SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 32

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/1/25 at 6:03pm

MezzA101 said: "Orchestrating The Haunting Sound Of ‘Sunset Boulevard’



https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynking/2024/12/27/orchestrating-the-haunting-sound-of-sunset-boulevard/"

 

Wow - after hearing what I thought was ever piece of gossip ever associated with this show, this was the first time I heard that Cullen had been cut and then rehired as orchestrator for it...  

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 8:28am

Made a return visit last night to the house on Sunset (my 4th time seeing this production). I still can't get over the glorious symphonic sound of the orchestra backing the vocal pyrotechnics... It's truly just wave after wave of glorious sounds for 2 and a half hours.

Nicole continues to astound with her performance - the stamina and force she exudes nightly is not human. The fact that they are pulling off the act 2 opening night after night with such precision is extremely impressive. Can't wait to go back next weekend to see Caroline Bowman take on Norma!

[Huss417]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 10:02am

bwayphreak234 said: "Made a return visit last night to the house on Sunset (my 4th time seeing this production). I stillcan't get over the glorious symphonic sound of the orchestra backing the vocal pyrotechnics... It's truly just wave after wave of glorioussounds for 2 and a half hours.

Nicole continues to astound with her performance - the stamina and force she exudes nightly is not human. The fact that they are pulling off the act 2 opening night after night with such precision is extremely impressive. Can't wait to go back next weekend to see Caroline Bowman take on Norma!"

Was Tom Francis back last night?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 10:08am

Huss417 said: "Was Tom Francis back last night?"

He was!

 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 10:25am

I was there last night too! Scherzinger is giving one of the best performances I have had the privilege of witnessing on the Broadway stage. Francis, Thaxton, and Hodgett-Young were also incredible. The direction and lighting were striking. The show felt like a horror film towards the end, which is something I have never experienced in live theatre. I was genuinely scared by Scherzinger and Thaxton. I don’t have anything to complain about for this production besides the St. James sight lines, which are well established as bad anyway.

I did however notice some bizarre audience behavior. There was a person in the front mezzanine who was using binoculars at one point during the show. Not opera glasses, but binoculars. I only noticed it once, but it was still pretty bizarre as their seats were close and the use of camera/projection blows everything up.

Regardless, great production and would love to see it again.

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 11:19am

For those who have been I was wondering what would be a better seat. Front row of balcony or row E orchestra on the right partial view? Aviewfrommyseat says partial view missed some stuff at the back of the stage. Balcony just seems really far away based on pictures I’ve seen. Other options are last 2 rows of orchestra in right or 3rd row of mezz on left. With the seatgeek discount these are the only ones I can afford. The Canadian dollar exchange is killing my theatre options!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 11:54am

BwayinVan said: "For those who have been I was wondering what would be a better seat. Front row of balcony or row E orchestra on the right partial view? Aviewfrommyseat says partial view missed some stuff at the back of the stage. Balcony just seems really far away based on pictures I’ve seen. Other options are last 2 rows of orchestra in right or 3rd row of mezz on left. With the seatgeek discount these are the only ones I can afford. The Canadian dollar exchange is killing my theatre options!"

I've seen the show from front row balcony, towards the back of the orchestra on the side, a partial view orchestra seat close to the stage, and from the center of the front mezzanine. I would definitely recommend the front mezzanine for this one.

The balcony, as you mentioned, is very high up, and even the front row feels miles away from the stage. The partial view orchestra seats at the St. James are definitely pretty partial in my experience.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/4/25 at 11:57am

BwayinVan said: "For those who have been I was wondering what would be a better seat. Front row of balcony or row E orchestra on the right partial view? Aviewfrommyseat says partial view missed some stuff at the back of the stage. Balcony just seems really far away based on pictures I’ve seen. Other options are last 2 rows of orchestra in right or 3rd row of mezz on left. With the seatgeek discount these are the only ones I can afford. The Canadian dollar exchange is killing my theatre options!"

I honestly have not sat in either of those locations for this show but I can tell you nothing important happens at the back of the stage. I would personally choose to be closer for this production, even though the screens help, there are many songs/scenes that I think you would want to be close enough to see facial expressions.