SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 44

[Listener]

Posted: 3/14/25 at 1:19am

Honestly, no offense to Nicole, but I hope she doesn't win a Tony for this. You have to do more than sing well to deserve a Tony and her performance here is far from clever or interesting.

She's a good singer, sure, fine, but this show hasn't exactly pushed her to do more than act like a Diva and take her sweet time delivering the tunes. The weird modern touches don't help the fact that this is supposed to be a period piece. It just doesn't work.

That doesn't mean it isn't entertaining, mind you, but...to win a Tony I'd like to think she'd given us a great Norma who has dimension and humanity and layers. She just isn't an actress. But hey, it's showy.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/14/25 at 11:59pm

BC/EFA was collecting tonight. Selling signed posters for $300, signed Playbills for $60, Sunset Boulevard Sheet Music signed by Tom Francis for $100 and Sunset sunglasses. (I didn’t ask how much for those.)

There was a dog bark on Wednesday at the show-any chance a staff member or someone at the board has a service animal? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 2:28pm

How bad is the rear of the balcony? Selling them for $49 for Wednesday night. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 2:31pm

Nicole officially takes over Mandy Gonzales' shows.  This has been in the works for some time due to poor Tuesday sales and reviews of Mandy's Norma.  With Gonzales on Tuesdays, the show has lost money and brought down financials.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nicole-Scherzinger-Adds-Six-More-Shows-in-SUNSET-BOULEVARD-Run-20250324

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 2:39pm

...and perhaps maybe also possibly because it's Tony time.

Updated On: 3/24/25 at 02:39 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 2:43pm

Yes, but this change has been discussed, for some time, by creative and producers Tonys or not. 

[binau]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 2:46pm

Listener said: "Honestly, no offense to Nicole, but I hope she doesn't win a Tony for this. You have to do more than sing well to deserve a Tony and her performance here is far from clever or interesting.

She's a good singer, sure, fine, but this show hasn't exactly pushed her to do more than act like a Diva and take her sweet time delivering the tunes. The weird modern touches don't help the fact that this is supposed to be a period piece. It just doesn't work.

That doesn't mean it isn't entertaining, mind you, but...to win a Tony I'd like to think she'd given us a great Norma who has dimension and humanity and layers. She just isn't an actress. But hey, it's showy."

I honestly think Nicole S' singing and acting is of the same kind of calibre as someone like Christine Ebersole (especially her ability to act while singing). It's like she was born for the stage and this role. In my mind it's as important and as significant as performances such as Patti LuPone in Gypsy, Alice Ripley in next to normal and Bernadette in Sunday in the Park. I don't think anyone has or will ever come close to Nicole in Sunset. It's a true reinvention like Alan Cumming in Cabaret, and what is seen can never be unseen.

I'm also starting to think the Tony race is back on again. Nicole is proving her vocal can hold out, she has never missed a performance. She doesn't have the polarising reaction to her vocals like Audra does (although for what it's worth I think Audra's vocals are also highly important and a revelation). Gypsy has started to lose steam which isn't good for optics and she is about to have very unfavourable comparisons with Lea in Old Friends who completely brings the house down with "Coming Up Roses" in ways that some people think Audra didn't (I think she did personally, I just can empathise that her soprano isn't for everyone). 

Updated On: 3/24/25 at 02:46 PM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 3:01pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Nicole officially takes over Mandy Gonzales' shows. This has been in the works for some time due to poor Tuesday sales and reviews of Mandy's Norma. With Gonzales on Tuesdays, the show has lost money and brought down financials.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nicole-Scherzinger-Adds-Six-More-Shows-in-SUNSET-BOULEVARD-Run-20250324"

Sure. BUT. the specifics of this being only six weeks means that Nicole isn't permanently taking over Mandy's shows. The specific dates of this range in the exact window in which Tony voters seeing the show and that indicates, to me, that this is less driven by financials and more as a tactic to give Tony voters a maximized chance to see Nicole's performance and the show as it is "intended." (I've also heard nothing but positive notices for Mandy so your wording is a little confusing.)

