Review by: Paul Towers, 28/9/17
Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black &
Christopher Hampton
Curve, Michael Harrison and David Ian co-production
directed by Nikolai Foster
Curve 16 til 30 September 2017
“a spectacular production.”
In 1950 Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett wrote a searingly
black noir masterpiece about a faded silent movie star, Norma Desmond, trying
desperately to resurrect her career. It starred Gloria Swanson, a faded silent
movie star desperately trying to resurrect her career, and William Holden as
the rookie screenwriter she ensnares in her fantasy world.
In 1993 Don Black, Christopher Hampton and Andrew Lloyd
Webber created the ultimate Hollywood musical homage after numerous others had
failed to bring it to the stage. In a delicious synchronicity Ria Jones, the
original Norma Desmond at Lloyd Webber’s famous Sydmonton festival tryout of
the score, is now starring in Curve’s spectacular production, the first UK
touring revival since 2002.
The set, designed by Colin Richmond, is very versatile and
contains, of course, a Curve signature sweeping staircase. In this case a
3-parter that swirls around to portray all sorts of locations. Creative use of
film and back production even creates a realistic car chase!
A hard working ensemble backs up the featured roles.
Adam Pearce as Max Von Meyerling babysits Norma Desmond
through her various dramas. Holly Lynch as Betty Schaefer prettily pulls at Joe
Gillis’ heart strings. As Gillis Strictly heart-throb Danny Mac sings up a
storm and tangos across the stage with aplomb. To several gasps around me he
walked out of the swimming pool in the second half showing off his 6-pack to good effect. The girl next to me was
heard to mutter ‘I’m mad about the boy’.
Sunset Boulevard is a story about a deluded and, ultimately,
demented silent movie star. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score demands a very strong
singer with a dramatic texture to her voice. Whether she was just having an off
night or she is mis-cast Ria Jones’ voice was not up to the job tonight. Despite
a strong start in her first number it didn’t last and the minute she tried to
put any power behind her singing she sounded like a granny doing a party piece
at Christmas, tremulously on key but without any oomph.
Sunset Boulevard is at Curve until 30th September
and then tours right through the New Year. Details at https://uktour.sunsetboulevardthemusical.com
First published on Western Gazette
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