SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 53

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 1:59pm

WOW.  They are both incredible - and Nicole doing that with allergies/cold !!!   We need that version of The Perfect Year as part of a stripped down EP NOW.

This show deserves Best Revival,  Best Director of a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor In a Musical (or Jeremy Jordan), Best Lighting in a  Musical, Best Sound in a Musical & Orchestrations.  It's tops this season. 

Updated On: 5/5/25 at 01:59 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 2:28pm

Wow. That tiny desk concert was amazing. Nicole and Tom come across as very likeable and can easily switch from actor into musician mode with it feeling natural. All of the performances were stunning. 

I have this romantic image in my mind of a lot of tony voters gathering listening to cast recordings and debating who should win (maybe it never happens!). In such a world this tiny desk concert would be played and be the highlight of the evening. 

Nicole surely has at this point now locked in a Tony. Maybe Tom even has a little more of a chance now than he did. 

Updated On: 5/6/25 at 02:28 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 2:43pm

Am I the only person who isn't absolutely gaga for Nicole's vocals? Listen, I love her in the role, but her singing voice has never resonated with me emotionally the way it clearly has for others. It's technically excellent (mostly), but it doesn't reach down into my heart and soul, if that makes sense. Now, if you wanna talk about Amber Iman's voice in Goddess, I'm right there with you.

[chernjam]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 3:24pm

binau said: "Wow. That tiny desk concert was amazing. Nicole and Tom come across as very likeable and can easily switch from actor into musician mode with it feeling natural. All of the performances were stunning.

I have this romantic imagine in my mind of a lot of tony voters gathering listening to cast recordings and debating who should win (maybe it never happens!). In such a world this tiny desk concert would be played and be the highlight of the evening.

Nicole surely has at this point now locked in a Tony. Maybe Tom even has a little more of a chance now than this did."

This was seriously such a wonderful treat today... I loved that they did new takes on these classics that didn't feel watered down in any way, just fresh.  I had already said I was hoping Tom and Nicole would do "The Perfect Year" for the Tony's - this sealed it for me that it would be a stunning performance.

[getatme]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 4:43pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Am I the only person who isn't absolutely gaga for Nicole's vocals? Listen, I love her in the role, but her singing voice has never resonated with me emotionally the way it clearly has for others. It's technically excellent (mostly), but it doesn't reach down into my heart and soul, if that makes sense. Now, if you wanna talk about Amber Iman's voice in Goddess, I'm right there with you."

I actually generally agree with this. And I think in this Tiny Desk video Nicole sounded rather tired, especially at the climax of As If We Never Said Goodbye.

Don't see why this performance would "lock in a Tony." It was fun, but I think Francis came off better.

[Ensemble1731275423]

Posted: 5/6/25 at 6:48am

This was an amazing performance.  Glad her broadway run for Sunset is now immortalized via Tiny Desk.  How are they able to sing this good at the early hours in the morning?  Mind blown!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/8/25 at 10:50am

Nicole Scherzinger on How Her “Pop Star Mentality” Prepared Her for ‘Sunset Blvd.,’ “Manifesting” a Film Adaptation and First Tony Nom

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:30pm

Could you imagine the grin on Patti's face if a Sunset Blvd. movie was made with Nicole instead of Glenn? I would definitely tune in to Watch What Happens Live for her shade.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:55pm

What would a movie of her Norma look like? I can see a proshot of the production but not sure what a Hollywood adaptation would be. Except maybe an unusually glum Baz movie or, help us, Emilia Perez. 

Updated On: 5/9/25 at 03:55 PM

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:57pm

A movie with Nicole feels like... a very bad idea. Everything strong about her performance is rooted in the theatrical. They should film the production. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 4:09pm

Really, a new Sunset Boulevard movie sounds like a bad idea period but one would especially hate to see this happen to Glenn...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 4:28pm

A movie version of this production seems even less likely than Glenn’s movie. Neither will happen. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 5:40pm

binau said: "
I have this romantic image in my mind of a lot of tony voters gathering listening to cast recordings and debating who should win (maybe it never happens!). "

 

You do realize Tony Voters have to check in for all the shows they attend and only eligible to vote in categories where they have seen all the nominated shows right?

 

[bear88]

Posted: 5/11/25 at 1:27am

Bwaygurl2 said: "poisonivy2 said: "

I feel like it worked bc one thing that's never made sense about the musical is how damned earnest all the ALW power ballads seem as a response to a movie that is deliberately cruel and ironic. Billy Wilder made you care about Norma by highlighting all the ways she's ridiculous. It's pathetic and sad. ALW power ballads are more "yasss queen" than pathetic and sad.

But by making it all so artifcial, and making Norma SO theatrical and performative, it kind of brought back the coldness that was so much a part of the original film.



