| SUNSET BLVD Commits Cardinal Sin | |
| Posted by: Zelgo 11:50 pm EST 11/07/24 | |
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| The sin is…it’s kind of boring. It tries to be funky, modern, weird…but overall it’s a clunky musical. This production, without the huge sets and costumes, reveals just how clunky it really is. All the weirdness got old quickly. Norma doesn’t have a final Rose’s Turn number, so the whole thing just peters out. Part of the problem tonight was the understudy playing Joe Gillis. I was looking forward to seeing Tom Francis because his voice and presence are stunning. Unfortunately the understudy was barely adequate. (Was it an artistic choice for the Joe Gillis character to register absolutely no emotion on his face to contrast with Norma Desmond’s histrionics, or was the understudy just an immature actor?). The first big number with Joe Gillis, which is supposed to bring the audience into the show, fell flat despite all the wild dancing. The understudy didn’t have charisma. Sometimes when understudies are on, shows lose their balance a bit—this definitely happened at the start, but the pacing got back into sync after a few scenes. Nicole S. Is a stage animal (despite the dramatically increased mic volume during her songs). I’d love to see her in Evita. Is in now standard for the audience to whoop and holler during long notes? Is it now standard to give a standing ovation after songs? It was like watching American Idol. Director Jamie Lloyd doesn’t make his actors play instruments, but both shows of his I’ve seen (this and Evita in London) presented the leading women in black night gowns. At the end the leading man and woman were covered in blood (Evita and Che). He’ll likely do that even if he directs Hello, Dolly! I’m not sure how anyone not familiar with the movie would understand what the heck was happening. I may be just jaded because the tourists behind me loved it. I can’t imagine it lasts after Nicole S leaves. |
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