SUNSET BLVD. Reviews - Page 8

[greensgreens]

Posted: 10/22/24 at 9:30pm

Are Joe and Betty actually in love in this version? In the 1993/94 staging, it was very clearly your typical ingenue couple. However, I got the feeling in 2024, they’re just two opportunistic people looking to score, like all the other denizens of Hollywood. They never seemed truly sincere about anything. The only character I actually cared about was Artie for a split second. I’ll agree with a previous poster here who said Sunset is about a bunch of not so great people getting what they deserve. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/22/24 at 9:30pm

Thank you, CreatureKitchen that's a really solid and nuanced answer to my question about demographic-specific differences in responses. I get it. This production doesn't necessarily function as standalone telling of the story; it's that yet also a comment on the piece's origin story, both film and gilt house ensconced mega-musical. I am seeing it tomorrow afternoon and feel my appetite whetted anew

Updated On: 10/22/24 at 09:30 PM

[dwirth]

Posted: 10/22/24 at 9:34pm

I saw the original Sunset London, Toronto, both 1st/2nd national tours, the Broadway 2017 revival - and now this production, a week ago. A fan.

The beauty and faded Hollywood vibe of the original is hard to beat - an all time favorite - and several of the performances I've seen in Sunset are among the best I've experienced in 6 decades of shows. If anything, each prior Norma... Paige, Carroll, Balgord, Clark, Close - had unique qualities - from a diminutive size (Paige) to a flat, nasaly American accent (Clark) to a manic manner (Balgord) that defined their Norma and made it clear that the silent screen both magnified Norma, but also hid what real life couldn't.

Well, nothing is hiding in Scherzinger's performance - or the production - it is all out there in the open. Literally. As a purist, I didn't WANT to like either of them - frankly, but very much did - both the undeniably talented and fantastic Scherzinger - a real star presence with a fine voice - and the thrilling overall production. Winners, both, though very, very modern. (And to those who say Norma's never been sung this well... Ummm. Elaine Paige...)

However, Tom Francis'Joe stole the show for me - the best Joe I've seen (Hanson, Smith, Bohmer, Cleale, Xavier, I saw before in the show order above) - and The Walk is an instant classic, whether gimmicky - or not.

What I'd REALLY like to see are the current leads - with the staging and trappings of the original, allowing the actors to be more characters and not just performers. That'd be something. The only glimpse of a traditional Norma is in Scherzinger's opening Surrender scene. She was super.. and Norma-y, then dropped the character.

The new production is a knockout, but I kinda just want my "real" Sunset back, too. Oh, and far, far less audience screaming, hooting, hollering. Manners, folks!

Updated On: 10/22/24 at 09:34 PM

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/22/24 at 9:44pm

MusicalGuy3 said: "Mandy is giving her own wonderful/dazzling performance. Wow!"

You can say that again. She was absolutely spectacular. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 12:20am

Matt Rogers said: "Seb28 said: "Matt Rogers said: "I’ve stated my view on the matter. Don’t tell me what I “secretly know”. That is the height of arrogance."

Please explain how a cardboard cut-out of Andrew Lloyd Webber during a song "elevates" the material. Or keeps people involved in the story in general.

"

Figure it out."

 

I find it kinda weird that you won't address this, even acknowledging you're frustrated with the tone of the person asking the question. But it's frustrating for me as someone who can't see the production and is trying to get a sense of it through the comments here that you won't explain why you think they work or what they contribute to the evening. You seem to think these choices work and fit the movements in which they are used. Since they are, from a traditional standpoint, very odd choices, couldn't you indulge Seb (and others of us) by explaining why you feel these moments work? 

 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 1:47am

MusicalGuy3 said: "Mandy is giving her own wonderful/dazzling performance. Wow!"

Audios abound, and Mandy sounds good, but her delivery only confirms the bizarre manner with which Lloyd is directing these ladies. I land on the side of this hurting, undermining, the show as a whole, even if its entertaining as a concert, but to each their own.  

Its funny how people insist something is great and "works" and "slays" but then cant back it up with any explanation/clarification. Enjoying a performance is one thing, explaining how it makes sense/elevates material/moves an audience, is another. 

[binau]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 3:27am

Sometimes it’s hard to explain, it’s just an emotional reaction. For example, my emotional reaction to the original recordings and the Glenn Close revival is that the show is a cheesy, cringeworthy, ‘ALW show’ that at best has some nice melodies and at worst makes me want to crawl into a hole. My emotional reaction to this revival is it is dark, scary, funny, beautiful, shocking, musically (vocal & orchestration) top tier and most of all ‘cool’. Yes it’s actually cool and something that I’d recommend to normal people - whereas beyond core theatre fans with our tote bags (ie ourselves) I wouldn’t have recommended they go any where near the last revival. 

