Sunset Boulevard – Savoy Theatre 2023/24

"Magnificent orchestra"?

They play very well. The sound design is excellent. The score leans heavily into a sound and a style that depends on a large, lush string section; there are two, sometimes three violins in place of seven in the band in the original production, and seven violins playing together produce a sound that you cannot recreate with just two or three. It sounds like what it is: a cut-down orchestra in which the strings are bolstered by synthesised string pads played on the keyboards. For what it is, there have been plenty worse, but it is not magnificent.

There are actually 4. You’re missing ‘musicians with an axe to grind’.

Two violins
One viola
One musician doubling violin/viola.

That's not enough to provide the sound the score requires without electronic assistance.

Where did all these haters suddenly come from? Sure, some people have not liked it, but y'all popped up real fast lol

I get musicians being disgruntled at their work being taken away by machines; it’s a valid grievance. I thought it sounded ghastly in ‘Cinderella’, like the music from a fairground carousel on a wonky speed setting…but it was barely noticeable to me in ‘Sunset’ due in part to the string laden score. Whilst it sounded great at the ENO, it’s a huge room and wasn’t always loud enough for me. But sound-wise, this was everything I wanted.

Same. The doors opened and I was like “Oh my god he’s actually there” as if I’d not just watched him descending the stairs I’d come down myself. 

Just to add, the carpets in the Savoy were filthy. I mean seriously dirty especially on that stairway down to the stalls. Would it kill them to get the Bissell out? 

I saw this back in September when it was still in previews so things may have slightly changed since I saw it but I honestly found this one of the hardest shows to rate ( other than Bat Out Of Hell which was a straight choice between deciding if it was genius or the most appalling thing I’d ever seen) . The cast: easily worth 5 stars, Nicole worth the price of admission on her own! . How it sounded, easily worth 5 stars, how it looked including the video and the showpiece moments , easily worth 5 stars. And yet, for me the elements of the cast, the set and the directorial choices didn’t fully gel, I found myself being taken out of the world of Sunset Boulevard rather than immersed in it. It all felt a bit jarring. So I came out feeling a little bewildered. I knew what I’d seen was brilliant so why didn’t I enjoy it more? Probably if I’m being honest with myself what would have made me happy would have been this cast using something similar to the original staging, although I got past that with the very stripped back Coliseum version. I guess what I’m saying is I can see why the majority of people on here are raving about it and im delighted that it’s become so successful as the cast and team deserve it to be, but for me it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Exactly this. People saying it’s gonna be terrible before first preview then 1 star ratings mysteriously appearing within seconds of opening.

Same kind of people as the haters who conveniently eavesdrop and “overhear several” other patrons at a show agreeing with their turkey diagnosis. The BS/fantacism is obvious to most a mile away….

I think this. I also fully get musicians being disgruntled (like seriously why wouldn’t you be) but synthesised backing strings (with solo real violin/viola on top) are SO good now that 95% people can’t tell and in the other 5% many (including me) love the sound.

ENO orchestra 4 times bigger but overall in there it sounded worse. Size really isn’t everything in MT orchestration and sound.

How many were there in The Adelphi pit?!

And I think everyone would totally get this! What does that come out as a star rating though?!

westendpitbands.com/archive/sunset-boulevard/

24 in the orchestra.

I thought the orchestra sounded decent at the Savoy production. The smaller pit band was the least of my concerns. Disagree on the above poster describing the vocals as “flawless” though. They certainly weren’t at the performance I attended last month. Betty struggled, as did Artie and several supporting characters. Leads were all good though.