SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 67

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 9:33am

Lot666 said: "FANtomFollies said: "This is exactly why I did not attend the final performance. I love an appreciative audience but I just knew this was going to be too over-the-top for me. I last saw the show 9 times, lastly on July 5th and it was a practically perfect experience so I decided to leave it there."

To be clear, I fully expected this behavior at the last performance, and I attended because I knew it would be an event for the books, like the Phantom closing. However, I certainly would not have been happy if this hadbeen the first and only time I'd seen the show. To me, screaming and whooping while someone is singing (as opposed to after they've finished) is downright rude to both the performer and the rest of the audience."

As you mentioned you can't go into final performance expecting it to be the same as a Tuesday night 9 months into the run.

I didnt' expect the audience to be sitting on their hands and not making a sound. I found the day to be thrilling and in my well over 40 years of going to the theatre the most amazing final performance I have ever been to and I have been to several very memorable ones over the years including the final of the original run of A Chorus Line. Les Miserable, Miss Saigon and so on.

I don't think there were many people that in the audience Sunday that had not seen the show at least once prior. Nicole even made mention from the stage about thanking people for seeing the show more than once and she knows how expensive the tickets are.

Also as Jamie Lloyd said that we will remember July 20, 2025. 

[jakebloke]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 12:55pm

Couldn’t agree more about that last audience.  I’m so glad I saw it several times prior.  One of my favorite moments is the ‘Let’s get a look at you’ and then the bright spotlight on Nicole and the orchestra soaring.  I just find it really simply beautiful.  But as soon as that spotlight hit the stage there was this standing ovation blocking the view and pulling me out of a moment.  Then there’s the overhead clappers that continue to block your view even if you’re standing!  Sigh.  

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 1:30pm

Huss417 said: "I don't think there were many people that in the audience Sunday that had not seen the show at least once prior. Nicole even made mention from the stage about thanking people for seeing the show more than once and she knows how expensive the tickets are."

I completely agree that the audience mostly comprised repeat viewers. However, Ben Vereen was seated at the house left end of our row (center orchestra H) and Jennifer Lewis was directly in front of him (center orchestra row G), and I got the impression that this was their first viewing. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 1:32pm

jakebloke said: "Couldn’t agree more about that last audience. I’m so glad I saw it several times prior. One of my favorite moments is the ‘Let’s get a look at you’ and then the bright spotlight on Nicole and the orchestra soaring. I just find it really simply beautiful. But as soon as that spotlight hit the stage there was this standing ovation blocking the view and pulling me out of a moment. Then there’s the overhead clappers that continue to block your view even if you’re standing! Sigh."

Yes to all of this.

[ER765]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 1:47pm

I am super sympathetic to annoying audiences, but at a final performance, you have to know what you’re getting yourself into and prepare accordingly. 

There were certainly moments where the screaming was over the top (yelling and clapping before we even SEE Nicole enter is…a choice), but again - par for the course for a closing show in this day and age. 

What I DON’T understand is the very obvious videotaping and picture taking , which the ushers were seemingly allowing. Closing performance or not, it’s still illegal.

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/23/25 at 2:55pm

ER765 said: "I am super sympathetic to annoying audiences, but at a final performance, you have to know what you’re getting yourself into and prepare accordingly.

There were certainly moments where the screaming was over the top (yelling and clapping before we even SEE Nicole enter is…a choice), but again - par for the course for a closing show in this day and age.

What I DON’Tunderstand is the very obvious videotaping and picture taking , which the ushers were seemingly allowing. Closing performance or not, it’s still illegal."

I think it would have been impossible for the ushers to do anything as there must have been at least 50 cameras for every one usher.

Also I was seated around a few people that worked on the production and they had their cameras out as well.

Updated On: 7/23/25 at 02:55 PM