Theater Review: "Sunset Boulevard" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Sunset Boulevard” marks the grand opening of the 36th MainStage Season at Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk. The show that is based on the Billy Wilder film features a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Webber. The Tony Award-winning musical is considered the composer’s masterwork of dreams and desire in the land called Hollywood and includes the lush, swelling standards “With One Look,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and “Perfect Year.”

Norma Desmond is a faded star of the silent screen era, now living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with both romance and tragedy to follow.

“Sunset Boulevard” is a musical that I have only seen once before and my memory of the details was limited at best. Although I did remember not really enjoying the story, I headed to the matinee determined to give it another chance.

Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder Kevin Connors directed the wonderfully talented cast that brought this story to startling life, with actors entering through the house and making it a bit more immersive for the audience.

I was hooked from the intricately staged “Let’s Have Lunch” to the purchase of Joe’s new wardrobe in “The Lady’s Paying” and up to the hopeful “This Time Next Year.” The second act opens with Joe singing the title song, Norma’s classic “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and her enduring “A Little Suffering” before the shocking final scene.

Elizabeth Ward Land takes on the role of the aging actress Norma Desmond, who at age 50 is past her prime according to Hollywood standards at the time. The beautiful actress, who appeared in “Amazing Grace” and “City of Angels” on Broadway captures the angst in her role and sings magnificently.

Trevor Martin is perfectly cast in the role of the struggling young screenwriter Joe Gillis, with a huge number of lyrics to keep straight as he appears in almost every scene. Martin sings every one of them extremely well.

Sandra Marante (“Smokey Joe’s Cafe” at Ivoryton Playhouse) uses her sublime singing voice in the role of a budding writer named Betty Schaefer. The voice of James Patterson is also memorable as he plays the role of Max Von Mayerling, Desmond’s faithful butler, looking different from his headshot because he shaved his head for the role.

Jeff Gurner (“Falsettoland) stepped up to play the famous director Cecil B. DeMille. Jacob Sundlie plays Artie Green, Betty's fiancé. Philip Callen of Norwalk steps out of the ensemble to play Myron Sheldrake, a film producer on the lot.

Connecticut-based actor Matt Grasso (George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”) plays Manfred, an expensive tailor. His grandmother sat next to me at the first matinee.

The rest of the cast members play a host of parts and do a fine job with all of them. The actors include Paul Aguirre (“Jesus Christ Superstar at Seven Angels Theatre,), Helen Clare, Leigh Martha Klinger (Norma understudy,) and Emily Solo.

Musical direction was done by David John Madore (“Falsettoland”), who conducts the five musicians from behind a piano. Every performance will be played live by the talented off stage musicians. Tony Bellomy plays keyboard II, Jerold Goldstein covers keyboard III, with Rich Zurkowsky on bass, Nate Dobas on percussion and Gary Ruggiero on reeds.

There were so many standouts among the costumes designed by resident costume designer Dian Vanderkroef, all of which evoked the period and fit perfectly.

Choreography by Corrine C. Broadbent works well for the space. The scenic design by Lindsay contains many curtains to suggest the various locations, although the pool is done with lighting, and there is no sweeping staircase in the crumbling mansion. There were a few technical slips, one the result of an unlocked staircase, another a stuck curtain. RJ Romeo, the current technical director at Westport Country Playhouse, served as director of production, as well as lighting and projection designer.

“Sunset Boulevard” is performed with a 15-minute intermission and runs two hours and 30 minutes. There are a few four-letter words in the script. The signature cocktail is tequila sunset.

Performances continue through Oct. 2, Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets at musictheatreofct.com/sunsetblvd.