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 3:35pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Nicole officially takes over Mandy Gonzales' shows. This has been in the works for some time due to poor Tuesday sales and reviews of Mandy's Norma. With Gonzales on Tuesdays, the show has lost money and brought down financials."

What a silly attempt you’ve made here. Mandy Gonzalez still has dates on the calendar. This has to do with Tony voting, nothing more. 

One performance each week is not doing so terribly that the production needs to change their schedule in the last four months of the run, get real. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 3:35pm

Also it's not like Mandy's no longer affiliated with the show.  She's still scheduled to cover when Nicole is off for Holy Week/Easter Sunday

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 6:49pm

Could not agree more.  And I don't necessarily blame her so much as the direction.  But still, wholly baffled by a well-enough-sung-at-times (she was cashed when I saw her) performance that goes nowhere and does nothing.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 6:53pm

bwaydreamer said: "Could not agree more. And I don't necessarily blame her so much as the direction. But still, wholly baffled by a well-enough-sung-at-times (she was cashed when I saw her) performance that goes nowhere and does nothing."

Could not agree more with what? The quote button is your friend.

Also, “she was cashed when I saw her”……..huh????????

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/24/25 at 11:35pm

What a silly attempt you’ve made here. Mandy Gonzalez still has dates on the calendar. This has to do with Tony voting, nothing more.

One performance each week is not doing so terribly that the production needs to changetheir schedule in the last four months of the run,..."

AND the MONEY and complaints they are getting.  Folks are expecting Nicole, ask the box office.  Ask ANY of the producers about the MONEY lost.  You get real.

[binau]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 3:44am

The money is definitely a real issue. But that’s kind of on the producers not Mandy. I don’t think this was an impossible scenario to predict - very large theatre at the st James, open ended run. it worked in London because I think Rachel Tucker was a bigger name and the show has limited availability for Nicole’s performances as the run progressed so it got to a point where it acted as a slightly cheaper overflow performance but still sold out (sales were slow at first for the whole show). 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 5:22am

binau said: "The money is definitely a real issue. But that’s kind of on the producers not Mandy. I don’t think this was an impossible scenario to predict - very large theatre at the st James, open ended run. it worked in London because I think Rachel Tucker was a bigger name and the show has limited availability for Nicole’s performances as the run progressed so it got to a point where it acted as a slightly cheaper overflow performance but still sold out (sales were slow at first for the whole show)."

While I totally agree it's not Mandy's fault -- Nicole only picked up an additional 6 performances, it's not like they kicked Mandy to the curb -- this revival was always a limited engagement. Tickets were only on sale until July 6, then an additional week was added.

From Playbill

[binau]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 6:05am

In my opinion they might have used the term 'limited run' for marketing purposes but a 9-month run on Broadway in a large theatre is not a real limited run because nothing was really limited haha. It is reasonably predictable that this would not sell out the St James for 9 months and need Mandy's night but I guess they were expecting this to maybe be a kind of viral mega hit instead of just decent business. 

[dan94]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 9:18am

binau said: "I don't think anyone has or will ever come close to Nicole in Sunset. It's a true reinvention like Alan Cumming in Cabaret, and what is seen can never be unseen.

I'm also starting to think the Tony race is back on again. Nicole is proving her vocal can hold out, she has never missed a performance. She doesn't have the polarising reaction to her vocals like Audra does (although for what it's worth I think Audra's vocals are also highly important and a revelation). Gypsy has started to lose steam which isn't good for optics and she is about to have very unfavourable comparisons with Lea in Old Friends who completely brings the house down with "Coming Up Roses" in ways that some people think Audra didn't (I think she did personally, I just can empathise that her soprano isn't for everyone)."

