“Nicole Scherzinger absolutely bloody smashes it as Hollywood diva Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1993 musical, dazzlingly reborn by director Jamie Lloyd. She brings not only an operatically powerful voice but shrewd comedy, harrowing pathos and a dancer’s physical precision to the washed-up silent star, besotted with young screenwriter Joe. It’s a physically and emotionally exposing performance”
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“As a piece of live theatre this is truly awesome stuff. Jamie Lloyd has been one of our best directors for a long time now, but for me this feels like a landmark for him, a perfect synthesis between the gleeful, gory showmanship of his earlier work and the more challenging artiness of his recent stuff. The pictures may have gotten small, but theatre has rarely felt so alive with possibility.”
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“Her voice is a wonder, both seductive and subtle, but big enough to raise the roof. It’s an extraordinary performance in a beautiful rethinking of one of Lloyd Webber’s greatest shows. A ‘Sunset Boulevard’ like no other, revealing its dark heart and deep grandeur.”
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“Throughout, Lloyd walks a wavering tightrope between postmodern wit, in concert with the snarky, satirical book, and visceral emotion that makes Lloyd Webber’s gorgeous score, with modified orchestrations, soar afresh. This is a ‘Sunset Boulevard’ for a new generation.”
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“there are so many things that don’t make any sense at all…Despite that there’s more than enough to make this a truly epic piece of theatre. A huge amount of that is undoubtedly down to Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis who carry the whole thing on their shoulders. Whether you love it, hate it, or a combination of the two, there’s no denying this Sunset Boulevard is a show that everyone will be talking about for a long time to come.”
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“Even as the production drives home this grim warning, ‘Sunset Boulevard’ astonishes with its bracing poise, unforgettable tableaux, and stellar performances. Hands down, it is one of Lloyd’s most accomplished shows to date.”
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“The unrelentingly stark evening has its longueurs, but it’s hard not to salute Scherzinger’s unmistakable triumph or fall in love with Lloyd Webber’s satisfyingly sinister opus once again.”
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“ ‘Sunset Boulevard’ isn’t one of Lloyd Webber’s finest scores...but it sounds magnificent here, with Scherzinger bringing rich, unfussy, powerful depth to torch songs...It’s the kind of uncompromisingly brilliant performance that makes you want to use cliches like “tour de force”. And somehow, the fact that Scherzinger’s own star shines so brightly here adds poignancy to Norma’s desperation, as she scavenges for such approval on a stark, deserted stage.”
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