SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 30

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 11/26/24 at 5:31am

DramaTeach said: "Hated this show, but was thrilled by its leading lady. Give her a Tony and shut the thing down. I found the choreography, mostly in the songswith the ensemble, ridiculous (why are we twerking in 1945?!), the lack of sets and even props disappointing (why are these tickets so expensive?!), the modern black and white costumes jarring (if you’re going for amovie “black and white movie” theme, why can’t they be old black and white fashions?!), and the videography a complete distraction and a copyof other shows that already tried it. Can we, as an audience, not be trusted to realize that the struggles a woman faced with aging in 1945 still apply today? Does it have to be so overtly thrown in our faces?


Scherzinger is this show. Her “Never Said Goodbye” was incredibly moving and powerful. That’s theonly reason to see this show."

I personally don’t see the struggles faced by actresses, or women in general, of today as even being comparable to what it was back then. SB was a musical of its time and must be played to that era to make that female struggle believable.

Actresses today have all kinds of opportunities. Some of the greatest actresses today are aging actresses. And they still get plum roles. Women don’t age out today nearly as much as they did decades ago. 
 

And even in the day to day lives of your average woman, I don’t see it either. Of course, my opinion might be shadowed by the fact I’m gay, where aging out is very real. But I’m in my 50s and I have female friends who are divorced, widows or never been married and when they’ve tried dating apps, they say they get hit on all the time by younger men. And these aren’t guys necessarily looking for sugar mamas. They just like older women. So if a woman can’t find a man her age, the range is still pretty wide open. 

As an older gay man, well, that is really where aging out is alive and real. Which is why I don’t buy that the issue facing Norma is still a problem today. At least in the areas of entertainment…and dating. 
 

I’m in good shape and considered good looking based on what people have told me. But if I walk into a bar with a female friend, and some younger guy comes up to the bar to order a drink, if she hits on him her chances of going home with him are way better than my chances of going home with some younger gay dude who I hit on. In fact, she’d probably get a “sure” in response, while I’d get “are you gen?” or “what’s in it for me?”

Did the Normas of the 40s have trouble landing roles? Yep. Did they often age out? Yep. 
 

But I don’t see that as an issue today. 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 11/26/24 at 11:19pm

LOVED THIS. This production understands that Norma Desmond isn't some nutty old crone in a castle, but rather a great, pioneering artist whose career has been ended while she's still in her prime. Beautiful performances in a fascinating and thrilling production. I don't think ALW's score is particularly great (those Joe and Betty numbers are pretty deadly), but this production really elevates it to something really special. It's everything I love about live theatre. Down with realism!

Also, this reminded me of something Edith Wharton wrote about "those new moving picture shows" being the enemy of imagination and she talked about film being a "lazy" artform because unlike literature it comes "preseasoned, cooked, and served" and requires little imagination, work, or creativity from the viewer. I don't agree, but I think it's an interesting perspective and is probably also true of theatre in a way. Here however, Lloyd asks you to put in the work. To let the images that these actors speak form in your mind, rather than him presenting you with elaborate sets and props. It's an interesting experiment. I really enjoyed it.

I also think this is how movie to stage adaptations should work. I'm not interested in seeing a 1:1 recreation, but rather an entirely new interpretation.

Updated On: 11/26/24 at 11:19 PM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 11/27/24 at 4:29am

Georgeanddot2 said: "I also think this is how movie to stage adaptations should work. I'm not interested in seeing a 1:1 recreation, but rather an entirely new interpretation."

This has the making of a great 92Y panel discussion among directors of various shows. 

When does the audience want an entirely new interpretation and when do they want much of the movie experience or look and feel recreated on stage as some seem to seek more of in Death Becomes Her and The Devil Wears Prada? 

I don't think it is an either/or black and white situation, but calibrating artistic ambitions in light of potential audience expectations certainly can be a challenge.

 

[itsahopi]

Posted: 11/27/24 at 5:49pm

theatreguy12 said: "DramaTeach said: "Hated this show, but was thrilled by its leading lady. Give her a Tony and shut the thing down. I found the choreography, mostly in the songswith the ensemble, ridiculous (why are we twerking in 1945?!), the lack of sets and even props disappointing (why are these tickets so expensive?!), the modern black and white costumes jarring (if you’re going for amovie “black and white movie” theme, why can’t they be old black and white fashions?!), and the videography a complete distraction and a copyof other shows that already tried it. Can we, as an audience, not be trusted to realize that the struggles a woman faced with aging in 1945 still apply today? Does it have to be so overtly thrown in our faces?


