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Patti LuPone. I think she will always be Norma to me, partly because she was the first one I heard sing the part, but also just because she’s so wonderful in it. I can’t comment on her performance onstage, but I thought on the CD that she really captured Norma’s emotions, and her voice is wonderful, as always. Visit the Patti LuPone Website for more information! |
Kevin Anderson. Like Patti, Kevin was the first one I heard as Joe, and so there will always be some of him in the character for me. I also just think he’s wonderful. There was a real likeability to his Joe that I thought was lacking in some other people. For more, check out the Kevin Anderson Audio Clips |
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Elaine Paige. Just like Patti, I loved her in Evita, and I really liked her as Norma as well. Despite all the jokes made about her height, I thought she capture Norma’s vulnerability, and was overall just very good! To find out more, visit Elaine Paige: The Official Website. |
| Diahann Carroll. Again, I really enjoyed her performance as Norma. She doesn’t have quite the voice of the other two, but I thought where she did a particularly good job was in Norma’s bitterness and loneliness…very moving! For more, please visit A Tribute to Diahann Carroll |  |
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Rex Smith. If you’re looking for a synonym for cynical, look no further. 🙂 Rex really captured Joe’s disillusionment and his struggle, and his voice is just perfect for these songs. I think his version of “Sunset Boulevard” may be my favourite. Check out the Official Rex Smith Online Magazine! |
| Judy Kuhn. I love her in pretty much everything she does, and Sunset was no exception. She was a very spunky Betty, I thought, but that worked well opposite Alan Campbell. The fact that she was a little bit stronger, perhaps, than others, made Joe’s rejection even that much more painful. For more, visit The Unofficial Judy Kuhn Website. |  |
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Anita Louise Combe. Probably my favourite Betty, and I don’t really know if I could say why. She sounds sweet, and a bit more fragile than Judy, but not too naive. And she has a lovely voice! |
| Michael Ball. He was Joe in the Sydmonton festival, and aside from the fact that it was kind of bizarre to hear a British Joe, he was wonderful! I thought he might look a little too sweet to be able to be convincingly cynical, but he proved me wrong. And he’s since performed the role again, in the BBC concert, and was fabulous there. Please visit my Michael page, which has links to other great sites! |  |