Sunset Boulevard at the Palace Theatre Manchester Review

Reviewed by Jan Mellor

I was very excited to see the stage musical of “Sunset Boulevard”, being a massive fan of both Andrew Lloyd Webber (who composed the music for the show) and Ria Jones (who played the lead Norma Desmond – whose role was played by Gloria Swanson in the original 1950 film).

The show started with an amazing props and stage set (that excelled itself throughout the entire show). It opened with a scene projected on a screen of a drowned man – and then the principle Joe Gillis (played magnificently by Danny Mac), opening the show with great Webber tunes. As Gillis led the audience to the events that led to the drowning – the entire stage transformed magically to “Paramount Studios” gateway and backstage drops and then to a stately home with an astounding spiral staircase with candelabras that was utilised incredibly throughout the show. We are introduced to the neurotic ‘has been’ Norma Desmond by the astounding vocal talent and screen presence of Ria Jones, which was followed by the hauntingly beautiful voices of her butler Max von Meyerling (played by the brilliant Adam Pearce) and Betty Schaefer (played by the equally remarkable Molly Lynch). The talent before us was astonishing and the audience were transported into a world of glamour, seduction, nostalgia and passion in equal measures.

The choreography, costumes and set were stunning and left the audience agape. The story of a Hollywood star of the silent screen who, as a recluse of 20 years, falls for a much younger man and the promise of an ignited career on the big screen (through him rewriting her ‘awful’ screenplay) – left us feeling both pity and distain for the character Norma Desmond. Her emotional blackmail of the gullible Joe Gillis and her consistent abuse of her protector Max leave us emotionally linked to each character and unavoidably anticipating a tragic end. As the story evolved  no-one was prepared for the mesmerising passion, despair, seduction  and anguish that the cast portrayed and with the development of Cecil B. Demille turning her play down, her lover Joe falling in love with Betty and her discovering that all her fan mail was sent by her besotted Max, Norma was thrown into an emotional and anguished  crescendo of her murdering her beloved Joe and  (as she is arrested)  her saying  the infamous line “I am ready for my close-up now Mr. Demille’ and “Mad about the Boy” leaving the upstanding audience in ecstasy.

The show was absolutely fantastic – with the best set I have ever seen on stage. Ria Jones was absolutely sublime, and her voice transcended into a different sphere. All principles and cast were faultless, and we were as the gaping-mouthed audience re-living the golden age of decadence and grand luxury, when the screen idols lived and existed as gods and goddesses. This is an absolute must for all fans of Hollywood and those that want to see astonishing talent at its rawest and superior form. Mind-blowing pure joy!

A masterpiece in every sense of the word!

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