Review by Tony Annicone
North Shore Music Theatre’s blockbuster musical of the fall season “Sunset Boulevard” is based on the Academy Award winning 1950 Billy Wilder, black and white movie which starred Gloria Swanson and William Holden. The musical version has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The story is about a faded film star, Norma Desmond who was a popular actress back in the silent films of the 1920’s. The show is told in flashbacks by Joe Gillis who is an up and coming film writer who is being chased by two car repo men while trying to evade them, ending up at Norma’s run down mansion on Sunset Boulevard. Once inside, Norma convinces Joe to help her with her script of “Salome” to present to Cecil B. DeMille with her playing the teenage heroine. Joe, desperate for a job, takes her up on her offer which leads to romance and ultimately tragic circumstances unfold as this relationship continues.
This musical is so huge in scope that two sections of seats at the theatre has been taken out for the massive set for this show. Director/choreographer Kevin Hill is more than up to the task of mounting this epic spectacle with the expertise and finesse such an undertaking requires as witnessed by his incredible work with “Jersey Boys.” He molds his 25 cast members into these performers of yesteryear spectacularly and supplies the dance numbers to liven up the show to temper the dramatic moments that unfold with the descent of Norma into madness. Musical director Milton Granger and his fabulous fourteen piece orchestra deliver the goods with the lush and majestic score that captures the hearts of every member of the audience which lead to tears and laughter at all the right moments. Bravo, Kevin and Milton on a job extremely well done.
Owner and producer Bill Hanney absolutely spared no expense with this show from the massive and glorious two story mansion set with huge stairways by Kyle Dixon and the extraordinary, breathtaking costumes by Anthony Powell from the original show and Kelly Baker for the additional costumes. Group dance numbers that shine in this show include “Let’s Have Lunch”, “Every Movie’s a Circus”, “The Lady’s Paying”, “This Time Next Year” and “Eternal Youth’s Worth a Little Suffering.” The lighting design by Jose Santiago is mesmerizing while the wig and hair design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt are splendid in their authenticity. Also impressive is an actual Duesenberg driven onstage when Norma arrives at the studio. These surprises started with Curly’s real horse in “Oklahoma”, the first show of NSMT’s season this year.
Tony Award and Helen Hayes Award winning actress Alice Ripley tackles the role of Norma Desmond and delivers a tour de force performance in this leading role. She played Betty Schafer in the original Broadway show with Glenn Close back in 1993 and won her two awards in the Pulitzer Prize winning “Next to Normal” on Broadway. Alice makes the iconic lines from the movie new and fresh for NSMT audiences especially the first “I am big, It’s the pictures got small” to the last heartbreaking line “And now, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my closeup” where she dressed up as Salome.
Ripley captures the essence of this famous woman who becomes deluded into thinking she’s still a huge star due to all the fan mail that Norma is still receiving, unbeknownst to her it is all from Max. Alice captures the many facets of the role. She runs the gamut of emotions, turning on a dime from happy to frightened to sad and back again and she has the audience on the edge of their seats at her descent into her final madness and tragic circumstances. Her show stopping numbers include the “With One Look” which introduces Norma to the audience as she convinces them she can entrance them with no words, break their heart and she will return to her glory days of yore, “New Ways to Dream” when she convinces Joe to stay with her to promote her Salome script for the studio and the majestic, standing ovation inducing “As If We Never Said Goodbye” which leaves the audience in tears at Ripley’s heartbreaking rendition. What a magnificent portrayal by this amazing actress and theatre goers at NSMT should thank their lucky stars that Alice Ripley came here to become Norma Desmond in the flesh for all to thoroughly enjoy. Brava!
Tall, dark and handsome, Nicholas Rodriguez returns in triumph to portray the pivotal role of Joe Gillis. He returns to NSMT after a dynamic portrayal of Jesus in another one of Lloyd Webber’s masterpieces “Jesus Christ Superstar” back in 2006. Nicholas once again delivers a high energy multilayered performance as Joe. He wants to do the right thing but needs the money and a place to live becoming a kept man because he’s down on his luck. All the while trying get a job to write for Paramount Studios. Joe tries to write with Betty, falling in love with her but Norma’s possessiveness and jealousy puts an end to that endeavor. Nicholas’ glorious voice is heard in “Let’s Lunch” where he’s looking for work, “Girl Meets Boy” when he and Betty try to think of a story idea, “The Perfect Year” where Norma confesses her love to him and “Sunset Boulevard” where he describes the street and the dilapidated mansion. Nicholas’ charisma in this role wins over the hearts of the audience once again. The young actress playing Betty Schafer is Lizzie Klemperer whose gorgeous soprano voice is heard once again at NSMT after her gut wrenching portrayal of Eponine in “Les Misérables” in 2014. She is very spunky and alluring in this role where Betty attempts to help get Joe work as a fellow script writer at the studio only to fall for him. Lizzie’s numbers include “Let’s Have Lunch” where she first meets Joe, “Girl Meets Boy” where she wants a relationship with Joe after becoming tired of waiting for her steady beau later in the show and the poignant, gorgeous duet “Too Much in Love to Care” when Betty falls for Joe at last. She once again gives a winning portrayal at NSMT.
William Michals plays Max von Mayerling, the butler/chauffeur of Miss Desmond. He delivers a strong performance as Norma’s right hand man who also was one of her producers in the past. He displays his phenomenal baritone voice in “The Greatest Star of All” which soars off the charts with his flawless falsetto as well as in “New Ways to Dream” his poignant final salute to Norma. William returns to NSMT after a long hiatus, having played Billy Flynn in “Chicago” back in 2002. Neal Mayer plays Cecil B. DeMille with the strength the role calls for but also displays a softer side when Norma visits the studio and they reminisce about the old days. His voice is heard in “Surrender” where DeMille expresses his regrets about seeing Norma in such a state. Betty’s fly by night, heavily gambling, boyfriend, Artie Green is comically played by Kevin Massey who later in the show wants her to fly down to Tennessee and marry him for $2. Another comic presence in the show is Manfred played with joie de vivre by Andrew Giordano when he comes onto the scene to outfit Joe Gillis during “The Lady’s Paying” song and dance number with the male chorus. Ellen Peterson is also hilarious as Norma’s astrologer in “Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering”, a group number with the female chorus. Robert Saoud is a hoot as a fellow producer, Sheldrake who swears up a storm in the first song of the show and later wants Norma’s car to use in one of his shows. Kudos to the chorus members with their strong vocal and dancing prowess. So for a magnificent musical masterpiece, be sure to catch “Sunset Boulevard” at North Shore Music Theatre before time runs out. Run do not walk to the box office before all the tickets disappear for good. Tell them Tony sent you.
SUNSET BOULEVARD (24 September to 6 October)
North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA
1(978)232-7200 or www.nsmt.org
