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SUNSET BLVD. Reviews

PipingHotPiccolo
#1025SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/2/25 at 11:12pm

we heard earlier about MAGA leading men all over Broadway who get ignored by the vile racist white men here, and then learned that the only examples of MAGA supporting Broadway actors are two vile jerks who have been roundly condemned by everyone here, and.... Denzel Washington. 

Now I learn about all these vile sexual predators, again no names actually mentioned. Im guessing because no one wants to catch a lawsuit peddling unsubstantiated nonsense, but please, go for it, pray tell, I'm so curious!

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poisonivy2
#1026SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/2/25 at 11:28pm

I mentioned Kelsey Grammer, Denzel Washington, will also add Robert Downey Jr. Kat McPhee is as well. All of these are hardcore Republicans, haven't hidden it.

And while we're at it, David Mamet (author of Glengarry Glenn Ross).

Updated On: 3/2/25 at 11:28 PM

Seb28 Profile Photo
Seb28
#1027SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 6:08am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Sutton Ross said: "Nicole isn't MAGA and the people here trying to attack her are just white, insecure, misogynistic men who hate women, especially confident women of Color. Simple."

Simple!
"

The racism in this post is indeed very basic and simple. This isn't a good situation to express your anti-white racism at all.

It's the other way around. The people attacking her political views are intolerant, left-wing, "progressive". The people who pretend to love WOC. But only for as long as they share their racism and hatred. If they differ in opinion they will be attacked. That is more evil than the ideas of the right side you don't agree with.

 

 

Updated On: 3/3/25 at 06:08 AM

soxboy22
#1028SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 9:00am

Is there a thread about the revival of the musical “Sunset Blvd.”?

PipingHotPiccolo
#1029SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 9:46am

Seb28 said: "PipingHotPiccolo said: "Sutton Ross said: "Nicole isn't MAGA and the people here trying to attack her are just white, insecure, misogynistic men who hate women, especially confident women of Color. Simple."

Simple!
"

The racism in this post is indeed very basic and simple. This isn't a good situation to express your anti-white racism at all.

It's the other way around. The people attacking her political views are intolerant, left-wing, "progressive". The people who pretend to loveWOC. But only for as long as they share their racism and hatred. If they differ in opinion they will be attacked. That is more evil than the ideas of the right side you don't agree with.


"

Put this in a museum: I am BOTH a white, insecure, misogynistic man who hates women/POC, but i am ALSO an intolerant, left-wing progressive who pretends to love women of color as long as they're racist and hateful like me.

Extreme right and extreme left, always two sides of the same coin. 

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Huss417
#1030SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 10:26am

It would be nice if we can somehow get back to (I don't know) discussing the show as opposed to the back and forth of politics. Or maybe take the politics private?

 


"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter." Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.

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Matt Rogers
#1031SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 7:30pm

Huss417 said: "It would be nice if we can somehow get back to (I don't know) discussing the show as opposed to the back and forth of politics. Or maybe take the politics private?

"

Okay, here goes: Has anyone seen this on a Saturday night? I’m wondering what time a Saturday night performance gets out because I have to make an 11:15 PM train from Penn Station. I’ve only seen weeknight 7PM performances so far. They mostly start at least 5 to 10 minutes late but the intermissions seem to stick to 15 minutes. Wondering if time is added due to larger weekend crowds. Any info appreciated. 

Musigamist
#1032SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 7:44pm

Matt Rogers said: "Huss417 said: "It would be nice if we can somehow get back to (I don't know) discussing the show as opposed to the back and forth of politics. Or maybe take the politics private?

"

Okay, here goes: Has anyone seen this on a Saturday night? I’m wondering what time a Saturday night performance gets out because I have to make an 11:15 PM train from Penn Station. I’ve only seen weeknight 7PM performances so far. They mostly start at least 5 to 10 minutes late but the intermissions seem to stick to 15 minutes. Wondering if time is added due to larger weekend crowds. Any info appreciated.
"

Bows for me ended at 10:42p, and I was standing on the street within 10 minutes of that.

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poisonivy2
#1033SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 8:04pm

Ok can I mention how amazing David Thaxton is as Max? Deep, resonant voice. I'd actually love to see him as Hades in Hadestown.

BorisTomashevsky
#1034SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 8:14pm

poisonivy2 said: "Ok can I mention how amazing David Thaxton is as Max? Deep, resonant voice. I'd actually love to see him as Hades in Hadestown."

I had the great good fortune of seeing David Thaxton as Javert in London ten years ago. A wonderful performance, up there with Philip Quast for me. 

Bwaygurl2
#1035SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/3/25 at 9:11pm

poisonivy2 said: "Ok can I mention how amazing David Thaxton is as Max? Deep, resonant voice. I'd actually love to see him as Hades in Hadestown."

It's so counterintuitive to cast a Max that is younger than the Norma, but it works beautifully. The audience burst into applause halfway through "The greatest star of all" after he held "fade" forever in chest voice. 

EDSOSLO858 Profile Photo
EDSOSLO858
#1036SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 1:55pm

Update: Rashidra Scott will now make her Norma debut TONIGHT!


Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
Updated On: 3/4/25 at 01:55 PM

WiCkEDrOcKS Profile Photo
WiCkEDrOcKS
#1037SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 2:07pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Update: RashidraScott will now make her Norma debut TONIGHT!"

If anyone's interested in snagging a last minute ticket to the show tonight, the SUNSET2025 code is showing quite a few $60/86 seats and a handful of prime orchestra seats for $107.

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suzycat
#1038SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 2:56pm

Ahhhh thank you, just got my ticket!