Scherzinger is this show. Her “Never Said Goodbye” was incredibly moving and powerful. That’s theonly reason to see this show."

I personally don’t see the struggles faced by actresses, or women in general, of today as even being comparable to what it was back then. SB was a musical of its timeand must be played to that era to make that female struggle believable.

Actresses today have all kinds of opportunities. Some of the greatest actresses today are aging actresses. And they still get plum roles. Women don’t age out today nearly as much as they did decades ago.


And even in the day to day lives of your average woman, I don’t see it either. Of course, my opinion might be shadowed by the fact I’m gay, where aging out is very real.But I’m in my 50s and I have female friends who are divorced, widows or never been married and when they’ve tried dating apps, they say they get hit on all the time by younger men. And these aren’t guys necessarily looking for sugar mamas. They just like older women. So if a woman can’t find a man her age, the range is still pretty wide open.

As an older gay man, well, that is really where aging out is alive and real. Which is why I don’t buy that the issue facing Norma is still a problem today. At least in the areas of entertainment…and dating.


I’m in good shape and considered good looking based on what people have told me. But if I walk into a bar with a female friend, and some younger guy comes up to the bar to order a drink, if she hits on him her chances of going home with him are way better than my chances of going home with some younger gay dude who I hit on. In fact, she’d probably get a “sure” in response, while I’d get “are you gen?” or “what’s in it for me?”

Did the Normas of the 40s have trouble landing roles? Yep. Did they often age out? Yep.


But I don’t see that as an issue today."

Respectfully, I don’t think you can fully speak on the experiences of women over 40 and especially women in Hollywood. Not everybody gets to be Nicole Kidman. And women definitely experience ageism in the dating world. Regardless, they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation.

Updated On: 11/27/24 at 05:49 PM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 9:57am

Has the mens bathroom situation at the St. James gotten any better since previews? I sat in the Orchestra section and it was the worst cluster**** I've ever experienced in a theater. I'm going again next week but will be in the Mezz, is the situation better up there?

[Mellony]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 5:03pm

itsahopi said: “Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

That’s not unique to this revival, though? Norma is always pushed out of the industry partially due to her mental health. Hence her saying “with one look, they’ll forgive the past” or DeMille saying “beautiful and strong, before it all went wrong”. The implication is always that her mental health problems and behavior led to the end of her career.

Of course, her age played a role as well. But this production didn’t come up with the idea that Norma was pushed out due to mental illness and that her isolation exacerbated those issues. That’s core to the story.

 

 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 5:27pm

I've always believed that Norma was cast aside during the transition to talking pictures, as actually a fairly young woman. As an artist, she's remained frozen in time all these years and the things that worked for her as a young woman, no longer work for her in her middle-age. She lacks self awareness and has descended into madness while living in her secluded mansion.

[CJRochester]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 7:54pm

FANtomFollies said: "Has the mens bathroom situation at the St. James gotten any better since previews? I sat in the Orchestra section and it was the worst cluster**** I've ever experienced in a theater. I'm going again next week but will be in the Mezz, is the situation better up there?"

As far as I know there is only one mens room in the St. James. It's in the basement, under the lobby. If you are in the Mezz head directly for the stairs on house right. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 9:00pm

CJRochester said: "FANtomFollies said: "Has the mens bathroom situation at the St. James gotten any better since previews? I sat in the Orchestra section and it was the worst cluster**** I've ever experienced in a theater. I'm going again next week but will be in the Mezz, is the situation better up there?"

As far as I know there is only one mens room in the St. James. It's in the basement, underthe lobby.If you are in the Mezz head directly for the stairs on house right."

Mezz has a smaller mens room as well 

[CJRochester]

Posted: 11/29/24 at 9:23pm

Thanks, Robbie2. I will look for it next time. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 12:06am

Anyone whose been to see Sunset recently, curious if there's any new merch?  When I went during previews they had shirts, mugs and notebooks, magnets too I think - but I was looking for a souvenier brochure and wondering if the limited edition LPS are still available?

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 1:01am

chernjam said: "Anyone whose been to see Sunset recently, curious if there's any new merch? When I went during previews they had shirts, mugs and notebooks, magnets too I think - but I was looking for a souvenier brochure and wondering if the limited edition LPS are still available?"

Was there tonight and they had both! I grabbed the souvenir program since those are few and far between at shows these days. 

[itsahopi]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 5:44pm

Mellony said: "itsahopi said: “Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

That’s not unique to this revival, though? Norma is always pushed out of the industry partially due to her mental health. Hence her saying “with one look, they’ll forgive the past” or DeMille saying “beautiful and strong, before it all went wrong”. The implication is always that her mental health problems and behavior led to the end of her career.

