Showtune Sunday: “With One Look” from “Sunset Boulevard” by all the great Norma Desmonds
Sunset Boulevard won Glenn Close the Tony Award for her portrayal of Norma Desmond – a Broadway gig that came at the expense of Patti LuPone who was contracted to take it to New York after a year in London. Close had opened in Los Angeles while LuPone was in London and Andrew Lloyd Webber chose her instead.
Things were hurled onto the street from Patti’s London dressing room, by Patti, she sued and won and later returned to Broadway in revivals of Sweeney Todd and Gypsy, the latter earned her a Tony.
What’s interesting to know is that the great Betty Buckley replaced LuPone in the London production then later replaced Close on Broadway.
Others played the role on stage including Elaine Paige and Petula Clark and in an acclaimed Toronto production, the great Diahann Carroll.
Here are all of their versions of With One Look. Vote for your favorite in the comments section.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
JP says:
Patti LuPone blows them all away with her voice, Glenn Close is the best actress of the group.
Michael says:
Gotta say Petula Clark. Yes, her voice is gone from her early days, we all get that. She’s a remarkable lady and had a new CD released when she was 81 years old. She doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. I say her Sunset in Seattle some years back and she still captivated. Saw her in concert just 2 years ago….same thing. We should all still be bouncing around a stage at her age. Give a listen to some of her earlier stuff…not just the hits…give a listen to her unknown material and you’ll fall in love with her all over again. Get the Memphis album or Warm and Tender….great stuff.
mike/ says:
so happy your included Petula Clark! i was lucky to see her life in London and was totally amazed. she was fantastic and i will gush about her…
will never think of “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” the same way again…
Bruce Wayne says:
Wait…What?! Petula…80?! How did That happen!? Didn’t she Just do Finian’s Rainbow with Fred Astaire!?
Loved her version!
^^X^^