West End Theatre Trip: SUNSET BOULEVARD at Savoy Theatre | Nicole Scherzinger, Jamie Lloyd

Join me and Mickey-Jo (‪@MickeyJoTheatre‬) on a theatre trip to see Jamie Lloyd's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard in the West End at London's Savoy Theatre. The production stars Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond alongside a cast that includes Tom Francis, David Thaxton and Grace Hodgett Young.
Find out more about the show, theatre, merchandise and more.
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[@wehojm7320]

First of all I have to remark how cute you two are together at the beginning and end of the vlog. At the curtain call I could not believe how exhausted and shellshocked Nicole Scherzinger looked. Her performance put her through the ringer.

[@anthonycooper6427]

Absolutely mind blowing, completely unique and a show you really must see. Nicole, Tom, Sarah and the entire cast are superb

[@richardponce7257]

I am privileged to say that I saw Betty Buckley, and she gave one of the greatest performances of all time.!

[@epicemuchilz]

I'm so jealous. I don't live in the UK and am not able to see this production. I think it's truly one of ALW greatest scores. In my, tiny person in a camera, opinion there's 4 shows that will become standard repertoire after he dies. Two of the early rock scores with Tim Rice: Evita & Jesus Christ Superstar) and two of the big romantic scores: Phantom and Sunset Boulevard. And the success of Sunset is probably because of the amazing source material. I'm not a huge fan of black and white movies but I urge everybody to see the original Billy Wilder film.

[@lindakahler4799]

Saw Betty Buckley and then took my aunt. Then Dad loved it

[@a.bturner1306]

You both look suitably stunned by the show! Thank you for clarifying the seating Aeron, it’s so incredibly helpful when booking.

[@lindakahler4799]

When Betty Buckley sang With one Look standing ovation

[@44nobody]

🌅 hee. As I was watching this video on Aeron's channel, a notification for Mickey Jo's review popped up. Going to watch that next!

[@rixx46]

I love that Aeron has a LITERAL companion video channel to Mickey's - you two are adorable together. If you were not already engaged, I'd be shipping you! Together, you present a perspective that's greater than the sum of the two. I wish I could see this London variation. I LOVE how musical theatre never fails to reinvent itself. My wife and I saw the preview of SUNSET in LA with Glenn Close and George Hearn in '93! The set malfunctioned, causing a distracting delay... It was entertaining but not memorable. I have only heard the LePone performance, but I preferred the vulnerability of the GC take on the role. My agent back then saw Billy Wilder on the street in Beverly Hills and asked him what he thought of the musical. He said, "From a musical, you can make a musical; from a movie, you can't make a musical." Sonheim abandoned his adaptation after a chance encounter with Wilder at a party. Wilder said the character of Norma was the stuff of opera, not the traditional musical. Sondheim agreed and backed away from the adaptation.

[@flavionussbaum9653]

I was shooked aswell after i saw the show yesterday evening...still perplexed of how intense it was. I can understand you Mickey, i was emotional invested aswell and had tears running down my face during Normas Songs. Not that i felt for her in the first place, but of the intensity of it, the voice, the performance, the lighting and the truly powerful moment of it what i experienced in this very moment. With one look in the first act, and As if we never said goodbye in the 2nd act especially blew me away (this long note she held with "i am home at last") ..it was astonishing. She left the theatre with her voice in that moment. The whole production was unique, shocking, moving, intense, intimate, sprctacular. I want to see it again in january. This show has a new spot in my Top 5 of fav shows ever! Go see it!

[@FelipeWWoHP]

I really want to do a West End trip soon and would love to see this!

[@ellie1981]

Seeing this tomorrow. Already saw the Glenn Close version at The Coliseum only a few years ago which had the longest standing ovation I’ve ever seen, so this will have a lot to live up to.

[@Muswell]

You have to forget Glenn Close & all the others -- this production is completely different.

[@ellie1981]

Yep yep. Ended up seeing it twice. What a show!!

[@Muswell]

@@ellie1981 Wow. You are so fortunate (& broke now? Lol). Really was great eh? She's a star.

