Sunset Boulevard – Savoy Theatre 2023/24

[blamerobots]

I know there was still the plans of a tour... wonder if that'll ever happen with another big star in the role.

[evilmat360]

Wouldn't be surprised if it's to do with the album release as New York is getting a Dolby Atmos listening event as part of the Box Five Club on Friday (www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sunset-blvd-the-album-exclusive-listening-event-tickets-1040694995747)

So would match up if they do an event within the Savoy for it.

[blamerobots]

It's an 1h30-long event so it can't be a listening party as the album is longer.

Honestly, I think I might head up there. It'll be the 1 year anniversary of when I saw it for the first time, so.

[Rory]

It'll be something to do with the album. I can't see Mean Girls going anywhere soon.

[normasturban]

Andy’s signing some copies on Instagram that are going to be on sale at the St James so I assume they’ll have some for sale at the Savoy come Friday.

[danb]

I’m ‘lucky’ enough to have a signed Cinderella vinyl so can happily give this the swerve.

[viserys]

Oct 24, 2024 8:29:24 GMT danb said:

I’m ‘lucky’ enough to have a signed Cinderella vinyl so can happily give this the swerve.

I have this, too. I hope it'll be a collector's item some day I could flog on ebay 

[steve10086]

Think I’ll stick with my signed World Premiere recording of Sunset, starring a proper Norma.

[hadeswasking]

Oct 24, 2024 9:11:24 GMT steve10086 said:

Think I’ll stick with my signed World Premiere recording of Sunset, starring a proper Norma.

What is this supposed to imply?

[nomoretalkofdarkness]

Oct 24, 2024 9:11:24 GMT steve10086 said:

Think I’ll stick with my signed World Premiere recording of Sunset, starring a proper Norma.

OK Dearie.

[osdtdg]

Oct 24, 2024 9:11:24 GMT steve10086 said:

Think I’ll stick with my signed World Premiere recording of Sunset, starring a proper Norma.

With all due respect, Nicole is a proper Norma. Just because you dont like this production or her take doesn't mean you can discredit her. That's a great diservice to her, everybody involved in the production and to those inspired by her performance. I'm not gonna comment on this production, but if you aren't a fan of it fine, put it in those terms. Don't belittle her abilities as a performer. She almost certainly does a better job than myself or you (and probably the both of us combined).

[BurlyBeaR]

Would she be a proper Norma is she was in a turban with a chimp? Is it just the staging and direction that make her not proper or is it fundamentally Nicole herself? Because putting all of the trappings of JL’s production aside I don’t think her acting or singing could be faulted.

[theatrefan62]

I don't know why I'm bothering as I know how this will go on this thread but I really didn't think she was a 'proper Norma'. She was Nicole, a very exaggerated and energetic Nicole, but it was Nicole being Nicole and mugging all over the place. I don't rate her as an actress at all, but because this production was completely moulded around her, her performance works.

[141920grm]

Oct 24, 2024 9:34:24 GMT theatrefan62 said:

I don't know why I'm bothering as I know how this will go on this thread but I really didn't think she was a 'proper Norma'. She was Nicole, a very exaggerated and energetic Nicole, but it was Nicole being Nicole and mugging all over the place. I don't rate her as an actress at all, but because this production was completely moulded around her, her performance works.

pray tell what a 'proper Norma' is, then (:

[steve10086]

Oct 24, 2024 9:34:24 GMT theatrefan62 said:

I don't know why I'm bothering as I know how this will go on this thread but I really didn't think she was a 'proper Norma'. She was Nicole, a very exaggerated and energetic Nicole, but it was Nicole being Nicole and mugging all over the place. I don't rate her as an actress at all, but because this production was completely moulded around her, her performance works.

This! Absolutely this! Twerking, snapping, and winking at the audience is not “Norma Desmond”

[BurlyBeaR]

THAT’S Normal Desmond, THAT’S Norma Desmond 😃

Those things were directions though, yes they might be directions that suit NS own back story but if, for example, we replaced Sarah Brightman with Nicole in that very traditional Australian version, would she work?

[ceebee]

Oct 24, 2024 9:11:24 GMT steve10086 said:

Think I’ll stick with my signed World Premiere recording of Sunset, starring a proper Norma.

Bigger diva than Norma herself...

[Jon]

The beauty of theatre is reinterpretation otherwise it'd just be Gloria Swanson impersonations until the end of time. The fact Jamie Lloyd broke from the Norma (boom boom) of what Sunset Boulevard should be like is why it was so well received in London.

