SUNSET BLVD. Reviews — Page 61

It wouldn't be easy since a key part is the walk, which would have to be restaged in every city, and would have to be factored in when selecting which cities and theaters to book. Plus the lighting and sound are complicated, and so key to a show with no set.

No, the sequence is not just crossing a street and walking for three minutes. It begins within the theater, where half of it takes place, so would have to be rechoreographed for each one (as it was between the three-level Savoy and the seven-level St. James). And yes, they would have to take into consideration the layout of each theater, what's around it, the routes available, and conflicts that may make it difficult to do in each location (on Broadway it's the other shows getting out or having their own intermissions) before booking. And the London and New York productions used the same ensemble member, Shayna McPherson, as the camera operator. They would have to train replacements presuming she doesn't want to go on tour since she's from the UK, who would have to relearn it in each stop.

"The six-minute sequence requires McPherson to walk down those seven flights of stairs — sometimes backward — as well as to navigate the uneven pavement and various other obstacles outside the theater. All the while, she must keep shots perfectly framed while holding a heavy camera rig; a millimeter on her one-inch viewing screen can make a difference of a foot on the theater’s nearly 25-foot-tall LCD screen."

6 Minutes. 62 People. 1 Epic ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Sequence.

It may not be a game-changing stunt, but it is a complicated one. Shutting down the street each night requires city permits, traffic police, a security team, and additional responsibilities from house staff. There are, I’m sure, other little bits of business that make such a complex feat of staging look as simple as it does, and that make keeping that moment intact on tour challenging. Even keeping it all indoors - as they do when there’s particularly inclement weather or they can’t fully shut the street down - is an undertaking that would require rechoreographing for each tour house.

To me, what made it work on Broadway was the stunt of it. He sings "Sure I came out here to make my name..." as he's standing next to a poster with his actor name. And then it's time perfectly for "and if I'm honest, I like the lady" as he's walking up to a poster of Norma/Nicole. It's very meta and works (for me), but like others have said, I don't think the idea would work out of that context because for a lot of people broadway is the end goal so it works with the lyrics. I don't think "Sure I came out here to make my name..." works if you're playing in Tampa.

Quick Side note: Do they change the poster out in Shubert Alley for the understudy/Mandy performances?

In my opinion, the actual setting of the scene doesn’t matter that much as it completely breaks the fourth wall of the show anyways. I don’t think the Alicia Keys musical was playing in Los Angeles pre-1950, but you see Joe walk directly in front of it.

It’s an interesting creative possibility for the local audience/community attending to see part of their town (just as they love it when a show throws in a local reference that has nothing to do with the show). Again, I’m sure that decision would factor into the tour planning anyways.

I don’t mean to come off as if I’m passionately fighting for this scene or anything like that. Who knows if they are even seriously considering a tour or repeating that staging.

I just don’t think the logistics of those six-minutes are enough to be a dealbreaker for the possibility of a tour, as people continue to insist. I also think it undermines the creativity of those involved.

Updated On: 6/26/25 at 11:29 AM

I think we are all forgetting how built into the space this show is. During the Betty/Joe scenes they are walking around the backstage area, etc. It would have to really be thought out to time everything out so perfectly. And to me one of the thrills was hearing the full orchestra. I would hate to see this trickle down to a Non-Eq Sunset touring show.

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I just don’t think the logistics ofthose six-minutesare enough to be a dealbreaker forthe possibility of a tour, aspeople continue to insist. I also think it undermines the creativity of those involved."

I don't think anyone's claiming it's a dealbreaker. This all began with shomeika asking:

"Is there absolutely no way this show could tour, do they not want to do that? Are the video screens too "large"? Aside from the video screens, there isn't much set, does it not seem like it would be easy to pickup and move from city to city?"

I responded it wouldn't be easy because of the logistics of the walk, as well as the complex sound and lighting design that are so vital for the space and carry so much in the absence of a set that would have to be carefully replicated in each theater.

You said the walk would be totally easy to restage everywhere, and the conversation moved into a discussion of how easy it is, but this originally started with the question of whether it would be totally easy for the show to tour because it has no set...but no, simply having no set wouldn't make it easy. There are technical aspects that complicate things. Not saying they're dealbreakers. Just that the absence of a set alone wouldn't make it easy for the show to tour.

Updated On: 6/26/25 at 01:39 PM

EDSOSLO858 said: "Grace Hodgett Young will depart on the 13th, and Sydney Jones will play Betty for the final week."

She was fantastic tonight. I was a little sad she didn’t get a more enthusiastic welcome when she first appeared onstage. (My attempt to start a round of applause pretty much failed.) But they seemed to appreciate her by the end.

Updated On: 7/2/25 at 11:50 PM

everythingtaboo said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Grace Hodgett Young will depart on the 13th, and Sydney Jones will play Betty for the final week."

While I'm all for seeing new faces in these roles, I'll admit I'm surprised that I won't be able see 3 out of 4 of the main faces I saw previously."

I've seen Sidney twice out of the 5 times I've went and I really preferred her voice and acting to Grace. David Thaxton was hard to beat, but I most certainly did not feel jipped in any way by Jordan. Haven't seen anyone other than Nicole and Tom as Norma and Joe, so if I can sneak in one more time (and prices are a bit more reasonable) I'll be able to catch Pierre as Joe.

BCfitasafiddle said: "Crazy to think that come the final performance it will be solely Nicole for the original principal cast."

And she will shine brightly in the spotlight. Still think its going to be a great final performance.

Huss417 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Crazy to think that come the final performance it will be solely Nicole for the original principal cast."

And she will shine brightly in the spotlight. Still think its going to be a great final performance."

spicemonkey said: "chernjam said: "I've seen Sidney twice out of the 5 times I've went and I really preferred her voice and acting to Grace. David Thaxton was hard to beat, but I most certainly did not feel jipped in any way by Jordan. Haven't seen anyone other than Nicole and Tom as Norma and Joe, so if I can sneak in one more time (and prices are a bit more reasonable) I'll be able to catch Pierre as Joe."
Saw Sydney last week. Beautiful voice, but Grace is superior for the on-camera parts. Especially during the driving scene at the end, I felt Sydney was overacting. A small thing, and I imagine something not easy to learn, especially with the limited rehearsals understudies get.

I didn't think it was possible, but I slightly preferred Jordan Donica's Max. I went back specifically to see him, but wasn't expecting him to be such a standout. Thaxton's Max was perfection, but Donica is just as good, if not better.

I saw Diego Rodriguez as Joe and was underwhelmed in the first act; I felt he was very wooden, but he also seemed way too young, which didn't help. I think the wooden thing works better for Francis because you believe he has lived some life in the industry and has become jaded by it. Rodriguez looked 16 or 17, younger than Betty. However, he didn't struggle at all with the camera element, and he won me over in the second act.

I am excited to see Marais, since I've heard only good things, but also wish we could have Francis for longer. He is made for this role and this production.