[@ellie1981]

Well, I got a £40 seat in the Grand Circle early on, but paid £20 as I had a voucher to use. Then booked for December in the Dress Circle and went all out with a £100 ticket. It was sheer robbery that the next price level was double that 😢

[@BellePullman]

Ahh the end credits! How appropriate!

[@georgeknowles6806]

Thanks guys for mentioned Petula Clark many years ago she played the longest Norma in London and touring USA

[@s.hopkins4490]

I saw the original Patti Lupone and Kevin Anderson - the stage was still harkening back to the sumptuous days when people got spectacle and the way it raised up so that action could take place underneath while Norma paced above was amazing. Loved it and the love duet in it with Betty was really memorable - can be found in YT if you look hard enough.

[@thomasbradley4505]

I saw it in LA pre-broadway with Glenn Close (from first row orchestra seats ❤️) and in SF on tour with Petula Clark. The tour was scaled back but still spectacular.

[@Muswell]

The only thing about the seating was the cost. Lol. The most expensive show I've ever seen. But Nicole was worth every penny. (I saw Betty Buckley twice back in the day)

[@meganthewriter589]

I've never seen Sunset, but I've been desperate to see this new one! I live so far away from London, though - I just really hope I get the chance to see it somehow.

[@ChrisBiggs51]

We were fortunate to catch the original production at The Adelphi just before it closed with Petula Clarke as Norma. We then saw Ria Jones in the role on Tour a few years ago. Obviously the touring production was much smaller ( the staircase in the original was HUGE !!!!) but in essence was very similar in terms of staging. Nothing & i mean NOTHING could have prepared me for just how completely different The Savoy version is. I thought it was incredible - the use of the screen & cameras was amazing & the sequence with Tom Francis at the start of Act 2 quite frankly blew my mind. I look back on the original with fondness & my wife actually preferred that (mainly for the sets, costumes & sheer scale of it but i thought this new version was incredible & just wish i could afford to see it again. PS - Only the Savoy could have a Moet & Chandon Champagne vending machine lol.

[@rburns5495]

First saw SB in Sydney decades ago and cannot recall who was Norma, but it was the traditional show, sweeping staircase .. Since seen it in west end with Glenn Close .. stripped back staging and loved her so much that I went three times. Obsessed with Glen Close! Was hesitant to book for this production, but decided to go and looking into tickets now. Excited to see MJ review ..

[@ch123]

FYI In August 2024 the Sydney Opera House is staging a production starring Sarah Brightman

[@s.hopkins4490]

She will be awesome.

[@JackieWarner13]

It's been announced that Melbourne & Sydney are getting Sunset Blvd with Sarah Brightman which will be huge. We never get big international theatre stars or celebs coming here to do shows. I know nothing about the show much tbh. I hope I can see it it's going to be expensive bc that's Andrew Lloyd Webber(phantom came back last year at opera house & cheapest ticket was like $170 back row & then add a big cast member too. It's been a little controversial with Sarah's casting bc people were like we have a great lot of Aussie performers why weren't they cast but I'm sure it'll be good & have a good Aussie cast with Sarah.

[@ren598]

I’m seeing this production tomorrow night. Looking forward to it. I’ve seen Glenn Close, Stephanie J. Block and Alice Ridley as Norma Desmond.

[@Muswell]

Hope you enjoyed this new production - you have to forget the others from 25yrs ago. Nicole is PHENOMENOL !!

[@0530evan]

LOVE THE SAVOY THEATRE

[@laustpeternielsen-norman9569]

I was lucky to see it in 90' with Patti ❤

[@wendydaly3938]

Got to see Glenn Close in the revival on Broadway in 2018. This production looks interesting, but I do enjoy lavish. 😊

[@barbaramiller2770]

Saw it with Glenn Close in LA. At the Schubert Theater in Century City which sadly is no longer there. Hope this production comes to the US or at least a proshot.

[@susanpolastaples9688]

No Norma Bearsmond?

[@emergingmuses]

First cast recording was the Canadian one which had Diahann Carroll I believe. I have only seen a community theatre version live but several OTHER ;) versions found in OTHER places ;) hahaha

[@joeevans5770]

Noted savoy theatre expert aeron James

[@susanpolastaples9688]

To quote Lucille, 'I'm ready for my closeup, Mr DeMille.'