Of course, her age played a role as well. But this production didn’t come up with the idea that Norma was pushed out due to mental illness and that her isolation exacerbated those issues. That’s core to the story.



I’ll stand corrected on that detail but my comment was really mainly to tell the guy I was responding to that this particular production was less about ageism as he was trying to say that ageism for women didn’t exist and that’s why he didn’t think it worked for him. I said I didn’t think he could comment on the experience of women but I want to clarify that I DO believe ageism for women exists, obviously. No matter the age. Hope that makes sense, I’m very sleepy. But thanks for the correction on the original production. My interpretation was her age pushed her out first and the youth was the only thing she had going for her to excuse her behavior. Once that’s as “gone” so went she.

 

[Mellony]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 6:54pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "I've always believed that Norma was cast aside during the transition to talking pictures, as actually a fairly young woman. As an artist, she's remained frozen in time all these years and the things that worked for her as a young woman, no longer work for her in her middle-age. She lacks self awareness and has descended into madness while living in her secluded mansion."

In the film/original stage show, Norma was around 50 years old in 1950, and she started working when she was 16. So, she was born around 1900, made her first films in 1916, and presumably never transitioned to talkies, so her career was over by 1927. Maybe give another year or two since silent films didn't vanish instantly. So, she was probably somewhere between 27-30 years old when her career ended.

But yes, in Jamie Lloyd's version, Norma had an extremely short career that ended when she was very young. If she's 40 years old in 1950, that would mean she made her first picture at 16 years old in 1926. That would mean her career lasted maybe 1-3 years and was over when she was 17-19 years old.

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 9:06am

itsahopi said: "they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

I saw the show three times last week and I didn't get that notion at all.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 9:11am

FANtomFollies said: "Has the mens bathroom situation at the St. James gotten any better since previews? I sat in the Orchestra section and it was the worst cluster**** I've ever experienced in a theater. I'm going again next week but will be in the Mezz, is the situation better up there?"

It's awful. I got in line almost immediately at the start of the intermission; it crawled downstairs and the "return to your seat" warning chimes started just as I reached the actual restroom. When I came out, there were at least about 30 guys still in line on the stairs. At that point, the staff proclaimed the ladies' room to be "gender neutral" and they began urging the men to use both restrooms. That was the first time in my life that I'd ever seen an empty ladies' rooms alongside a men's room with a line.

Updated On: 12/3/24 at 09:11 AM

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 10:01am

Lot666 said: "itsahopi said: "they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

I saw the show three times last week and I didn't get that notion at all."

I've been waiting on you to weigh in!

[itsahopi]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 12:35pm

Lot666 said: "itsahopi said: "they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

I saw the show three times last week and I didn't get that notion at all."


that’s fine.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 12:46pm

itsahopi said: "Lot666 said: "itsahopi said: "they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."

I saw the show three times last week and I didn't get that notion at all."


that’s fine."

You could have had a discussion about the piece but you would rather just be rude. Sounds about right.

[Det95]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 1:25pm

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[itsahopi]

Posted: 12/2/24 at 1:59pm

Bwaygurl2 said: "itsahopi said: "Lot666 said: "itsahopi said: "they aged Norma down an entire decade because it’s not about her “being too old.” It’s about how the business pushes out women perceived as “difficult” or “crazy.” Traditionally I see Norma as driven mad by aging out. The revival featured a Norma whose mental health issues push her out and metastasize in isolation."



I saw the show three times last week and I didn't get that notion at all."


that’s fine."

You could have had a discussion about the piece but you would rather just be rude. Sounds about right."

 

Lot666 gave me a sentence without further discussion so I did the same. Didn’t think it was rude, everyone has their own opinion and I’ve already gone into greater detail about mine. “Sounds about right” is kinda funny since I made this account in 2007 and comment like every 5-10 years until recently. Ain’t nobody know me enough to say my response was in step with any sort of repetitive behavior! Haha.

Anyway, I’m not trying to make people agree with me. I did have a paragraph in my original edit of that reply that went into how I see both the modern era and the original older era at the same time in this new production. So yes the talkies technically ushered in the ending of Norma’s career, but the modern take leaves it open to interpretation (IN MY OPINION). I got more of a sense that a younger, 2024 Norma fell victim to the misogyny that fuels narratives that certain women don’t work anymore because of the age old saying, “I think she went crazy.” But that’s how I saw it. I declined to include that paragraph originally because I wasn’t sure if it made any sense outside my head.