Posted: 12/12/24 at 10:20am
Got back from SB last night. Sat front row of the balcony - great seat for the price/this show with ample legroom and a decent view - nothing cutoff or missing (that I could tell anyway).
Tom Francis blew me away - not who I was expecting to see as Joe but what a talent! Excited to see him in more.
Nicole is a wonderful vocalist and truly a talented performer, but I’m very lost on her take of Norma in this production. I both liked the relatability of her silliness and also struggled to believe we were still in the era of the story. I liked her unhinged demeanor, but some of her plays on the role felt indulgent for her as an actress versus for Norma. Just my two cents - I’d be disappointed if this was the Tony-winning performance of the year, but will happily applaud her if she wins this year.
The staging of this show is interesting and unique in that it relies solely on the actors utilizing the book and music to tell the story - both of which Sunset is not known for (aside from two songs). Without the props and scenery, I think the show itself is actually weaker. I saw an interesting production of a flawed show, but I had fun and would suggest it to any theatre fan, but not just any tourist.
The production showcases some amazing advances in technology for theatre and I am excited to see how parts of this production continue to help Broadway evolve. Maybe the large LED screens will actually be used for more than just CGI scenery. Overall, I’m glad I saw it.