[@Dandyd47]

Who is Lucille,.please? Norma's twin?

[@Dandyd47]

Oh, I get it. Lucille from a.few.comments down.. Cheers!

[@mykidsfault]

Those credits at the end are different!

[@Lucillelf]

"I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille..."

[@markbaker2826]

I first saw EP as Norma, then GC, so i was a bit aprehensive today seeing Nicole...................but i LOVED it !!

[@johnfalcon5511]

the Savoy Theater is a gorgeous example of Art Deco! The movie was written and directed by William Wilder and starred Gloria Swanson & William Holden. In 1950. Swanson & the movie were both nominated for oscars. It was a great year for womans movies. The buzz at the time was that the best actress Oscar would go to Swanson or Bette Davis for All About Eve. BUT in a strange twist of fate the award went to new comer Judy Holliday for the comedy Born Yesterday. Every one was shocked including Ms Holliday Watch these movies (All About Eve was turned into the mediocre bway musical Applause)

[@thomasbradley4505]

I still want to know why Norma and Joe are drenched in blood and Joe is in swim trunks at the end. Since the movie and show start with Joe floating in the pool in a suit, this version looks more like Carrie

[@douglasduff4466]

Are these 2 heads stuck together?

[@adsheff]

Saw it last weekend. Sherzinger was incredible. Perfectly cast for this role, and phenomenal voice. The reimagined staging was excellent and very powerful. I did wonder if people who don't know the story could tell exactly what was going on - as everything was implied. As I know the story well I knew what they were referring to. An example is at the end when she says "I'm ready for my close-up". The story has TV news cameras there which she believes are film cameras for her movie, but this production had absolutely nothing on stage, so may have been confusing for first-timers. My biggest gripe was the ageism displayed in changing the line "Nothing's wrong with being 50, unless you're acting 20". For some reason they changed it to 40 - as if being 50 is so unfathomably old by the producers that they resorted to the very ageism which the story comments on themselves. Very disappointing. It seems we've broken down barriers of gender, race, sexuality etc but age is still something the entertainment industry seems to shun.

[@willeamer]

Is it more bloody bouvs the tag line for your review mickey

[@0530evan]

saw G. CLOSE..... looks like it has really been re-interpreted..... the broadway show...W. SIDE STORY...about 2-3 yrs ago...used cameras.....to show the action

[@kc-lp6wg]

Gloria Swanson! - l shouted at you both from my home in Canada.

[@johnfalcon5511]

So its like what he did with oklahoma

[@johnfalcon5511]

Why Redo this? plus there was just a revival with Glen Close on Bway.

[@brianeduardo1234]

Poor Aeron barely gets a word in edgewise

[@michaeladkins6]

The grimmest, bloodiest curtain call ever. The shirtless Tom Francis helps.

[@hannahgreen8999]

Sunset is my Mum's all time favourite show so we booked straight away when it was announced. I knew it was going to be very different so went in with an open mind but unfortunately this version just wasn't for me. For me Ria Jones is my Norma and very grateful to have got to see her do it in both London and on tour.

[@brianeduardo1234]

Is NS nor way too young?

[@amychappo3897]

OK, but can we please talk about how creepy that curtain call was??! What the heck?!?!

[@pouetpouetdaddy5]

why the fuck nobody smiles at curtain call? Tom Francis seems piss off.

[@candelsjr]

wow the bows are so creepy. Why are they still in character? It's OK to smile and enjoy the applause.

[@Muswell]

You obviously haven't seen the show. You can't justsnap out of a character after a performance like Nicole gave. I was still in a daze half an hour after the show. Nicole is phenomenal.

[@tananario23]

Really? You are trying to gatekeeper bows??! Bows. You are one of the creeps who demands random women on the streets, smile for you???

[@courtearl]

Gloria Swanson, Swanson , SWANSON …

[@JC041174]

I get that your generation thinks shows put on like this are amazing, but you are either far too young or were not around at all to see the original versions of this show. You're seriously missing out. This version has no heart and no soul whatsoever. It's a massive dumpster fire of a show and takes the biggest💩 on everything that came before it.

[@brianeduardo1234]

Sunset Boulevard is a total Turkey - dreadful show - Gloria Swanson