And after all of that some people come on here with their precious pearl clutching for material that was garbage in the first place wondering how we can feel all of the above when we see a laptop!??! I don’t know it just works or ‘slays’ or whatever word you want to use. 

This lady is paying and paying big. This production IS big. It’s the minds that are small. 

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 6:22am

binau said: "It’s the minds that are small."

I don't think this is fair. You don't have to accuse people who dislike this production of being small-minded.

There are people who enjoy conceit and there are people who enjoy sincerity.

It can also be argued that taking people deliberately out of the story is bad directing. Laughing at your leads in the most serious scenes and laughing at serious story lines is not for everyone. But indeed, some people seem to like that. In any case if there's a limitation of the mind, this fits that description better.

And like CreatureKItchen said:

"My issue is that Jamie Lloyd seems completely disinterested in what the musical is, except as a vehicle for his concept. He cares about the live video aesthetic, and Nicole's performance, and not much else. I think the dynamics between the characters and the actual plot are sidelined for that overarching concept." 

I agree, and therefore I think Jamie Lloyd's vision is extremely small-minded.

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 6:32am

Seb, you are the last one to be pushing back on small mindedness when it comes to this production. You’ve crossed beyond critique and it’s giving hater. If you hate this production so much, leave it alone. There are clearly people who it works very well for. It’s art, they don’t have to defend WHY it works for them, it just does. And to the person who says “oh this is hurting the material and I guess it’s an entertaining concert” must have the critical thinking skills of a pea. Because this production is theatrical to the nth degree. It’s just silly to say it isn’t. If it isn’t for you, great that’s your prerogative but it doesn’t give you the right to put down and interrogate people for why they did enjoy it. Really the dregs of theatre fans on this board sometimes.  

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 6:38am

kdogg36 said: "And this is just one example among many I could cite from opera productions I have seen."

That is my point, it all depends on what people are able to understand and recognize. If a director is against the material and doesn't trust it, he should choose something else. 

It cuts off journeys to different era's, stories, experiences and world views from characters from the audience. It is numbing them. People already can't handle a story set in a different era anymore. If people continue to do this they will eventually not recognize anything but trashing and laughing.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 6:42am

greensgreens said: "Are Joe and Betty actually in love in this version? ."

Yes, all the lyrics are about that.

The "direction" is just sidelining the lyrics. And the characters.

 

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 6:53am

dwirth said: "What I'd REALLY like to see are the current leads - with the staging and trappings of the original, allowing the actors to be more characters and not just performers. That'd be something. The only glimpse of a traditional Norma is in Scherzinger's opening Surrender scene. She was super.. and Norma-y, then dropped the character.

The new production is a knockout, but I kinda just want my "real" Sunset back, too. Oh, and far, far less audience screaming, hooting, hollering. Manners, folks!"

That would take the production to a whole new level. The talent of characterization must be in the leads somewhere. Too bad that they can never start that journey and discover that world.

I'm also afraid that a big part of audiences nowadays doesn't care anymore and just wants to see superficial jokes and not being pulled into a story, they seem bored by anything that differs too much from their daily lives and their world of experience.

 

 

 

Updated On: 10/23/24 at 06:53 AM

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:06am

OhHiii said: "but it doesn’t give you the right to interrogate people for why they did enjoy it."

People who respect the material and the artform are just interested to hear what their motivation is. But it very much seems like a one way street.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:13am

binau said: "with their precious pearl clutching for material that was garbage in the first place "

Nobody denies that you think the material is garbage. In fact, we completely understand that's what makes you like the "conceit, disconnect, trashing" so much. And you sincerely seem to like it, so that's good. Others do not and need more.

 

 

 

[binau]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:27am

You’ve now posted 5 times in a row and you’ve had it out for this production before performances even started. I actually appreciated your views…the first time. But it is a bit nicer if we can keep the balance in the thread and let us who are excited about it continue to be excited about it. If others want to give their negative views that’s fine but why do you keep feeling the need to trash this production over and over again? It is crossing the line into what feels like a bit of vendetta/hatred. We get it, the production doesn’t work for you and I completely think it’s legitimate for you that it doesn’t and that’s ok.  When is enough, enough? 

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 7:34am

Thanks for your reply! I am just reacting on the latest arguments and questions in this discussion. That's what the board is for. I'm sorry if you don't like the answers and facts I present.

I am looking for good arguments and explanations but it seems they will not come. I do have to say that your explanation makes the most sense. You hate it so you laugh at it now. And you have all the right to have fun with that.