Sunset Boulevard – Savoy Theatre 2023/24

With the full backing of the original writing team of ALW, Don Black and Christopher Hampton, who were present all through rehearsals and allowed him free reign over the material. They all adore this production of the show. They're not being precious about it.

You were more than happy for the Watermill/Comedy Theatre production to lose all sense of grandeur, why is it now important for this version to have it?

You were more than happy for the Watermill/Comedy Theatre production to lose all sense of grandeur, why is it now important for this version to have it?[/quote]


…and it was woefully underpowered. People raved over Kathryn Evans but I just didn’t get it. No drama, no scale, just an interesting concept that the director has subsequently foisted on numerous productions since, and more for financial reasons than artistic. Seems a bit disingenuous to laud one and celebrate another for doing the exact same thing.

Was there last night seeing it for the first time. Nicole’s performance of As If We Never Said Goodbye was worth the price of entry alone. I’ve never reacted to a musical theatre performance like that before. It was absolutely breathtaking.

I feel so lucky to have been there last night! I first saw the show back in previews at the end of September and have followed the thread since. I was able to book one of the spotlight seats so for my second visit I had the perfect front row view and was able to see every detail of emotion on the cast’s faces. It was such an electric atmosphere in the theatre too with a real sense of anticipation in the air.

As soon as that stirring overture began I was swept up in it all over again - Tom is a star and the extended Let’s Do Lunch opening number is testament to how fantastic the ensemble are. David was outstanding throughout too, the perfect Max - so stern and serious and his voice is brilliant. He looked very tearful at the end so the show has obviously meant a lot to him. As others have reported, there were three mid-show standing ovations - an initially slightly tentative one for With One Look (but within a moment or two everyone at the front of the stalls was up), another after Tom’s outstanding tour of the theatre and Strand for the title song and then an immediate, extended full house reaction to AIWNSG. Nicole absolutely gave it her all - that note did indeed go on and on and then she goes straight into the next line - incredible! Yes it’s annoying when others start applauding and whooping before the line has finished being sung (and I force myself to wait until I’ve heard the last note) but it was a genuine, heartfelt reaction to seeing a star absolutely smash their performance - one many of us on here thought she would be unsuited to when she was announced. There must’ve been a good minute of clapping and cheering before they could continue the show.

Obviously there was much more extended applause with everyone on their feet at the curtain call - no speeches, but Nicole and cast did make a big point of thanking the orchestra too (how does this particular production sound soooo good?) and Nicole kneeled down at the front of the stage to clasp bloody hands with the conductor in a show of appreciation.

In other news, I also brushed past Thom Evans on the stairs during the interval and felt quite light-headed for a moment or two! And as an aside, with a full house it really is the worst theatre for space and access isn’t it. Cramped bars and all the narrow stairs, it feels worse than most of the other West End theatres, and that’s saying something.

I made sure I got into the West End early enough to catch Tom’s walkabout during the matinee performance, it was great to see a moment or two of how it’s done, and made experiencing it in the theatre in the evening even more special. There was quite a crowd outside, but all was very calm and well organised by security and most of the Savoy’s FOH team came out to join us too. No bad behaviour, no attempts to ‘join in’ in any way and certainly no freaks, just a lot of fans of the show appreciating something pretty special and different in this particular production. For this and for all its other qualities, it’s certainly one many of us will remember and cherish for years to come. I like what others have said about it being one of those unique moments in theatre when all the elements come together to make something very special and unrepeatable. No doubt Broadway will equal that but I feel very privileged to have seen it in London first.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and his creative team do not need to beg on their knees to become relevant again.
Apart from the many ALW productions still running around world in 2023 we had concert versions and new productions as well as the announcements of a Sarah Brightman led sunset in Australia and the starlight express opening this year has extended already with strong sales . This board has reported the London Phantom is having another resurgence and full houses. School of rock was a massive broadway and west end success five years back,
ALW will continue to run successfully his shows long into the future with or without Mr Lloyd.
Yes this sunset may have attracted some new people to ALW show but it was also run for most of the season dynamically pricing seats down and until mid December was the "show of the year" which you could get the best seats less than half price for on the day of the show.
It's great so many board members enjoyed the show and supported it seeing it multiple times but trying to make out that Sir ALW desperately needs jl for recognition is a p*ss take even JL wouldn't put in this show.

Sunset Boulevard was announced a week after Aspects opened though.

Caught a matinee a few weeks ago! I would have seen it again just to take in all the production!

SJP and Matthew Broderick in for the final night. SJP gave a glowing review on her Instagram.

Amazing. I wish I’d seen them! I assumed the ripple of applause was for Hannah’s appearance behind the curtain but perhaps more likely for the Brodericks.

I also meant to comment on how well behaved the audience were last night - thankfully. Having read musicbox’s post in the Bad Behaviour thread earlier this week I feared the worst, but I don’t think I heard one whispered comment or sweet wrapper opened or anything. A miracle!

I used to see Su around Angel/Upper St all of the time but have not seen her for ages. I wonder if she moved?

I wasn't lucky enough to be at the final performance last night (I had to see 'Old Friends' instead but it was genuinely a tough choice). However, I was lucky enough to be at the Dec 30 (last performance before NYE) and I must say of the 4 times I saw the show, this was probably the most emotional and high energy. It SEEMED like a lot of the ensemble and Tom were quite emotional through all the NYE scenes, the NYE scene with Nicole/Tom seemed particularly playful and Nicole herself was milking it for all. During "Never Said Goodbye" she actually gestured to the audience to clap/cheer harder for her LOL. I didn't see her do this before (or the one time since in the closing week).

Anyone feeling a little down today that all the AMAZING shows this year (e.g. Sunset, next to normal, Old Friends etc.) are all gone now?? WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE TO LIVE FOR NOWWWW??