SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 31

[BJR]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 2:53pm

I'm pleased she was open to it and also so openly praised Nicole. Says a lot about the production, but also the overly simplistic narrative that gets attached to her.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 3:16pm

Now I wonder what Patti will think of the Jamie Lloyd Evita next year.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 3:27pm

One more to bump the page

People: 

Patti LuPone Says Nicole Scherzinger 'Broke My Heart' with 'Unbelievable' Performance in Broadway's Sunset Blvd

"She is a force," the stage legend — who originated the role of Norma Desmond in London — gushed

https://people.com/patti-lupone-praises-nicole-scherzinger-in-broadway-sunset-blvd-8760585

[gibsons2]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 4:02pm

I love Patti's new era - a theater influencer!

Hell's Kitchen - "Too loud!"

Sunset Blvd. - "Broke my heart"

Pull quotes queen!

Updated On: 12/12/24 at 04:02 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 4:37pm

MemorableUserName said: "One more to bump the page

People:

Patti LuPone Says Nicole Scherzinger 'Broke My Heart' with 'Unbelievable' Performance in Broadway's Sunset Blvd

"She is a force," the stage legend — who originated the role of Norma Desmond in London — gushed

https://people.com/patti-lupone-praises-nicole-scherzinger-in-broadway-sunset-blvd-8760585"

 

What will she say next ....after seeing Audra's GYPSY?

[binau]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 5:59pm

Amazing praise from Patti, whose last review of the show in her autobiography would suggest she found the show boring. Truly feels like this is a lightning in a bottle moment that we are all so lucky to experience right now. I have enjoyed some of Jamie Lloyd’s other work (eg when he did Evita previously or the Tom holland R&J) but it’s only this production that has felt truly groundbreaking to me. 

Nicole is almost a lock for a Tony at this stage. But I hope the production does sweep at the Tonys. 
 

 

[chernjam]

Posted: 12/12/24 at 6:15pm

binau said: "Amazing praise from Patti, whose last review of the show in her autobiography would suggest she found the show boring. Truly feels like this is a lightning in a bottle moment that we are all so lucky to experience right now. I have enjoyed some of Jamie Lloyd’s other work (eg when he did Evita previously or the Tom holland R&J) but it’s only this production that has felt truly groundbreaking to me.

Nicole is almost a lock for a Tony at this stage. But I hope the production does sweep at the Tonys.


"

Lightning in a bottle is a perfect way to describe this production.  It's amazing how that happens (look at the original production of Chicago compared to the still running revival).  While I doubt this production of Sunset will be here a year from now when Nicole's time is done (would love to be proven wrong on that, but...) I'm hopeful for a good showing at the Tony's, recouping it's investment and ending on a high note in July.  

Then it will be interesting to see if Jamie Lloyd gets to make a film adaptation that puts to end Glenn Close's delusions at this point of starring in a movie version of the musical... In some full-circle thing if Nicole stars in that and in a sense Patti ends up being a victor (especially since I don't think Close has come to NY or London to see the revival which has been really odd since she made it to NY to see Bad CInderella)

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 12/13/24 at 9:35am

Any more impressions of Mandy as Norma? I've been considering going back to see Tom Francis since he was out when I went and was looking at Mandy performances. Updated On: 12/13/24 at 09:35 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/13/24 at 2:38pm

MemorableUserName said: "Any more impressions of Mandy as Norma? I've been considering going back to see Tom Francis since he was out when I went and was looking at Mandy performances."

I thought Mandy's vocals were superb; she had no difficulty matching Nicole's "I've come hooooooooooommmmmme...at lasssssssst!" without taking a breath along the way.

My problem with her in this role is that she's obviously a very sweet lady (certainly a laudable trait in a human being), but she just couldn't seem to separate her own reality from that of Norma. Mandy is Hello Kitty, while Nicole is Kitten With a Whip. Consequently, Mandy was unable to convince me that she was a homicidal maniac. In the end, I could not suspend my disbelief.

Updated On: 12/13/24 at 02:38 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/13/24 at 2:45pm

Lot666 said: "MemorableUserName said: "Any more impressions of Mandy as Norma? I've been considering going back to see Tom Francis since he was out when I went and was looking at Mandy performances."

I thought Mandy's vocals were superb; she had no difficulty matching Nicole's "I've come hooooooooooommmmmme...at lasssssssst!" without taking a breath along the way.

My problem with her in this role is that she's obviously a very sweet lady (a laudable trait in a human being), and she just couldn't seem to separate her own reality from that of Norma. Consequently, she was unable to convince me that she was a homicidal maniac; in the end, I could not suspend my disbelief."

I agree completely! I saw her this past Tuesday and while she sang the score well and she's a fantastic actor in general, this Norma did not seem to "fit" her as well as it does Nicole (which is understandable since it was built for Nicole).  I think Mandy just looks inherently kind and warm and didn't have quite as much of the edge of campy surrealism that Nicole brings to the role.  I think she still has good chemistry with Tom Francis 

I have a friend that's only seen Mandy and she still really enjoyed the show and we had fun discussing a lot of the choices in the show overall afterwards, so I don't think you'd get a bad show with her, but it's also just not a purpose-built role for her either (I'd love to see her play Norma in a more traditional rendition of Sunset).

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 12/13/24 at 3:11pm

Thank you both!

