Nicole Scherzinger to star in West End Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy — Page 2

Maybe Nicole will get some dance breaks in some of the numbers, just like in "SongBird" :)

I think the only way to become a better actor is to act and Jamie Lloyd is the kind of director that can help you expand as a performer since the acting seems to be his focus more than any other aspect. So for Nicole at least, this is a win. As for his fascination with her she's an incredibly attractive young woman with a soprano voice. Andrew's kryptonite.

I did giggle when someone on theatreboard said Jamie Lloyd meant she'd be stepping out of a chair instead of descending a staircase.

I honestly don't know how I feel about this. I wish this was running this summer while I am in London. I admire Jamie Lloyd and his directorial interpretations, but I just cannot see this as a bare-stage show (if that's where he's going with this). Also, I really wished they recruited SJB to make her long-awaited West End debut. Who knows, maybe we will get her if it transfers to NYC.

Nicole is certainly beautiful, but I don't think she reads any younger than she is. A Norma between 45 and 50 feels right on target (and is on target based on the libretto), especially considering many female actors were, and continue to be, seen as past their prime in Hollywood by the time they reach their mid to late forties; add to that the fact that Norma is meant to be a silent film star that failed to make the transition into talkies like so many others at the time- there is no reason to think that Nicole, in her mid-forties, can't play the role based on her age. She'll be around a year older than Patti when she opened the show in London and about two years younger than Close when she opened in LA. Looking the part won't be the problem. Whether or not she can act the role remains to be seen; it is certainly a bigger challenge than Grizabella.

What's bizarre to me is that this is a role without any dancing. And Scherzinger's dancing is sublime!

I'm hoping that her acting rises to the occasion. I wouldnt say she's bad by any means, but what I've seen of her previously doesnt really go to far past the surface. If someone can at least get her to reign in her pop sensibilities with the vocals, then this could be very interesting (Her riffs and belts in Annie Live held "We Got Annie" back from being true perfection. Her dancing and intention was wonderful, but she sang so much of it like a pop song. She has the pipes to sing with the best of them, she just needs to not push so hard when in a musical in order to fit the style).

Lloyd for this...I just hope he's gotten his minimalism out of his system and is ready for something grand. Not interested in seeing this show done with just two chairs. Even the Glenn revival had a partial set and the grandeur or the full orchestra on stage. The show calls for SOMETHING beyond just a bare stage

"I'm still big...it's the T&A gyrating that got small."

In all seriousness, though, I think the dirty little secret about playing Norma is that it really isn't that rangy of a role, emotion-wise. When I saw SB it was with Petulia Clark--never anyone's idea of a Great Actress--she knocked it clean out of the park.

Updated On: 5/19/23 at 12:17 PM

For a 16 week run, you're not getting grand.
This is why Lloyd is directing.
When Hog-eye turns that spotlight, he won't have trouble finding her.

I have to be in Ireland end of September I think I might head to London for a few days after to see this. I'm very curious to see how this will be staged.

Updated On: 5/19/23 at 02:09 PM

I think I have to book a flight to the UK.

I stripped down Sunset sounds thrilling.

I agree Ke3. And everything on Nicole's IG seems desperate to project beauty, sexuality and agelessness. She should have no trouble tapping into Norma's obsessions. "Nothing wrong with being 40, unless you're acting 20" is something I imagine she has heard before.

Updated On: 5/19/23 at 03:03 PM

There’s been half a dozen productions of Sunset that were ‘stripped/scaled down’ and as a huge fan of the show, it’s not interesting or new. I hope there is something exciting being done outside of Nicole - I’m very interested in seeing her Norma, but give me something other than the leading woman.

For years I’ve thought that the show could use some big cuts (my ideas were mainly the ensemble scenes/numbers outside of the main 4) but I recently went through the score and realized you can’t really cut much. You could trim some bits down but it mostly is all necessary to the plot. You can’t cut Artie because it diminishes Betty’s stakes, can’t really cut the somewhat dull ensemble numbers because they keep you grounded in the reality Joe is in outside the mansion, etc. Interested to hear what your cuts would be, binau!

I think she could be great.


And they hired Lloyd for a reason. We will be getting a turntable and minimal sets. They’re trying to turn a profit. Sad. But I’ll hold judgement until it opens. It could be striking.