Different strokes. I think it's very much still true no Norma has come close to Betty Buckley. And while Nicole's vocals don't have a polarizing reaction, her acting certainly does. 

I also feel you're overstating what effect Lea will have. She performs one song. She performs it expertly - but it's one song. Audra is doing the whole role. Audra also has original cast members coming out saying she was better than Merman (or any other Rose) in the part.

There is no un-controversial option in this race, and for all we know it will end up 2 time Tony Winner Idina Menzel when the votes are tallied.

edit: Should be mentioned Nicole is getting an extra week of vacation in April. With the added Tuesday performances she and Mandy are doing the exact same amount of performances as initially scheduled. They're just getting allocated differently.

Updated On: 3/25/25 at 09:18 AM

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 9:24am

dan94 said: "Audra also has original cast members coming out saying she was better than Merman (or any other Rose) in the part."

Which original cast members? 

Updated On: 3/25/25 at 09:24 AM

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:02am

Matt Rogers said: "bwaydreamer said: "Could not agree more. And I don't necessarily blame her so much as the direction. But still, wholly baffled by a well-enough-sung-at-times (she was cashed when I saw her) performance that goes nowhere and does nothing."

Could not agree more with what? The quote button is your friend.

Also, “she was cashed when I saw her”……..huh????????"

Please calm down.  I thought I hit the quote button.  Was quoting this obviously to any one with a brain.

 

"Honestly, no offense to Nicole, but I hope she doesn't win a Tony for this. You have to do more than sing well to deserve a Tony and her performance here is far from clever or interesting.

She's a good singer, sure, fine, but this show hasn't exactly pushed her to do more than act like a Diva and take her sweet time delivering the tunes. The weird modern touches don't help the fact that this is supposed to be a period piece. It just doesn't work.

That doesn't mean it isn't entertaining, mind you, but...to win a Tony I'd like to think she'd given us a great Norma who has dimension and humanity and layers. She just isn't an actress. But hey, it's showy."

 

And YES she was hoarse and her pushing and it sounded PAINFUL when I saw her.  And the acting was bad.  I know that gets your panties in a bunch but it's not a performance for the ages or even the season.  Get off your gay high horse.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:12am

Alan Williams will conduct his final performance with SUNSET BOULEVARD on April 20 and is heading back to the UK. Also, Diego Andres Rodriguez is on for Joe all this week.

Both of them will return to Broadway soon enough

Updated On: 3/25/25 at 11:12 AM

[inception]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:26am

joevitus said: "dan94 said: "Audra also has original cast members coming out saying she was better than Merman (or any other Rose) in the part."

Which original cast members?"

Who from the original 1959 cast of Gypsy is still alive?

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:26am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Alan Williams will conduct his final performance with SUNSET BOULEVARD on April 20 and is heading back to the UK. Also, Diego Andres Rodriguez is on for Joe all this week.

Both of them will return to Broadway soon enough "

Will they return to play chess? 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:30am

Bwaygurl2 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Alan Williams will conduct his final performance with SUNSET BOULEVARD on April 20 and is heading back to the UK. Also, Diego Andres Rodriguez is on for Joe all this week.

Both of them will return to Broadway soon enough "

Will they return to play chess?"

No, but you'll see. They're doing separate projects.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:32am

Is Diego heading back for another project/reunion with Jamie ? 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/25/25 at 11:50am

inception said: "joevitus said: "dan94 said: "Audra also has original cast members coming out saying she was better than Merman (or any other Rose) in the part."

Which original cast members?"

Who from the original 1959 cast of Gypsyis still alive?"

I'm not sure who is still around and who has passed on, but it's not like everyone in the original cast was 50 when they were doing the show. It certainly seems feasible that 20 something chorus boys would still be around and in their 80s, and the kids would be even younger. With that said, I'm not sure how many of them are rushing to see the fith revival of a show they did more than 65 years ago to put out a public statement about how much better Audra is than Merman was.