Sunset Boulevard at the Palace Theatre Manchester Review

Reviewed by Lucy Gwilliam

26 years after she first played Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first draft of Sunset Boulevard at the 1992 Sydmonton Festival, Ria Jones returns to the role in this breath-taking performance to truly wow the audience.

Based on the 1950s film by Billy Wilder, Webber’s production of Sunset Boulevard is set in the 1940s and sees ageing movie starlet, Norma, looking for her return to the business. She meets struggling writer, Joe Gillis (Danny Mac), when his car breaks down outside her drive. Upon hearing of his profession, she persuades him to take a look at her movie script, offering him £500 per week if he is to stay at her house to complete the edits to her manuscript. It sees their journey and struggles over a 6-month period and Norma’s hold over Joe.

Jones was magnificent throughout, as was Mac. Their connection was evident, and it really did captivate the audience. The acting was excellent and the singing spectacular. I could not fault the show at all.

As we were leaving I couldn’t help listen to the other theatre goers comments about the show. One said, ‘she was better than Glen Close’ and another exclaimed ‘it’s the best rendition I have seen, I loved it’.

Overall, we had a fantastic evening and my love for musical theatre has grown massively since watching this show. I cannot wait for my next dose.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £18 to £62.50 (plus £4 transaction fee).

Sunset Boulevard is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester from 23 October to 4 November 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/palacetheatre or call the box office on 0844 871 3019.

Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FT | 0844 871 3019