LIZ CALLAWAY-SUNSET BLVD

[bryan2]

http://www.pittsburghclo.org/shows/view/49/refer:clo-shows



http://triblive.com/aande/2256375-74/boulevard-pittsburgh-sunset-callaway-civic-norma-opera-webber-disappoint-doesn


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/ae_theater/stage-review-pittsburgh-clo-takes-arresting-provocative-trip-down-sunset-boulevard-646187/

[Wynbish]

Callaway

[themysteriousgrowl]

Yeah, this just opened. I can't decide if I'm going.

CLO is soooooooo iffy.

[yankeefan7]

Whenever I hear her name, it brings me back to the time when my youngest daughter was doing a dance solo with the song "You There In The Back Row" sung by Ms. Calloway

[bryan2]

She sound really good -those horrible pictures made her look nuts but she looks good in the video....You go LIZ !!!

[BrodyFosse123]

I agree. I also assumed this was a train wreck production after seeing those horrendous press photos.

Now... after watching actual footage, this looks to be one pretty damn good production and Liz looks and sounds fantastic. Even that odd curly Norma Desmond Paramount Studio wig works.

[best12bars]

Liz still has such a youthful voice, and I love the way it contrasts with the older/scary makeup and look in this. You can see AND hear the sweet Hollywood star that once was. It gives her songs an interesting innocent flavor. If you close your eyes, she sounds like she could be sixteen again.

[Skip2]

Sounds like she has that earnest mid-western flat accent. Not dramatic enough for Norma.

[E.Davis]

You can tell she is singing across her mamories.

[jv92]

I think she's wonderful, but I guess I've always thought Norma Desmond should have a more "pretentious" accent. Liz does sound a little midwestern. Still, she's in fine voice.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Ms. Calloway is a very nice "Norma Desmond." There's one little thing that surprises me about her "styling" as she sings" As If We Never Said Goodbye." Who did her hair? I'm assuming it's a wig. In any case, that curly wig makes Liz look more like one of the Andrews Sisters (WWII era). Just a thought. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Mildred Plotka]

Callaway! Callaway! Callaway!

[bryan2]

I KNOW I KNOW TYPE O

[Tom1071]

I love Liz Callaway and think she is a glorious singer but I think I prefer a heavier and more aged voice in the role.

[CATSNYrevival]

The set still looks a little generic too me. It's not gothic enough. It sort of looks like they just pulled a bunch of stuff out of storage from various shows and threw it all together, but the cast looks to be doing a fine job.

[themysteriousgrowl]

^That's at least partially very likely.

[Broadway Bob*]

What was with all the expressions going across Mathew Scott's face during the title number? It was like he was practicing facial olympics in the mirror. It would be inappropriate for any role but especially for stoical Joe Gillis. And I agree about Norma needing a grande dame accent. And the orchestra sounded thin. Meanwhile I still wish I could afford to travel up to Pittsburgh to see this. I haven't seen it since the dreadful Petula Clark tour played Newark.

[best12bars]

I guess I never preconceived Norma's speaking voice. She was a star of the silent era who didn't translate well to "talkies" and quickly faded into obscurity.

A "pretentious" accent is certainly appropriate (see Gloria Swanson), but I also thought of Mary Pickford (a very girlish voice) and Clara Bow (a real broad) and Lilian Gish (prudish Midwestern). I can see Norma having a "different" voice that didn't necessarily fit her look and caused her downfall with the switch to sound.

That's why I think it works here. It's not the "Swanson" voice remotely, but I still think it serves the character. Maybe in the end it isn't weighty enough for the material. I can't tell just from these clips. I like the way she looks and sounds on the songs, though.

[EricMontreal22]

"What was with all the expressions going across Mathew Scott's face during the title number? It was like he was practicing facial olympics in the mirror. It would be inappropriate for any role but especially for stoical Joe Gillis. "

I'm guessing you never saw John Barrowman sing the song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1atWehdBp7M

[matineeidol2013]

The set was rented from Music Theatre of Wichita; not pulled out of storage.

[kipster]

Pics from MTW's rental site:
Sunset Blvd Sets

[castlestreet]

Not a fan of Joe Gillis in this production at all. Liz sounds good- if I was listening to a solo CD- don't think I want my Norma on stage sounding quite so "young".

[henrikegerman]

"Sounds like she has that earnest mid-western flat accent. Not dramatic enough for Norma."

It's not the kind of speaking voice we associate with Norma the way she has always been played.

But take a step back.

This was a silent screen star who never made a talkie. No reason she couldn't have a flat mid-western accent.

Believe me, in real life (including my own family), there are very dramatic women with flat mid-western accents.

[FindingNamo]

Anyone think this will transfer? Does Liz Callaway sign?

[matineeidol2013]

It certainly wont transfer. Liz would sign, but it takes her a very long time to come out of the stage door.

[My Oh My]

Eh, why is there always something *off* in these non-RUG productions? Overall, it looks like a good show, with great voices and acting, and their orchestra sounds great, but Norma's house looks like me gramma's and I've never liked the idea of having Joe open act 2 half naked. OK, he isn't even half naked in this production (unlike as in the Petula Clark tour) but still, the focus ends up going to looking at dude's exposed skin rather than what he's saying/singing, even if the lyrics are MEH, it's distracting.