Sunset Boulevard
Photo Credit: Alan Martin/AMSI
Reviewed by: Jim Briscoe on 13 Feb 2020
Venue: Little Theatre - Southport
Date: 5 - 8 Feb 2020
Type of Production: Musical
Book, Lyrics & Music: Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Books and Lyrics by Don Black & Christopher Hampton
Directed by Stephen Hughes-Alty
Musical Directors: Adam Dutch & Chris Rimmer
Choreographer: Jackie Morris
Sunset Boulevard is based on a book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, this Andrew Lloyd Webber masterpiece is a story of romance and obsession. Based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 film of the same title, the story centres on a faded, silent-screen actress Norma Desmond, who lives in a fantasy world. Joe Gillis is a young, penniless screenwriter, on the run from debt collectors; who accidentally crosses paths with Norma. She persuades him to work on a script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras. Joe, seduced by her life style, becomes entrapped. Then when he falls in love with another woman and attempts to break free... dramatic consequences result!
Not sure I can actually believe this myself, but this was my first ever visit to see Southport Spotlights perform....and having seen their production, I certainly hope it won’t be my last! My congratulations to everyone concerned especially Stephen Hughes-Alty (Director) his experience, talent and obvious understanding of this musical was evident throughout! Also to Jackie Morris (Choreographer) for some cleverly devised routines that played to the dancer’s strengths and to Adam Dutch and Chris Rimmer (Co-Musical Directors) who led a truly magnificent orchestra that produced some ‘wonderful music’, sung by top-drawer singers.
There is little or no doubt that to stage this musical successfully requires exceptional people to take the lead roles and Southport Spotlights certainly did have those people front and centre. When you get such a ‘talented and enthusiastic company’ who, to a man, sang, danced and acted their hearts out, it really is difficult to start identifying individuals without perhaps doing injustice to others! Having said that, I really do feel it would be remiss of me not to ‘stick my neck’ and identify my four personal favourite performances...
Marianne Welsh was totally convincing as the once ‘Greatest Star of All’ - ‘Norma Desmond’. Marianne took this role and made it her own! From her first entrance to her final dramatic exit she brought this complex character to life! Stage presence, believable, perfect diction, she made playing this role look far easier than it undoubtedly is. Her rendition of ‘As if I never said goodbye’ was a highlight for me! Be ever so proud!
Patricia Hodgson was a perfect fit for the role of Betty Schaefer. Confident, great stage presence looked totally comfortable throughout and captured the character perfectly. Blessed with a great singing voice her duets with Joe, ‘Betty’s Pitch’ and ‘Too much in Love to Care’ were heartfelt and believable... well done young lady!
‘Max Von Mayerling’, Norma’s first husband and now her steadfast butler, was played really well by Tom Hornby. Tom’s subtle, yet gently understated characterisation which had a distinct sense of mystery within it, was just what this role required ... well done sir!
But the ‘Show Stealing Performance’ for me was delivered by Phil Hunter and his portrayal of the complex character that is ‘Joe Gillies’. Phil oozed stage presence; versatile, flawless, energy driven, facial expressions, mannerisms aplenty and another blessed with a great singing voice... from his ‘first note’ his to his ‘last dying breath’ he had the audiences complete attention! His rendition of the title song ‘Sunset Boulevard’ was another ‘highlight’ for me! Congratulation Phil on an outstanding performance - be ever so proud sir!
There were many other good performances... Charlie McMullen played the role of ‘Artie Green’ well, as did Brendan Gillow who played ‘Cecile B DeMille’; Alex McKillop was well cast as ‘Sheldrake’, as was John Delahunty as ‘Myron’ – John’s scene with the ‘Hollywood Outfitters’ was done to perfection ... well done gentlemen!
I had the privilege to meet the cast back stage after the show and I asked them this question... ‘What makes a good show – great?’ MY answer was simple, the ‘CHORUS’ and what a chorus we had! If you ever wanted to see how a ‘chorus’ should perform, then all you had to do was witness this production... why... because the ‘CHORUS’ was outstanding! Always interested, always involved... it never looked forced nor staged, their reactions and involvement always looked so natural.... the scene in Act 2 when ‘Norma’ sings ‘As if we Never Said Goodbye’ in front of the entire cast - the atmosphere, the emotion was so believable and real...thank you so much, Hannah Barkley, Emily Blinkhorn, Eilish Comstive, Clare Cooke, Elaine Cox, Abigail Gibbons, Helena Hanlon, Gill Harris, James Henderson, Nina Heywood, Matthew Higginson, Rachael Kilpatrick, Tom McMullen, Chloe Morris, Pippa Morris, Laura-Jane Palmer-Farrar, Karen Parkinson, Maddison Rose, Mia Scott, Chris Seery, Amanda Shaw, Lisa Tatler and Nicky Williams - you were amazing!
Credit and congratulations to Stage Manager Andrea Claire, her Assistant Radley Haynes and their stage crew and cast for the many slick and smooth scene changes during the performance ... big set, many changes well done! Sound was really good as was the lighting ... congrats to Matt Hughes and Team LX and Sam Robinson respectively. Special mention to the ‘home made’ black and white video footage showing Norma, Joe and Max attending the Paramount Pictures Film Set and the other video footages - really impressive and enhanced the production... congrats to Dom Tolley and Paul Shacksmyth for their skills and knowledge in this field.
Costumes were supplied by Charades Theatrical Costume Hire, St Helens and as we have come to expect from the ‘Charades’... were of exceptional quality as were the ‘props’... congrats to Elaine Cox, Toni Spofforth and Tanya Steel.
Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I, we thoroughly enjoyed the production and thank you for your hospitality throughout.