The latest production of Sunset Boulevard at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre is a mixed bag, encapsulating both the brilliance and pitfalls of adapting a classic film into a stage musical.
The much-anticipated lavish new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece, SUNSET BOULEVARD, starring musical theatre and international superstar Sarah Brightman, is now playing in Melbourne. Audiences have been offering standing ovations for the spectacular show, currently gracing the stage at the Princess Theatre. A season at the Sydney Opera House will follow from August 28. Tickets are on sale at sunsetmusical.com.au.
Marking her return to the theatre after more than three decades, Sarah Brightman stars as Norma Desmond, the iconic role that catapulted Glenn Close to Broadway stardom and recently earned Nicole Scherzinger an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in the West End. Alongside her will be critically acclaimed Australian actor and performer Tim Draxl in the role of Joe Gillis, a role last played on stage in Australia by Hugh Jackman in 1996. Joining Sarah and Tim on stage in the role of Max Von Mayerling is stage and screen veteran Robert Grubb, with the role of Betty Schaefer brought to life by emerging leading lady Ashleigh Rubenach. Musical theatre performer Jarrod Draper takes on the role of Artie Green, while established theatre actors Paul Hanlon and Troy Sussman play the roles of Cecil B. DeMille and Sheldrake, respectively. At select performances, the remarkable Silvie Paladino will assume the role of Norma Desmond. The extremely talented ensemble cast includes Regan Barber, Amy Berrisford, Billy Bourchier, Campbell Braithwaite, Benjamin Colley, Grace Driscoll, Madison Green, Peter Ho, Leah Lim, Mary McCorry, Charlotte Page, Morgan Palmer, Caity Plummer, Taylor Scanlan, Tom Sharah, Lisa Sontag, Riley Sutton, and Dean Vince.
Based on the Billy Wilder film, the musical version of SUNSET BOULEVARD had its world premiere at London’s Adelphi Theatre on July 12, 1993. The show received its American premiere in December 1993 at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, starring Glenn Close as Norma Desmond. Subsequently, the show opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre in November 1994, boasting the highest advance ticket sales in Broadway history at the time. The original Broadway production won six Tony Awards from the eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book.
This spectacular new staging features stunning sets and costumes, evoking the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. The thrillingly atmospheric score features hits like “With One Look,” “The Perfect Year,” and the anthemic “As If We Never Said Goodbye.” SUNSET BOULEVARD is presented by Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment in arrangement with The Really Useful Group. This newly imagined revival will mark SUNSET BOULEVARD’S first return to Australia in nearly thirty years, following its previous sold-out performances.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, based on the Billy Wilder film, this new production is directed by Paul Warwick Griffin, featuring set and costume design by Morgan Large, choreography by Ashley Wallen, and musical supervision by Kristen Blodgette. SUNSET BOULEVARD weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Discarded by Hollywood with the advent of “talkies,” legendary silent movie star Norma Desmond is tormented by her longing for a return to the big screen. Her dramatic chance encounter with struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis leads to a passionate and volatile relationship with unforeseen and tragic consequences. This production is truly the theatrical event of the year.
Sunset Boulevard is on in Melbourne until 11 August 2024. Get your tickets for the show here
