SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 10

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:49pm

CreatureKitchen said: "Matt Rogers said: "The authors disagree with you. How do you feel about that???"

I understand the tone of some of the 'haters' in this thread has been smug and obnoxious, but I have really tried to be even-keeled in my comments, give Jamie Lloyd credit for the very intentional choices he is making, and explain why some of them don't work for me. There really isn't a need to come at me like 'haha gotcha!!!'


I made my points in the Previews thread but they are similar to yours. This show is eliciting some extreme reactions from people protective of the source material who don't get the hype and from defenders of this new production who believe every directorial choice is perfect and effective. It's disheartening when one of the merits of this production is that it opens up avenues for thoughtful critique because it makes so many choices in interpreting the text.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:59pm

CreatureKitchen said: "Matt Rogers said: "The authors disagree with you. How do you feel about that???"

I understand the tone of some of the 'haters' in this thread has been smug and obnoxious, but I have really tried to be even-keeled in my comments, give Jamie Lloyd credit for the very intentional choices he is making, and explain why some of them don't work for me. There really isn't a need to come at me like 'haha gotcha!!!'
As for your comment, I think ALW and the show's writers are clearly open to alternate interpretations of their work, as they should be. I also appreciate a lot of the big swings this production takes, even if I haven't talked about that here (my comments are not a full review, nor are they obligated to be). Also, on a practical level, ALW would be very foolishnotto endorse a production of his that's got a lot of buzz behind it.

"

My point was that the authors have to approve the production concept before it happens. It’s not like they were not informed of the concept. They were, and they approved it. ALW was at the opening night looking very happy. If the creators of this musical are fine with this concept, then all the garbage that some on here were posting goes rightfully out the window. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:06pm

Matt Rogers said: "My point was that the authors have to approve the production conceptbefore it happens. It’s not like they were not informed of the concept. They were, and they approved it. ALW was at the opening night looking very happy. Ifthe creators of this musical are fine with this concept, then all thegarbage that some on here were posting goes rightfully out the window."


That’s some reallllly creaky logic. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:13pm

TotallyEffed said: "Matt Rogers said: "My point was that the authors have to approve the production conceptbefore it happens. It’s not like they were not informed of the concept. They were, and they approved it. ALW was at the opening night looking very happy. Ifthe creators of this musical are fine with this concept, then all thegarbage that some on here were posting goes rightfully out the window."


That’s some reallllly creaky logic."

WHY?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:18pm

Because there are countless examples of authors, writers, composers, artists, etc. who approved a production or adaptation of their work that was absolutely horrible. Or mediocre. Or fantastic. Or divisive, like this one. It doesn’t mean people are forbidden from disliking or discussing a production just because the writers approved it. The opinions of the people who see it don’t just “go out the window.” That makes no sense.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:25pm

Also, with people talking about how ****ty the original songs and staging and characterization are, you wouldn't think approval from the original creative team would be a ringing endorsement to some commenters here...

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:43pm

TotallyEffed said: "Because there are countless examples of authors, writers, composers, artists, etc. who approved a production or adaptation of their work that was absolutely horrible. Or mediocre. Or fantastic. Or divisive, like this one. It doesn’t mean people are forbidden from disliking or discussing a production justbecause the writers approved it. Theopinions of the peoplewho see it don’tjust “go out the window.” That makes no sense."

Countless examples?
Name five

I’ll wait. 

My clients approve nothing unless they are fully on board. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 8:50pm

Jacqueline Susann despised the adaption of Valley of the Dolls, Disney’s Mary Poppins infuriated P. L. Travers. J.K. Rowling signed off on Cursed Child and many find the script to be very weak. Sondheim didn’t think the Broadway production of The Frogs fully worked. Critics were mostly unkind to Cabaret just last season. Your argument holds no water.
 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 9:05pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Nobody laughed at Betty either time I saw it, either, and I agree with the earlier post that the title song has never been staged particularly well until now, and I'm a fan of the show since the 90s."

Same here
I saw this twice in London (both times Grace Hodgett Young's u/s) one time on B'way (Grace Hodgett Young) - Nobody laughed at Betty

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 9:20pm

spicemonkey said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Nobody laughed at Betty"

Sorry, I think my earlier comment caused this and got a little blown out of proportion. Some people were discussing this show on another site and talking about the weakness of the Betty/Joe B plot. Someone commented they burst out laughing when Betty admits her love because it came completely out of nowhere, and someone else said they did, too. A couple people also just agreed it seemed unclear/that there was no leadup to it. The audience as a whole is not laughing at the moment, and I'm sure the person who said they burst out laughing was exaggerating.

It was part of a larger point that people who haven't seen another production of Sunset might miss or be confused about certain aspects of this production. So, I brought up that some people who didn't know the plot were amused and/or confused at the love confession because they felt it came out of the blue. 

 

Updated On: 10/23/24 at 09:20 PM

[akhoya87]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 12:19am

Has anyone in this thread dramatically taken their headset off yet?  Or am I early?

Saw this for the first time in NY; saw it twice in London.  Nicole is in fine form, although her voice (understandably) sounded a little tired during AIWNSG, for which she got a partial standing O.  (She held "home" for a shorter period, and you could hear the strain then.)  End still as chilling/haunting as ever, and this was my third watch.