[binau]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 5:50am

I find the whole Mandy situation a bit strange - almost no one reports going to those performances on here, the sales appear to be terrible. It's a bit of a different dynamic than when Rachel Tucker did it in the West End - the performances always practically sold out after a while (but that was also likely because Sunset was a limited run and tickets were hard to come by so Rachel Tucker evening was almost like an overflow performance), people on that west end forum used to often talk about the performance and she had her fans (although I always thought while it still worked you didn't get that kind of life-changing event feeling with Nicole - and Nicole's voice I think was far more expressive and interesting). 

It seems like they chose the perfect size theatre for Nicole - supply is almost evenly matching demand and with such a long run people can wait if they need to. There really does not seem to be much point for the Tuesday evening performance right now....

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 6:25am

I have no interest or plans in seeing Mandy - not because I don't find her talented (on the contrary, I think she was great in what I have seen her in previously), but rather because she just does not seem like a great fit for Norma in this production IMO...

That being said, when Caroline Bowman's January 12 matinee performance was announced, I did buy a ticket pronto, and I can't wait to see her.

Updated On: 12/14/24 at 06:25 AM

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 7:43am

bwayphreak234 said: "I have no interest or plans in seeing Mandy - not because I don't find her talented (on the contrary, I think she was great in what I have seen her in previously), but rather becauseshe just does not seem like a great fit for Norma in this production IMO...

That being said, when Caroline Bowman's January 12 matinee performance was announced, I did buy a ticket pronto, and I can't wait to see her."

Going to see Caroline also. Can’t wait for the crazy dramatics she’s going to bring. See you there !

[ShowBro]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 12:35pm

delete 

Updated On: 12/14/24 at 12:35 PM

[ShowBro]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 12:42pm

ShowBro said: "MemorableUserName said: "Any more impressions of Mandy as Norma? I've been considering going back to see Tom Francis since he was out when I went and was looking at Mandy's performances."

Before seeing Mandy (a few days after seeing Nicole), I went in with the impression from others that Mandy wasn't as strong vocally as Nicole but that she made up for it with her acting performance. While I thought the first part of this assessment was absolutely true, I cannot agree with the “stronger acting” part. I really wanted Mandy to make this role her own, but all I saw were complete copies of Nicole's acting choices/gestures. Whereas with Nicole, these choices seemed organic to her and her own Norma, Mandy’s seemed like a bad impression of Nicole. I agree with others that I am not sure Mandy is the right fit for this part.

This stunning production is absolutely one of my favorites to hit Broadway in the past 15+ years. While this version of SB is strong enough to stand without Nicole, the show’s arc does not nearly reach the full-on fierce ferocity that Nicole delivers with her performance.

 

Updated On: 12/14/24 at 12:42 PM

[chernjam]

Posted: 12/14/24 at 7:16pm

I just got in from this afternoon's matinee performance. It's exactly two months since I saw it (the first Sat. Matinee during previews) And today was a great reminder why theatre has to be experienced in person. No bootlegs or even filmed productions could ever equate. As someone who's now listened to the new recording multiple times a week since it was released and has seen a couple of bootlegs online since (I know it's wrong, but I couldn't wait to see it again) It's amazing to see how different the same cast can be with the same score/script. Nicole's performance the first time I saw it was much more campy I guess would be the word - closer to nuances you hear on the recording (i.e. "don't you worry about MON AY - I'll make it worth your while HON AY") today she seemed more subtle, intentional... While Max seemed far more emotional and expressive than I remember the first time, particularly with the visuals - every glance, and scowl seemed far more impactful, more protective. The same could be said for Tom's Joe and Grace's Betty - there seemed much more loose and more expressive than the first time. Not that one performance was better than/worse than - just different, interesting. With that said - Joe's Sunset Blvd entrance genuinely shocked a lot of people in the audience as you heard gasps when the door opened and he walked in with the cast (particularly since it was 20 degrees in the City today so with them wearing their winter jackets standing in the doorway it was even more obvious). Believe it or not, that was the first standing ovation today (not With One Look) Speaking of With One Look - I'd have to be more well educated in music - but I could swear that the ending Nicole sang in a different (and possibly even higher key? than what is recorded and what I remember) It was definitely different and I wondered/worried that perhaps Nicole was feeling under the weather/fighting a cold (since there were three cast members out) I had to reject that when she got to As If We Never Said Goodbye - because she held "home" FARRRR longer than I heard the first time and on the recording and the audience was raring to give her the ovation right there and then. It seemed from that point on, whatever/why she may have been holding back and being more subtle earlier was gone as the rest of the act she left everything on the stage. The confrontation "who's Betty schaeffer" the phone call - felt so much more intense - the finale was more brutal. Max seemed like he was having a breakdown, and in fact he was so convincing being doubled over and crying that he kind of had to pick up his speed off stage to leave Norma alone for her last scene. Two things I'm not sure were additions, when Norma tells him to take the script to paramount, there's a live feed of him driving to Paramount. And as Joe gets changed into his New Years clothes, young Norma and Max assist him (I don't remember either of those things in the previews). The audience loved it - an amazing ovation that only got shut down by the end credits. Was happy to hear walking out people on line saying "they're sold out tonight and if we want to see it tomorrow we're going to have to split up" My next visit will be to check out Caroline Bowman the "standby" who's going on at least twice the week of Nicole's break in January.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/19/24 at 4:26pm

Ms. Scherzinger getting turnt with the gays, including Eliad Cohen, who apparently remixed her version of "With One Look" into a dance track.

https://www.tiktok.com/@eliadcohen/video/7449027932946713861?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ttGJWf5MEiO3HbiUxdAjXJbU9LbhQJTfnDP_4z1GC_3cGkcAGHapgMoI_aem_NZsNCuxMvGLCY17IZ2O3kg