THEATRE REVIEW: "Sunset Boulevard" at the Drury Lane Theatre (Oakbrook Terrace, IL)

    

      On February 9th, 2013, Kathryn and I went to see a performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Christopher Hampton/ Don Black musical "Sunset Boulevard" at Drury Lane Oak Brook Terrace.  I had high expectations for this production.  Drury Lane Oak Brook Terace was, and is, known to put on great productions.  In 2004, the first regional production of "Sunset Boulevard" was mounted at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, IL.  But Andrew Lloyd Webber was so appalled by the production that he didn't allow regional productions of the musical to be made until 2010, when the Ogunquit Playhouse put on a production of the musical starring Stephanie Powers.  Several regional theatre productions were made in the next few years, starring Broadway and National Tour legends such as Ann Crumb, Hollis Resnik, and Valerie Perri. 

     What differed about the Drury Lane Production (and the JPAC production I saw in Cicero the year before) was that the role of Norma Desmond was played by a (for the most part) unknown actress -- Christine Sherrill.  She had one National Tour credit to her name ("Mamma Mia!").  It seemed she was cast for her vocal ability.  Much of the same was said when Patti LuPone was cast as Norma in the Original West End production of the musical, only to be "fired" from making the Broadway Transfer because she wasn't famous enough.  Christine Sherrill was an excellent Norma--even though the musical director had her stand in one place during her entire rendition of "With One Look."  Be that as it may, it was beautifully sung.  Also, "New Ways to Dream" featured the original ending to the song ("...they can't see where the future lies... they don't recognize a star...").  

     The show-stopping song of act two, "As if We Never Said Goodbye," was Christine Sherrill at her best (in my opinion).  Plus, this was the first ensemble scene where they weren't all crammed up on a catwalk.  That is probably because Norma Desmond was in the scene.  "Every Movie is a Circus" and "This Time Next Year" were scenes that both required the audience to crane their neck upward.  I was disappointed about the Finale of this production because it wasn't the show-stopping finale from the megamusical productions of the show.  Even so, this was a decent regional production of "Sunset Boulevard."  Maybe the lack of a show-stopping finale made this production more dignified.  

"The Completion of the Script"  ... Don Richard (Max Von Mayerling), Christine Sherrill (Norma Desmond), and Will Ray (Joe Gillis).  Photo by Brett Beiner. 

   

  

     While this production of "Sunset Boulevard" was running at Drury Lane Oak Brook Terrace,  Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire had put on a production of "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber," which starred Linda Balgord.  She played Norma Desmond in the First National Tour of "Sunset Boulevard," which performed at the Civic Opera House in 1997.  That was the first time "Sunset Boulevard" performed in Chicago.  I've never seen a show at Marriott Theatre before.  Now that I no longer live in Chicago, I guess I'm far less likely to than before.  Also, three years after seeing this production, my sister Katie and I saw Will Ray play Jean Valjean (understudy) in the Broadway Revival of "Les Misérables" shortly before the production closed.  In this production of "Sunset Boulevard," Will Ray played Joe Gillis.

 

Will Ray (Joe Gillis) and Christine Sherrill (Norma Desmond).  Photo by Brett Beiner. 

     Even though Kathryn and I both lived close to Oakbrook Terrace, for some reason we shelled out further expenses to stay overnight at the Hilton Suites that was across the parking lot from the theatre.  When we arrived at the hotel a couple hours before the show, Kathryn said something only mildly pessimistic about the parking space (I think it was half buried by a snow drift).  So I said, "oh Kathryn, you are just ants at a picnic."  Kathryn was shocked.  "Did you just say I'm ants at a picnic?" I said yes, at which point Kathryn said, "oh, thaaanks."  I think we tabled the discussion there.  Also, we may have had Corner Bakery for both dinner and breakfast for this theatre excursion.  

     Co-starring in this production was Don Richard (Max Von Mayerling), Dara Cameron (Betty Schaeffer), Johnathan Weir (Cecil B. DeMille), and Adrian Aguilar (Artie Green).  Also in the cast was David Kortemeier, Larry Adams, William Carlos Anguilo, Amy Brophy, Gary Carlson, Devin DeSantis, Ariane Dolan, Cory Goodrich, Rachel Klippel, Andrew Lupp, Alex McCrary, Alex Newkirk, Amy Orman, Sarah Page, Paula Scrofano, Jill Sesso, Will Skrip, and Rod Thomas.  The cast was great.  For all I knew, they were all ready for their closeup.  The Drury Lane Production of "Sunset Boulevard" ran from January 24th through April 7th, 2013.

Christine Sherrill (Norma Desmond) singing "With One Look."  Photo by Brett Beiner.