SUNSET BLVD. Reviews — Page 47

Yes I am in the camp that thinks this production is staged for Nicole and all her strengths. I’ve also seen it with Rachel Tucker and Caroline Bowman and they both tried to emulate a lot of whst Nicole did and some worked, some didn’t. I don’t know how Mandy was directed in this but I felt she actively pushed away from a lot of the “Nicole-isms” and ended up giving a really grounded Norma. I’d say it’s the closest performance to a traditional take on the role I’ve seen in Jamie Lloyd’s version and it was actually refreshing to me. Obviously there are things she can’t do because of the staging and the cuts but using what she had, it was the most “realistic” Norma I’ve seen. And again I think that’s because all the added stuff (that works mostly for Nicole), Mandy did her best to avoid.

Updated On: 4/16/25 at 12:09 AM

Jordan Catalano said: "Yes I am in the camp that thinksthis production is staged for Nicole and all her strengths. I’ve also seen it with Rachel Tucker and Caroline Bowman and they both tried toemulate a lot of whst Nicole did and some worked, some didn’t. I don’t know how Mandy was directed in this but I felt she actively pushed away from a lot of the “Nicole-isms” and ended up giving a really grounded Norma. I’d say it’s the closest performance to a traditional take on the role I’ve seen in Jamie Lloyd’s version and it was actually refreshing to me. Obviously there are things she can’t do because of the staging and the cuts but using what she had, it was the most “realistic” Norma I’ve seen."

Thanks!

binau said: "Tony Awards for Best Actress, Revival and Director coming soon!!!"

Why not at least wait for the nominations first?

This is just a friendly reminder that people make predictions all of the time before the nominations come out, whether it be the Tonys, Oscar’s, Grammys or whatever awards show exists. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it is part of the fun for a lot of people. Stop being such Debbie Downers.

Updated On: 4/19/25 at 06:25 PM

I do wish I could have caught this show one more time . I hope there’s some truth to the rumors of a West Coast run. But I’m doubtful . Don’t miss it if you have the chance. It will certainly be part of Broadway chat for years to come.

Jordan Catalano said: "Rashidra was PHENOMENAL today. I wish more people would have had a chance to see her so here’s hoping good things are coming her way."

Agree! Out of the four Normas, she ranks second (below Nicole) in my book. She went up on her lyrics a couple of times, but it barely mattered - she was so locked in. Really thought she was sensational. And I’ll continue to stump for David Thaxton until he gets that Tony nom.

Rashidra really ate DOWN. You would never guess this was her second time playing the role. I didn’t hear her go up on anything, but I do agree the acting choices with DeMille were exquisite.

Her “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye” garnered standing ovations and rapturous applause (with the former, for me personally, being a transcendent rendition). However, her version of “New Ways to Dream” had a fragility to it I haven’t seen before, and you see a bit of Norma’s vulnerability crack through.

Per the website, she is scheduled for 5/23 and both shows on 5/24

Jordan Catalano said: "Rashidra did a really interesting thing I hadn’t seen anyone else in this production do. When she was speaking to DeMille, she completely changed. She became very timid, almost like a little girl afraid of letting down her mentor, by saying the wrong thing. It was a great acting choice she made there."



Damn Jordan! How do you do it? Didn't you see Mandy this week as well? How do you find the time to see so many shows? How many did you see this week alone? lol

Also saw Rashidra this afternoon and thought she gave a very different and very exciting performance. There was a cool sort of meta-theatricality to seeing this woman we've seen in the ensemble of so many shows playing this overlooked starlet and she leaned much more into the humanity of Norma than Nicole and Caroline Bowman do, which both worked to remarkable effect while also leaving the ending feeling a bit more rushed.

Her Norma felt sad above all else. She was hurt to have been left behind and seemed so defeated until she meets Joe. Rashidra found a lot of warmth and kindness, less of the more aloof feeling I think Nicole tends to exude.

Vocally, her head voice is sort of nonexistent and there were moments where she overshot the notes, but when the vocals were locked in they were truly thrilling and a completely different sound to anyone else in this production.

Overall, a really wonderful performance, she looked stunning and the audience greeted her with immense welcome and warmth, I hope that she felt how much love was in that theatre today.

Also, need to shout out my favorite choice she made during the conversation about her and DeMille's horoscopes, she put on a sort of Miss Cleo/TV psychic voice. I've always sort of cringed at the valley girl delivery Normas in this production give those lines, but Rashidra got a big, ol', embarrassing belly laugh from me today.

Brava!

We HOWLED at that moment.

Jordan Catalano said: "We HOWLED at that moment."

Darn, now I have to hear it!

Updated On: 4/21/25 at 05:50 PM