Stephen Colbert was at tonight's performance.

For those who've seen both:  was the monkey there in London, and I'd just missed it?  Or is that a new addition?  

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 5:45am

akhoya87 said: "

For those who've seen both: was the monkey there in London, and I'd just missed it? Or is that a new addition?"

I believe you saw the monkey backstage in London but for the entire outside segment Joe was alone.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 5:54am

Seb28 said: "OhHiii said: "People who respect the material and the artform are just interested to hear what their motivation is. But it very much seems like a one way street."

I’ll just say this response sums up how ridiculous you’ve been here. “People who respect the material and the art form” as if those who do like this production don’t. Get off your high horse. One could flip that argument on you for rejecting theatre as a living breathing art form that should take risks. 

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 7:01am

My ticket is for January. By the time I see it the discourse may be over. All I’ll say for now is I’m impressed by how passionate the responses have been on this board. I enjoyed the Glenn Close cast album, and two “traditional” productions, but was never emotionally invested in the show.

[inception]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 9:27am

Reddit: The OBC of In The Heights all showed up to support Mandy Gonzalez’s debut as Norma on Sunset Boulevard

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 9:43am

FYI, I recently noticed that Nicole is no longer performing on Sunday, June 8, the day of the Tonys. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 9:44am

TaffyDavenport said: "FYI, I recently noticed that Nicole is no longer performing on Sunday,June 8, the day of the Tonys."

Definitely for the best since she likely wants to go all out for what will presumably be a very big night for her. She’ll also have Monday and Tuesday off, with her first performance post-Tonys being the Wednesday matinee.

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 09:44 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 10:01am

Mods, can you fix the italics? My attempt to do so has failed again. Updated On: 10/24/24 at 10:01 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 10:35am

I was at the Wednesday matinee, Scherzinger's first performance since opening night, and she left it all on the stage. The vocals, much discussed here, seemed in the go-for-broke range, so taxing and full it's hard to imagine that she'd have anything left for the evening. Count me among her admirers; the performance is both a new Norma and yet mysteriously the traditional one as well. She has the gravitas of Swanson, to my surprise, and wisely realizes that her Norma's weight flows from the power of that voice. When this Norma rages, reflects, or muses, it's via an instrument that owns the very airspace that it rules.  For all of its invention, and it worked 100% for me, the production is score-forward, so disciplined in its near reverence for the music and its demands. Even though that's been mentioned as footnotes in reviews, it shouldn't be ignored. This is Lloyd Webber's moment as much as his stars'. (And I must add: Tom Francis is the equal of Scherzinger in every way.)  If you love this score, or even like it, the galvanizing presentation, amped like Tommy, but offering richer rewards, will thrill. 

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 10:35 AM

[round2]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 10:56am

inception said: "Reddit: The OBC of In The Heights all showed up to support Mandy Gonzalez’s debut as Norma on Sunset Boulevard"

I have a major IN THE HEIGHTS soft spot, but I do love this.

 

Updated On: 10/24/24 at 10:56 AM

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 11:03am

Auggie27 said: "I was at the Wednesday matinee, Scherzinger's first performance since opening night, and she left it all on the stage. The vocals, much discussed here, seemed in the go-for-broke range, so taxing and full it's hard to imagine that she'd have anything left for the evening. Count me among her admirers; the performance is both a new Norma and yet mysteriously the traditional one as well. She has the gravitas of Swanson, to my surprise, and wisely realizes that her Norma's weight flows from the power of that voice. When this Norma rages, reflects, or muses, it's via an instrument thatowns the very airspace thatit rules.For all of its invention, and it worked 100% for me, the production is score-forward, so disciplined in its near reverence for the music and its demands. Even though that's been mentioned as footnotes in reviews, it shouldn't be ignored. This is Lloyd Webber's moment as much as his stars'. (And I must add: Tom Francis is the equal of Scherzingerin every way.)If you love this score, or even like it, the galvanizing presentation, amped like Tommy, but offering richer rewards, will thrill."

Funny that you say that about having a hard time imagining that she'd have anything left for the evening because I just read on Reddit that someone at the evening show said she sounded tired and didn't hold on to notes as long .

[lila12]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:11pm

I realize that Nicole is off on Tuesdays and today is a Thursday - is she going on tonight far? SeatGeek still lists her as scheduled to perform but I can't figure out where else to look and see if someone is announced as being out. 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:12pm

lila12 said: "I realize that Nicole is off on Tuesdays and today is a Thursday - is she going on tonight far? SeatGeek still lists her as scheduled to perform but I can't figure out where else to look and see if someone is announced as being out."

Say what 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:14pm

lila12 said: "I realize that Nicole is off on Tuesdays and today is a Thursday - is she going on tonight far? SeatGeek still lists her as scheduled to perform but I can't figure out where else to look and see if someone is announced as being out."

SeatGeek would be the source of truth for this.  I think if she has an unexpected absence they might also email?

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 10/24/24 at 2:34pm

lila12 said: "I realize that Nicole is off on Tuesdays and today is a Thursday - is she going on tonight far? SeatGeek still lists her as scheduled to perform but I can't figure out where else to look and see if someone is announced as being out."

Why would you expect her not to perform tonight?