Sunset Boulevard UK Tour | Curve Theatre, Leicester
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| Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan |
Curve Theatre, Leicester
★★★★1/2
Sunset Boulevard is the center point in telling the story of Norma Desmond, a screen goddess of the silent screen era whose blighted comeback results in tragedy. The classic 1950 film from Billy Wilder is transformed into a stage show by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and has been given a crisp flare from Leicester’s very own Nikolai Foster. The musical follows the tragedy of an ageing, volatile celebrity forgotten by her fans and desperately seeking a return to her glory days of fame. She hires an ambitious writer Joe Gillis who is bitter that his chance of success has yet to be successful. It’s a constant seesaw of who is using who?
Ria Jones, known for hitting the front pages when she took over the role as Norma when illness forced Glenn Close to pull out of the show temporarily, has become the title role in her own right. She claims the core of this performance in her title role, claiming the entire show single-handedly. Her performance almost felt effortless, but was an obvious role that had every bit of heart behind it. Her emotive and fulfilling vocal range has her audience enthralled. The silence is almost defining during her rendition of 'As If We Never Said Goodbye'.
Sunset Boulevard is the center point in telling the story of Norma Desmond, a screen goddess of the silent screen era whose blighted comeback results in tragedy. The classic 1950 film from Billy Wilder is transformed into a stage show by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and has been given a crisp flare from Leicester’s very own Nikolai Foster. The musical follows the tragedy of an ageing, volatile celebrity forgotten by her fans and desperately seeking a return to her glory days of fame. She hires an ambitious writer Joe Gillis who is bitter that his chance of success has yet to be successful. It’s a constant seesaw of who is using who?
Ria Jones, known for hitting the front pages when she took over the role as Norma when illness forced Glenn Close to pull out of the show temporarily, has become the title role in her own right. She claims the core of this performance in her title role, claiming the entire show single-handedly. Her performance almost felt effortless, but was an obvious role that had every bit of heart behind it. Her emotive and fulfilling vocal range has her audience enthralled. The silence is almost defining during her rendition of 'As If We Never Said Goodbye'.
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| Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan |
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| Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan |
It's also important to address Colin Richmond's design, with his fabulous play in zoom and transitions through the hurried plot. His design accomplishes a great relationship with Ben Cracknell's lighting design as well as a 16-piece orchestra which provides the heart of this gorgeous musical. Such an iconic snapshot in movie history, the UK Tour of Sunset Boulevard is well worth a trip to the theatre and an absolute success of a new musical production.
Even though there weren't any specific big dance numbers within Sunset Boulevard, choreographer Lee Proud enabled the musical to have a flare and energy about it that made it still for an interesting watch.
thanks for reading,
*I was gifted this ticket in exchange for a review, but all words and opinions are my own.