Sunset Boulevard (ENO)

I enjoyed this but far from "wowed" and so I suppose a little disappointed - my expectations were clearly too high!

I didn't like the staging. All those stairs and platforms - one of those multi purpose sets that could have staged virtually any musical - Evita (we had a balcony), JCS, Oliver, West Side Story to name a few. How I missed the John Napier sets - especially the mansion. A cluster of chandeliers flown in and out simply did not cut it. Very cruel of the director/designer to make Glenn Close (at the age of 69) climb all those stairs again and again, night after night and twice on Wed and Sats!! She must be exausted. I did fear for her tripping especially in those long gowns.

The show sounded wonderful, however, with the full orchestra and a company who could sing. I loved Siobhan Dillon as Betty - a fabulous singing voice and lovely actress. Fred Johanson as Max had a great voice.

Michael Xavier was in fine voice too as Joe Gillis and he has a huge role as the show is seen through his eyes and is rarely off stage. Although gloriously sung I felt he was too nice, and didn't have the darker edge of a gigalo - his cruel outburst at Betty towards the end of Act 2 (although well deliverd) seemed to come from nowhere at all. So I felt this central performance lacking sadly.

Of course the show is all about Glenn Close. She is undoubtedly a star and acts the hell out of the role. She would have chewed up the scenery if there had been any!! Her costumes were fabulous especially the ballgown for New Years Eve. But how I longed to hear the role sung. She delivers the two big numbers especially at the end of "With One Look" which guarantees an ovation but for the rest she seemed only comfortable in the middle register and her voice was "thin" and breathy. The audience went wild though - a full and prolonged standing ovation at the end.

A few empty seats in the stalls - I was in the side stalls for £105 and glad I did not pay another £50 for centre stalls. Two people next to me did not come back after the interval! Perhaps they did not like sitting next to me? I did have a wander up to the Upper Circle in the inteval and the view from up there is fine - if a little distant but well worth £57.50 or less. I wish I had paid that and not splashed out.

Delighted I have seen it but will not be booking a return visit as I thought I would.

EDIT - On checking the ENO website there is lots of availability at all prices for this (apart from the last night). Not a "house full" by any means. I suppose the prices are steep for a "semi-staged" show.

The ENO has posted more production shots on their Facebook page, including michael shirtless during the ladies paying for those that want it.

The dummy looks pretty naff in the production shots

The logo is the same. It's the background that has multiple versions. This is the "original" orange version. Let me summarize

1-Original London cast (Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson): Orange
2-LA Cast (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell): Actually started off with orange logo and palm trees. Then the grey version followed.
3-OBC (Glenn Close and Alan Campbell) Grey
4-London new cast (Betty Buckley and John Barrowman): Grey but with a silhouette of Norma holding the gun
5-London cast with Elaine Paige, John Barrowman then Alexander Hanson: Grey background no silhouette
6-Broadway with Betty Buckley and Alan Campbell: Grey no silhouette
7-Broadway with Elaine Paige and London with Petula Clark, Alexander Hanson and Graham Bickley: red
8-Australia: Red
9-Germany: Grey with silhouette
10-Canada: Orange with palm trees
11-First US tour: Red

Of course these were the "official"incarnations. Some of them used a similar background but with each Norma superimposed over the logo.

The guy who plays Sammy and the priest in Sampson and Delilah is from Miss Saigon and was the understudy John. He's the only one I recognized from other West End shows.