For neither the first nor the last time, I lament that we did not know each other as kids. I sang “With One Look” in multiple talent shows in 7th grade, including one where my grandma made me my own Norma costume. I have very strong opinions about the recordings — my favorite might be the Diahann Carroll/Toronto because Rex Smith is a weirdly perfect Joe (and sings it really well) — and the movie too is very important to me. (I went to Nancy Olson’s book signing last year — come for the Sunset stories, stay for the “what it’s like to be married to Alan Jay Lerner” stories…) Anyway, thrilled you’re doing this 💖
OMG. ALSO. I also think the Toronto recording features, overall, the most satisfying cast of the 90s. I love Smith’s vibrato and palpable cynicism; Anita Louise Combe and Walter Charles’s vocals are beyond reproach; and Carroll acts better than LuPone while singing better than Close.
Also, I literally just laughed out loud because I remembered your comment about Michael Xavier after seeing the revival. Do you remember what you said?
👏👏👏 Bravo.
For neither the first nor the last time, I lament that we did not know each other as kids. I sang “With One Look” in multiple talent shows in 7th grade, including one where my grandma made me my own Norma costume. I have very strong opinions about the recordings — my favorite might be the Diahann Carroll/Toronto because Rex Smith is a weirdly perfect Joe (and sings it really well) — and the movie too is very important to me. (I went to Nancy Olson’s book signing last year — come for the Sunset stories, stay for the “what it’s like to be married to Alan Jay Lerner” stories…) Anyway, thrilled you’re doing this 💖
We will always be retroactive besties!
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I miss your face and, especially, your bangs!
Related sidenote: I need to see pictures from that talent show…
I should have some somewhere! I will let you know the literal second I find them…
OMG. ALSO. I also think the Toronto recording features, overall, the most satisfying cast of the 90s. I love Smith’s vibrato and palpable cynicism; Anita Louise Combe and Walter Charles’s vocals are beyond reproach; and Carroll acts better than LuPone while singing better than Close.
YES!!! If you’re in it for the show itself, it’s the best one. Though overall I default to Glenn and Judy Kuhn because, well, duh…
I love Glenn’s Norma Desmond live more than any other performance I’ve ever seen, but that passaggio makes the recording unbearable to me…
Also, I literally just laughed out loud because I remembered your comment about Michael Xavier after seeing the revival. Do you remember what you said?