(Angela
Kilian as Norma Desmond & Jonathan Roxmouth as Joe Gillis. Pic by Val
Adamson)
Worth every kilometre of the journey to
Johannesburg to see it! (Review by Caroline Smart)
Problems with obtaining the rights for Sunset Boulevard meant that, after he saw the
film in the early
1970’s, Andrew Lloyd Webber wasn’t able to follow his
inspiration of turning
it into a stage show.
It wasn’t
until Aspects of Love had opened in
London in 1989 that the rights for Sunset
Boulevard became available. Lloyd Webber then set to work in a
collaboration with British playwright Chris Hampton and lyricist Don Black. Since
Lloyd Webber’s late 1970s draft, mostly everything for the musical has been
written since 1989. The resulting production went on to win seven Tony Awards
in 1995, including Best Musical.
Pieter
Toerien’s production, currently running at the Montecasino Theatre in
Johannesburg, comes from the award-winning creative team of Paul Warwick
Griffin and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder who were also responsible for Toerien’s Joseph, Hair, JC Superstar, Chess and Evita.
The
story is set in Hollywood in 1949 and deals with Norma Desmond, once a gloried
and adored movie star of the silent screen now fallen from grace since the
advent of “talkies”. Her burning desire is to return to the big screen and
reclaim her fame. She comes a few steps nearer her dream when Joe Gillis, a
young wannabe screenwriter trying to escape from the cops for not having
delivered on his car payments, lands up in the garage of her palatial estate.
Taking
advantage of her vulnerability and in return for board and lodging, he offers
to work on the script she is eager to present to Paramount Studios. Doomed for
disaster, their relationship grows to a sexual one. Everything’s fine until
Gillis realises he is in love with Betty Schaefer, a young script editor.
Having
never seen Sunset Boulevard, I had no
reference points so took the production as it was presented. I was knocked out
by Angela Kilian. Dressed in an array of stunning costumes, she gives a superb
and immensely versatile performance as Norma Desmond. She is closely followed
by Jonathan Roxmouth giving his usual credible and accessible interpretation of
his role. James Borthwick is perfect as the staunchly loyal and lugubrious Max,
whose relationship to his mistress goes way beyond the call of duty.
Also
putting in high quality performances are Bethany Dickson as Betty Schaefer and
Mike Huff (in a number of roles but particularly as DeMille) as well as Kyle
Grant and Anton Luitingh. At certain performances, the role of Norma is played
by Taryn Sudding.
The hits
from Sunset Boulevard are well-known
and have been sung by the best in the business. Along
with other superstars, Streisand recorded As
If We Never Said Goodbye, the only number remaining from Lloyd Webber’s
original draft 30 years ago. I always
thought it was between two lovers but in the musical, it happens when Norma
Desmond makes a visit to Paramount expecting to be welcomed back into Cecil B
DeMille’s fold. It was good to see it
performed in all its poignancy in its correct concept, forming one of the many
highlights of Kilian’s performance.
The
Montecasino show started from scratch in terms of design. Working on a theatre
space far smaller than its original presentation, Sunset Boulevard works well at the Montecasino Theatre. Denis
Hutchison’s set and impressive lighting makes for a masterpiece, capturing a
good sense of faded and empty gloom. The set design is compact and workable –
simply a surround structure of a balcony above compartments which can be
curtained off. Added to this is an impressive mechanised moving curtain which
operates as a see-through screen for the movie-shooting scenes. It also
operates as a surface to screen the car chase that starts the whole story as
well as the tranquil surroundings of Norma’s house with its waving palm trees
and cool night sky.
Sunset Boulevard is a very theatrical piece. More in line
with Chess and while it doesn’t have
the mass appeal of Phantom of the Opera
or Evita, it is a supremely
fulfilling experience. With choreography under the sure control of David
Gouldie, there are some delicious scenes. Good to see Durban’s own Val Adamson
as production photographer.
The only
gripe I have is that the music sometimes overpowered the performers.
Sunset Boulevard is worth every
kilometre of the journey to Johannesburg to see it! It runs at Pieter Toerien’s
Montecasino Theatre until October 20 with performances from Tuesdays to Fridays
at 20h00, Saturdays at 16h00 and 20h00 and Sundays at 14h00 and 18h00. Tickets:
R325, R225, R125 and R100 booked through the Theatre Box Office on 011 511 1818
and Computicket.
Sunset Boulevard runs at the Theatre on the Bay from October
28 to December 7
More
information at www.montecasinotheatre.co.za or “LIKE” Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MontecasinoTheatre or Twitter too: @Monte_Theatre. – Caroline Smart
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