Sunset Boulevard (UK Touring)
Probably not the most performed of the musicals from Lord Lloyd Webber but, one with a great story and some of the most evocative music and lyrics is back touring the UK.
Starting its journey as many do from Leicester Curve this is the story of an ageing silent movie queen (Norma Desmond played expertly by Ria Jones) who refuses to accept that her career is more a memory than a current reality.
Danny Mac of Strictly Come Dancing fame and a spell at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park in On The Town stepping into the shoes of the dance maestro Gene Kelly has found his perfect role as screenwriter Joe Gillis, even managing to delight portions of the audience at one point with his well toned six-pack. Entranced into a restrictive and demanding world by Ms Desmond to help bring her new masterpiece to fruition and relaunch her career, he finds himself trapped in a parallel world until his love for another woman wrenches him free with fatal consequences.
It's fair to say that the set brings much to this production with many a moving item, anything from a complete staircase to just enough of a car to make it credible, allowing the action to flow effortlessly, all credit to the designer Colin Richmond.
Fundamentally this is a sad story as Ms Desmond simply can't recognise that her 'star quality' defined perfectly by the song 'Just One Look' is no longer what is needed from the movie world. Supported by her 'man' previous movie director Max von Meyerling (played darkly but, with exquisite charm by Adam Pearce) who has sacrificed his career to protect the woman he loves, yet never to receive that love in return.
Some other notable performances are Molly Lynch as Joe's love interest Betty Schaefer and Carl Sanderson (recently seen brushing-up his Shakespeare in Kiss Miss Kate at Kilworth House Theatre) as another of the great movie directors, Cecil B. DeMille.
Altogether this is a terrific new interpretation of Sunset Boulevard, directed as always with aplomb by Nikolai Foster and is touring until 28th April 2018.
Book Here
Starting its journey as many do from Leicester Curve this is the story of an ageing silent movie queen (Norma Desmond played expertly by Ria Jones) who refuses to accept that her career is more a memory than a current reality.
Danny Mac of Strictly Come Dancing fame and a spell at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park in On The Town stepping into the shoes of the dance maestro Gene Kelly has found his perfect role as screenwriter Joe Gillis, even managing to delight portions of the audience at one point with his well toned six-pack. Entranced into a restrictive and demanding world by Ms Desmond to help bring her new masterpiece to fruition and relaunch her career, he finds himself trapped in a parallel world until his love for another woman wrenches him free with fatal consequences.
It's fair to say that the set brings much to this production with many a moving item, anything from a complete staircase to just enough of a car to make it credible, allowing the action to flow effortlessly, all credit to the designer Colin Richmond.
Fundamentally this is a sad story as Ms Desmond simply can't recognise that her 'star quality' defined perfectly by the song 'Just One Look' is no longer what is needed from the movie world. Supported by her 'man' previous movie director Max von Meyerling (played darkly but, with exquisite charm by Adam Pearce) who has sacrificed his career to protect the woman he loves, yet never to receive that love in return.
Some other notable performances are Molly Lynch as Joe's love interest Betty Schaefer and Carl Sanderson (recently seen brushing-up his Shakespeare in Kiss Miss Kate at Kilworth House Theatre) as another of the great movie directors, Cecil B. DeMille.
Altogether this is a terrific new interpretation of Sunset Boulevard, directed as always with aplomb by Nikolai Foster and is touring until 28th April 2018.
Book Here
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