[osdtdg]

Oct 24, 2024 9:50:58 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

THAT’S Normal Desmond, THAT’S Norma Desmond 😃

Those things were directions though, yes they might be directions that suit NS own back story but if, for example, we replaced Sarah Brightman with Nicole in that very traditional Australian version, would she work?

No, because as someone who's seen Brightman... she does not have the correct voice for it. She turned every important vocal moment into an operatic soprano which was frankly weak, and difficult to understand

[BurlyBeaR]

No, I mean if we put Nicole into THAT production instead of Brightman. Could NS play a “traditional” Norma?

[osdtdg]

My apologies, I somehow reversed it in my head. I think Nicole would still be a stronger actor and singer than Brightman so it would be worth trying lol

[theatrefan62]

Oct 24, 2024 9:36:19 GMT 141920grm said:

Oct 24, 2024 9:34:24 GMT theatrefan62 said:

I don't know why I'm bothering as I know how this will go on this thread but I really didn't think she was a 'proper Norma'. She was Nicole, a very exaggerated and energetic Nicole, but it was Nicole being Nicole and mugging all over the place. I don't rate her as an actress at all, but because this production was completely moulded around her, her performance works.

pray tell what a 'proper Norma' is, then (:

Norma can be a variety of people, but it's a character, a creation of the actress playing her. When someone is just playing a hyper realised version of themselves, that to me isn't acting or a proper character. That's just them, it's Nicole as Nicole. So many former pop stars have been slated on here for weak performances and just being themselves, there is a level of hypocrisy here.

Im not saying the production wasnt good, or didnt work for what it was (although it was too jokey for my liking). But it wasnt a great acting performance from Nicole for me.


Also it wasn't me that used the term 'proper Norma' originally.

Glad to see this forum didn't let me down, predictable as ever when others disagree with the main opinion 🙄🤣

[steve10086]

Oct 24, 2024 10:30:10 GMT theatrefan62 said:

Oct 24, 2024 9:36:19 GMT 141920grm said:

pray tell what a 'proper Norma' is, then (:

Norma can be a variety of people, but it's a character, a creation of the actress playing her. When someone is just playing a hyper realised version of themselves, that to me isn't acting or a proper character. That's just them, it's Nicole as Nicole. So many former pop stars have been slated on here for weak performances and just being themselves, there is a level of hypocrisy here.

Im not saying the production wasnt good, or didnt work for what it was (although it was too jokey for my liking). But it wasnt a great acting performance from Nicole for me.


Also it wasn't me that used the term 'proper Norma' originally.

Glad to see this forum didn't let me down, predictable as ever when others disagree with the main opinion 🙄🤣

No, it was me that said “proper Norma”, but you have explained my reasoning far better than I could have.

[141920grm]

Oct 24, 2024 10:30:10 GMT theatrefan62 said:

Oct 24, 2024 9:36:19 GMT 141920grm said:

pray tell what a 'proper Norma' is, then (:

Norma can be a variety of people, but it's a character, a creation of the actress playing her. When someone is just playing a hyper realised version of themselves, that to me isn't acting or a proper character. That's just them, it's Nicole as Nicole. So many former pop stars have been slated on here for weak performances and just being themselves, there is a level of hypocrisy here.

Im not saying the production wasnt good, or didnt work for what it was (although it was too jokey for my liking). But it wasnt a great acting performance from Nicole for me.


Also it wasn't me that used the term 'proper Norma' originally.

Glad to see this forum didn't let me down, predictable as ever when others disagree with the main opinion 🙄🤣

Pop stars are equally a character created by their backers/coaches/managers/stylists/agents/etc.- unless you can say you know Nicole beyond her artistic persona- I'd argue that a hyper-realised version of Nicole the pop star *is* a character. The 'mugging', the exaggeration- has been discussed over the last 50 pages of this thread at least.

Whether or not it's a great acting performance depends on how much one knows about Nicole's CV and the similarities between her past personas and her Norma. 

What you call hypocrisy here is tricky for this specific work and production when the meta aspect is the very essence that makes the show click so powerfully with audiences who did resonate with it.

[ceebee]

Bottom line is, this production one a sackful of Oliviers and will do the same at the Tonys. London sold very well and Broadway is doing the same.

Imagine what they could achieve with a proper Norma.