Sunset Boulevard at the Mayflower Theatre Southampton Review

Reviewed by Sally Carter

Last night (16 January 2018) I attended the opening night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.

The original piece written by Billy Wilder was first turned into a film by Paramount Pictures in 1950; the story of fading actress Norma Desmond and her “return” to the studio where she once had reigned as Queen of the lot. However, neither Wilder or Christopher Hampton wanted the story turned into a musical and instead are said to have preferred the idea of an operatic version of this melodramatic story!

Anyway, years later, Hampton discovered that Lloyd Webber held the theatrical rights to Sunset Boulevard and along with Don Black, Hampton joined the team and wrote the book and lyrics for the musical we see today.

This production is brought to us by producers Michael Harrison, David Ian and The Curve.

Staring Ria Jones playing Norma Desmond, and with Dougie Carter (Joe Gillis), Adam Pearce (Max von Meyerling), Molly Lynch (Betty Schaffer), Barney Wilkinson (Artie Green) and Carl Sanderson (Cecil B. DeMille) as well as bright and talented ensemble and swings, this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening out.

The live orchestra (conducted by Musical Director, Adrian Kirk), clever use of staging, props and projected images all helped bring a real air of Hollywood opulence to the show right from the start. Completed by well-chosen casting, this really is a feast for the senses. Dougie Carter (Joe) drew you in with an emotionally real performance. Ria Jones’s characterisation of Norma was simply stunning, and I was particularly blown away by the vocal talents of Adam Pearce (Max) who bought a great ease and delicacy to some of Lloyd Webber’s more challenging and ‘acrobatic’ vocal music. Utilising the full range of his rich, deep bass voice right up into his sweet and crystal-clear falsetto, bringing the audience close to tears.

As the story is told it was easy to become mesmerised, completely drawn into feeling every emotion, sharing the pain, joy and complexity of the characters relationships with one another as events unfolded in front of our eyes and we rode the rollercoaster of events along with them; and yet that final scene still came as a surprise! There is something very surreal about watching an actress playing an actress who’s grasp on reality became so fluid that she fell into the abyss.

If you don’t know the story, be advised, I would say it carries at least a 12A rating – containing plot themes, language and violence not suitable for children. That said I think this was some of the best completely live theatre I have seen, and it is easy to understand how it has become the hit that it is. This production in particular is exceptional, and I would recommend to all theatre goers and lovers of musicals alike.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £19.50 to £49.50 (booking fees may apply).

Sunset Boulevard is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 16-20 January 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.

Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811