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CoffeeBreak
#1039SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 3:40pm

Thaxton as Max is the first time we've ever loved this character.  It all just makes beautiful sense with this direction.

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chernjam
#1040SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 4:10pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Thaxton as Max is the first time we've ever loved this character. It all just makes beautiful sense with this direction."

I was fortunate to see George Hearn numerous times in the Broadway production with each of the different Normas - who was amazing in his own right for sure... but I agree with this 100%.  What made this production so dramatic for me was that I had emotional connections that I had never had before - especially with Norma - but that was in large part due to Max's delusional/overprotective presence as well as Joe's somewhat cluelessness with moments of genuineness (particularly both Act's finales where he seems in Act 1 legitimately moved and caring for her and Act 2 when he laughs in her face) 

It made the whole ride far more wild and effective than I had ever experienced

BorisTomashevsky
#1041SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 8:29pm

Ms. Scott is doing well. Some vocal wavering and flatness in the early parts but she revved up once Salome got going.

Semi-standing ovation in the orchestra after With One Look, which it really didn’t deserve, but people can’t help but get involved and insert themselves into the event these days, can they. 

Sydney Jones is great as Betty and should have the role full time. 

Someone snuck their dog in with them (are service dogs allowed?) and it keeps barking any time the ensemble makes a loud cheering sound or the audience laughs. Ya can’t just go to the theatre anymore can you? 

Voter
#1042SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 8:35pm

Obviously service dogs are allowed. But the barking thing is poor training and rude.

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suzycat
#1043SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 9:56pm

Dog barked twice, no big deal. 
 

How exhilarating to see Rashidra’s first performance! No one can do what Nicole can do but she gave a thrilling first performance, especially those last few minutes once Norma goes over the deep end. Brava!

BorisTomashevsky
#1044SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 10:04pm

A few final thoughts.

I overall didn’t like this as it felt devoid of human spirit and soul. That’s the director’s vision I suppose, but specifically it was the design starkness/vocal monotones/deadpanness and Norma’s comedy “looks” that betrayed it of any inherent sentiment, for me. I know this all was the point, but I’m just someone who needs some heart.

Maybe it would have made sense and landed better if I’d seen it with star quality in the leading role, i.e. Nicole. Rashidra is a great performer and I’m sure Mandy is too, but Nicole is a star without even trying. Tom Francis has star quality as well. I can only imagine he and Nicole are dynamite even for those who don’t enjoy the evening on the whole.

The red backdrop moment was exciting when it happened, and David’s delivery of “Lights, cameras, action!” as Max was desperate and moving I now realize he was, in the main, the heart of the night. 

Audience knew their lines and went wild mid-Never Said Goodbye, even though it didn’t deserve it. But they’ll make their voices heard and show us they know the important bits whether we like it or not! 

JSquared2
#1045SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/4/25 at 10:30pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Ms. Scott is doing well. Some vocal wavering and flatness in the early parts but she revved up once Salome got going.

Semi-standing ovation in the orchestra after With One Look, which it really didn’t deserve, but people can’t help but get involved and insert themselves into the event these days, can they.

Sydney Jones is great as Betty and should have the role full time.

Someone snucktheir dog in with them (are service dogs allowed?) and it keeps barking any time the ensemble makes a loud cheering sound or the audiencelaughs. Ya can’t just go to the theatre anymore can you?
"


Totally agree. You should not go anymore. You’re a pill and a downer for the rest of us. 

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Seb28
#1046SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/5/25 at 6:00am

BorisTomashevsky said: "I overall didn’t like this as it felt devoid of human spirit and soul. That’s the director’s vision I suppose, but specifically it was the design starkness/vocal monotones/deadpanness and Norma’s comedy “looks” that betrayed it of any inherent sentiment, for me. I know this all was the point, but I’m just someone who needs some heart.

Maybe it would have made sense and landed better if I’d seen it with star quality in the leading role, i.e.Nicole. 


Audience knew their lines and went wild mid-Never Said Goodbye, even though it didn’t deserve it. But they’ll make their voices heard and show us they know the important bits whether we like it or not!"

I need more sincerity and heart in the show too. I know that the vision of this production is to harm any moment of sincerity and spirit and soul of the characters. Being taken out of the show in every scene is mandatory. With Nicole it's even worse. At least with other actresses you can try to see Norma for little moments here and there. It became sort of a "Rocky horror audience participation show". Neighing, hollering and clapping at lines and moments, whether deserved or not. People are not listening to the song "AIWNSG", they are waiting for the moment to holler. Maybe they can hand out participation booklets and bags, to make sure everyone in the audience will be taken out of the show. With little flags they can wave during the first part of the song till the hollering is finally there. Maybe a pencil and a print of tic-tac-toe for the first part of the song because there is little to laugh. When I visited the show with Nicole, I dit not participate in screaming midway through songs, out of respect for other audience members and the actors and scenes and story. It was a shame that I couldn't hear the second half of the sung note either. Then I learned that I wasn't supposed to. It's not what this show is about.

 

 

 

 

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binau
#1047SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/5/25 at 7:16am

I just didn't find with the Glenn Close revival there was any sincerity, spirit or soul with the characters. This production is the only time I felt it - previously I just felt cringe sloppy ALW show being held together with a couple great moments. Now I'm like, ok this is finally a show.


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

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QueenAlice
#1048SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/5/25 at 9:09am

Why do the same insane people who aren't even at the show keep posting over and over about it?


“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”

soxboy22
#1049SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 3/5/25 at 9:30am

You answered your own question. :)


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