Sunset Boulevard: Streisand, Close, or Streep?

Theater queens are an opinionated bunch. (I know, you're shocked.) And we're quite vociferous about those opinions. Anyone expressing a view different from ours is automatically suspect, and quite possibly dangerous.

So it is with a due sense of hesitation that I announce that I'm actually excited about the proposed movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard. I'm a huge fan of this wildly uneven show. It's certainly the best thing Lloyd Webber has done since Evita, although the bar is admittedly not all that high. The score is lush and moving; the songs "With One Look" and "As if We Never Said Goodbye" are two of the best that ALW has crafted. There's waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much recitative, and some of the lyrics are clunky. But on the whole, the show is haunting and heartfelt, and I certainly find that I listen to the London CD more than those of any of ALW's other more recent shows.

I was stunned, as many were, when ALW dumped Patti Lupone for Glenn Close, but I still wanted to see the show. Then I heard the excruciating Los Angeles cast album and decided to wait until the vocally dreadful Close left the show. I was looking forward to seeing Betty Buckley play the role, only to find out that Karen Mason would be subbing for her at that particular performance at the Minskoff. Mason kicked major amounts of ass, so I was hardly disappointed.

Now comes news that Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, and Meryl Streep are all in the running to play Norma Desmond in the new movie. Also under consideration for the role of Joe Gillis are Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman.

As much as I worship Meryl Streep, I can't help hoping that Barbra will land the role. It's complicated for me, because I can't stand any movie that Barbra has done since "What's Up, Doc?" in 1972. But given the right director (i.e. anyone but herself), I think Barbra could be amazing. She's certainly got the pipes for the role, unlike Glenn Close. And I must begrudgingly admit that Barbra can be quite a talented actress, when she has a good director who can reign in her excesses and self-indulgence.

If, somehow, she winds up starring and directing, well, all bets are off, as they say.

Comments

[Andrew]

And what's your problem with Streep? If it really was her singing in Postcards from the Edge then I say go with Streep.

[chris caggiano]

I have no problem with Streep whatsoever. She's hands down the greatest actress of our time, and she really can sing. I am so looking forward to seeing Meryl in Mamma Mia. But there's a little part of me that inexplicably would really like to see Babs do Sunset.

[Musical Theatre Spot]

I think Streep or Streisand could be good. I'm eagerly awaiting Streep's performance in Mamma Mia...we'll see then how she does in a musical.

~Adam

[Steve On Broadway (SOB)]

Chris, I did have the opportunity to see Glenn Close portray Norma Desmond when "Sunset Boulevard" was in its LA tryout. I actually thought she was pretty wonderful in the role, so I would be quite happy with her in the lead.

While Streep remains a bit of an unknown commodity when it comes to singing, I caught her virtuoso performance in last summer's "Mother Courage And Her Children" in Central Park. I was mighty impressed by her pipes and was subsequently delighted when she was tapped for the lead in "Mamma Mia!" I think she'd been positively exquisite as Norma Desmond.

Then of course there's Babs. What can I say? That voice! And we certainly know that when given a great role with good direction, she can blow us away as she did in "Funny Girl" or in "What's Up Doc?" (one of my all-time favorite movies). But as Norma Desmond? I confess that I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that one.

[fliegen]

"They don't want me anymore..."

Considering her overall achievements in the world of musical theater, recording, and film, Barbra's body of work on film has been disappointing. There have been only two moments over the past thirty years where I felt Barbra really delivered "Streisand Magic," and that would be her performance of "Great Day" in Funny Lady, and the finale to Yentl. So I have been hoping for a long time that Barbra would find the right film that would show her off the way her fans love to see her best: a larger than life character, and great songs that she can "act."

For her return to live performances in 1994 she made "As If We Never Really Said Goodbye" the center piece for her entrance so she could live those moments with the audience. Wouldn't this film be particularly fitting for her return to musical film after a long slump?

[Philip Tsaras]

It HAS to be Streisand. The role is so right for her. She's still got the voice, and her versions of "With One Look" and "As if We Never Said Goodbye" are still the best. Please someone, let her do one more great movie musical!