from it and treat it like a musical with spoken dialog.
Btw, Glenn is in her early 70's now... that would be an age gap of 20 to Hugh's 52.
In the musical -- the age gap was also 20 years to have some credibility.
Jo
|
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 21, 2020 12:56:22 GMT -5
Would love to listen to Hugh sing this on screen!
|
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Oct 21, 2020 18:01:00 GMT -5
|
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Jan 16, 2021 6:58:18 GMT -5
A very clear copy of the documentary on SUNSET BOULEVARD and the Regent Theatre in Australia. (The transitions cause some stops in the clip - just keep refreshing or keep moving the cursor forward) For me, this stage adaptation of Billy Wilder's classic film noir has, unreservedly, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most beautiful scores -- dramatic and romantic, with such a poignant note! The story is tragic - but very well told! Strong character portrayals are well-adapted from the film characters. Hugh is very young, almost gauche. Maybe if he had portrayed it half a decade later he would be perfect as the world-weary Joe Gillis. On the other hand, it is such a wonderful gift to see the young Hugh Jackman with his budding talent already beginning to be fully realized. Of course, what we see most from the documentary are his backstage reactions -- maybe in the play itself he is more cynical and more world-weary? Unfortunately, the production ran into so many problems - mainly with Debra Byrne's personal problems which did not allow regular performances from her. But what a pity -- maybe, if it the production stood on steady ground, ALWebber could have decided to have it filmed? Or had movie plans materialized more than half a decade later -- Hugh would have been Joe... and Barbra Streisand ( who was in talks the) would be his Norma! Barbra supposedly wanted HJ as Joe Jo |
|
jo
Ensemble
Posts: 46,434
|
Post by jo on Feb 10, 2022 14:16:14 GMT -5
New clip uploaded.
If you're familiar with the show, this scene is the confrontation between Joe and Betty ( when she becomes aware of Joe being a "kept" man by Norma Desmond.
Hugh was around 28 here.
|
|