M​​​​y thoughts exactly. Webber isn't suited to cynicism and irony, and that was lost in translation from the original movie to the musical. He is superb at conjuring Old World glamour and mystery, the Hollywood Babylon of it all, and Norma and Max are in his wheelhouse, Joe less so. This production reinstates the irony and is truer to the original movie in tone."

These two comments, by poisonivy2 and Bwaygurl2, offer the best defense of the revival that I have run across. I didn’t enjoy the production as much as many of you did, in part because I thought Jamie Lloyd’s direction alternated between silly and self-indulgent. But maybe all the artificiality, which I found distancing except for Max, was the point. 

Nicole Scherzinger’s performance as Norma, despite its periodic winks to the camera, is deliberately overwrought. That’s what Lloyd is asking for, and it may fit the source material better. Even the slowed down versions of Norma’s big ballads evoke grandeur while taking advantage of Scherzinger’s powerful voice. That is Lloyd’s vision of the show, and perhaps I was too annoyed by his ‘look-at-me’ flourishes to give proper credit.

Plus, the revival does a fantastic job of making Lloyd Webber’s score work. It sounds great, overwhelming but clear. The show keeps the Old World glamour and mystery that Bwaygurl2 describes but casts it in a harsher and more pathetic light.

Updated On: 5/11/25 at 01:27 AM

[binau]

Posted: 5/11/25 at 3:36am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "binau said: "
I have this romantic image in my mind of a lot of tony voters gathering listening to cast recordings and debating who should win (maybe it never happens!). "



You do realize Tony Voters have to check in for all the shows they attend and only eligible to vote in categories where they have seen all the nominated shows right?

"

That’s not the point I was trying to make - it was more on the idea that they are debating with each other at parties using media such as these concerts and in which case I think it fares for sunset well. Obviously it’s a given they have actually seen the shows - I am not suggesting they are voting solely based on these clips lol. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 5/12/25 at 2:36pm

Was looking to catch this Wednesday's Matinee for my fourth visit - and am shocked the prices have gone up so much, especially for a Wednesday matinee.  Anyone know why or perhaps have a discount code?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/12/25 at 2:40pm

chernjam said: "Was looking to catch this Wednesday's Matinee for my fourth visit - and am shocked the prices have gone up so much, especially for a Wednesday matinee. Anyone know why or perhaps have a discount code?"

TodayTix’s prices are significantly lower than the official website. They also have a digital rush, which in my experience is relatively easy, especially for a weekday matinee. Just gotta be ready to pounce at 9AM. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 10:05pm

HBP said: "Saw Redwood recently. I wasn’t a fan of the show, but Idina was in great voice and it made me think… would/could she replace in Sunset? She’s got the comedic chops for it and the voice. I don’t think we’ve seen hergo as dark as Act II requires, but could be interesting!"

I think she would be great acting the role. But singing it consistently? Sorry but I don't know if she has it in her. 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 6:40am

In ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ Tom Francis Writes His Own Story

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/theater/tom-francis-sunset-boulevard-broadway-tonys.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HE8.nTiQ.HLPTOuKrtj-W&smid=nytcore-android-share

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 10:10am

Question: has Nicole not performed on a day she was schedule to?

Just asking because I'll be in NYC next to week for my Broadway trip and I think she will only do the two Wednesdays showos and Sunday, and that made me worried that there's a chance I won't see her lol

She will do the thursday show but I have a Beyoncé concert LOL

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 12:51pm

MadsonMelo said: "Question: has Nicole not performed on a day she was schedule to?

Just asking because I'll be in NYC next to week for my Broadway trip and I think she will only do the two Wednesdays showos and Sunday, and that made me worried that there's a chance I won't see her lol

She will do the thursday show but I have a Beyoncé concert LOL"

I think Nicole has only called out unexpectedly once during the entire run of Sunset (both here and London) so your chances should be pretty good

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 2:49pm

Meet Tom Francis, the Bloodstained Beefcake of Broadway's Sunset Boulevard

https://www.interviewmagazine.com/theater/meet-tom-francis-the-bloodstained-beefcake-of-broadways-sunset-boulevard

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/15/25 at 9:12am

Three new chances to see Rashidra Scott next weekend. Friday 5/23, and both show on Saturday 5/24. 

Updated On: 5/15/25 at 09:12 AM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 5/16/25 at 9:00am

Some chatter now on the UK board of a three-week London run with speculation it primarily is to get a Pro-Shot for release.

https://theatreboard.co.uk/post/583332/thread

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 5/16/25 at 10:01am

SteveSanders said: "Some chatter now on the UK board of a three-week London run with speculation it primarily is to get a Pro-Shot for release.

https://theatreboard.co.uk/post/583332/thread"


This makes total sense, considering how much cheaper it is to film things in the UK.