B'way Review: Sunset Blvd.

Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis in
Sunset Blvd.
Credit: Marc Brenner

While appearing on The View talk show, Patti LuPone described Sunset Boulevard (or Blvd. as it is titled in the current Broadway revival) as a “lumbering” musical. LuPone originated the role of Norma Desmond in London in 1993 for this adaptation of Billy Wilder’s 1950 film classic and was subsequently replaced by Glenn Close for the Broadway premiere. The “lumbering” adjective is an accurate description of Trevor Nunn’s original staging of this mammoth show which heretofore has mainly been a vehicle for whoever played the leading role of a faded, mad silent film star desperate for a comeback. Lonny Price’s 2017 revival, also starring Close in a totally different performance, stripped down the elaborate set and got closer to the raw emotions of Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s book. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s symphonic music which captures the creamy film-score style of Hollywood’s Golden Age and the snappy, pop-jazz of the 1950s, also emerged more vibrantly. Jamie Lloyd’s inventive, multi-media production, now at the St. James after winning several Olivier Awards in the West End, goes even further than Price’s and makes Lloyd and the production itself the real stars.

Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger in
Sunset Blvd.
Credit: Marc Brenner

To be sure, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger delivers an electric, galvanizing performance as Norma, but Lloyd’s staging is so fresh, startling and gripping, he deserves equal praise. Eliminating conventional scenery and props, the action takes place on a mostly bare stage apart from a few chairs and a giant screen. Jack Knowles’ noirish lighting design creates the proper shadowy atmosphere. Costume designer Sutra Gimour who also designed the starkly minimalist set, has dressed the company in black and white to evoke the monochromatic tones of the original film and the noir efforts of its era. Cast members with cameras and lighting equipment intermittently film the principals and their images are simultaneously projected on the screen. (Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom are credited with the impressive video and projection design.) There are even opening and closing credits, just like in the movies.

B'way Update: Scherzinger, LuPone, Lewis Controversies

Nicole Scherzinger in
Sunset Blvd
Credit: Marc Brenner

The Internet is buzzing with outrage that Nicole Scherzinger, star of Sunset Blvd, has been "outed" as a Trump supporter, her show should be boycotted and she has lost her chances for a Tony. I disagree with this stance entirely. I hate, loathe and despise Donald Trump, but Scherzinger has a right to support whoever she wants and to state her views publicly without fear of reprisal. I am seeing Sunset Blvd next week and if she is as great as word of mouth has it, I intend to applaud her. If she gives the most outstanding musical performance this season, she has my vote for a Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle. I'm not going to have lunch with her or try to be her friend, but that's beside the point. If we start penalizing artists for views we disagree with, then we are no better than Donald Trump or Joseph McCarthy. Jerome Robbins and Elia Kazan did some despicable things, i.e. naming names before the HUAC committee, but they are still great artists and should not be "cancelled." Vanessa Redgrave deserved her Oscar for Julia despite her unpopular pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel stance.

Kecia Lewis and Maleah Joi Moon in
Hell's Kitchen.
Credit: Marc J. Franklin

In other news, there is a mini-brouhaha going on between Patti LuPone of The Roommate and Kecia Lewis of Hell's Kitchen. The two shows occupy neighboring theaters, the Booth and the Shubert. LuPone complained the Alicia Keys musical was too loud and could be heard during quiet moments of LuPone's two-character non-musical. In a letter on her Instagram account, Lewis, Tony winner for Hell's Kitchen, countered that LuPone was committing a racially motivated "microaggression." LuPone has a right to voice her opinion about the sound level of her neighbor's show. I think Lewis went too far in calling it a microaggression and labelling LuPone's concern racist, but I'm not going to boycott all of Lewis' future performances because of her opinion which I disagreee with. 

Everyone needs to take it down a notch.

B'way Update: Tammy Faye and Sunset Set Dates

Andrew Rannells and Katie Brayben 
will repeat their London performances
when Tammy Faye moves to Broadway.
Credit: Marc Brenner

As the 2023-24 Broadway season begins the final mad rush to its conclusion just before the Tony deadline, the 2024-25 season is starting to solidify. Two shows announced for the fall, Tammy Faye and the revival of Sunset Boulevard, both London transfers, have announced definite dates and theaters. Tammy Faye, the musical based on the life of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, will begin previews Oct. 19 at the newly renovated and elevated Palace Theater with an opening set for Nov. 14. Katie Brayben and Andrew Rennells will repeat their Olivier-nominated performances as Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Sir Elton John wrote the music, lyrics are by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, the book is by James Graham who previously collaborated with Tammy Faye director Sam Goold on Graham's play Ink.

Sunset Boulevard will begin its NY performances on Sept. 28 at the St. James Theater with an opening set for Oct. 20. Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Billy Wilder's classic film of the delusional silent film star Norma Desmond is directed by Jamie Lloyd and was nominated for 11 Olivier Awards during its London run. Repeating their Oliver-nominated performances are Nicole Scherzinger as Norma, Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, Grace Hodgett-Young as Betty Schaeffer and Oliver winner David Thaxton as Max von Meyerling.

B'way Update: Sunset Confirmed, Smash Workshop

Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger in
the London revival of Sunset Boulevard,
set for Broadway sometime in 2024.
Credit: Marc Brenner

It's confirmed. In a previous blog, I reported the rumor the minimalist revival of Sunset Boulevard which is about to close in London, will transfer to Broadway. A somewhat vaguely worded press release announced that the show is indeed making the transatlantic leap sometime during this year. Former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger will repeat her star performance as Norma Desmond, along with Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, Grace Hodgett-Young as Betty Schaeffer, and David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling. No specific dates or a theater were reported in the press release. Johnny Olensinski of the New York Post reports the likely venue will be the St. James where Monty Python's Spamalot is currently playing and the opening will be in the fall of 2024.

Olensinki also reports that six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald will possibly become the sixth Mama Rose on Broadway in an upcoming production of Gypsy. 

B'way Update: Year-End Rumors; Best Play Tony Contenders

Will Stereophonic move to the Golden?
Credit: Chelcie Parry

The calendar for the 2023-24 Broadway and Off-Broadway season appears to be set, but there could be a few additions before the Tony deadline of April 25. There are rumors that Stereophonic, David Adjmi's well-reviewed, three-hour play about a rock group not unlike Fleetwood Mac recording an album vital to their careers, which recently closed at Playwrights Horizons, may move into the Golden Theater. Playwrights has coyly announced that if you had missed the show, exciting news was on the way. This could mean a Broadway transfer, but it could also mean the release of a CD with Will Butler's songs from the play. 

Another rumor puts forth the possibility of the current minimalist London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger (former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls) moving to Broadway, perhaps in November 2024. The musical version of Billy Wilder's classic film of faded silent film Norma Desmond was last seen on Broadway in 2017 with Glenn Close recreating her Tony-winning performance from the 1995 production.

Nicole Scherzinger in
the London Sunset Boulevard
Credit: Marc Brenner