 |
| Norma Desmond (Bronwyn Sullivan) and Max von Mayerling (Peter Dark) Photo: Lauren Sadow |
Director:
Stephen Pike
Musical
Director: Sharon Tree
Presented
by: Queanbeyan City Council
The Q –
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre until 25th October.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
This
production by the Queanbeyan City Council provides a welcome opportunity to
experience one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s more rarely staged musicals. Exploring the relationship between an ageing
silent-movie star teetering on the edge of insanity, and an ambitious young
writer, this intriguing, gothic musical presents significant staging challenges,
not all of which have been overcome with this production, however, there is
still much to enjoy.
Focussing on
the characters rather than the spectacle, director Stephen Pike has assembled a
strong cast headed by Bronwyn Sullivan as the troubled movie star, Norma
Desmond. Sullivan gives a vocally and physically striking performance,
particularly in the closing scenes as she descends into madness.
As her young
lover, Joe Gillis, Daniel Wells impresses with his excellent singing but could
afford to bring more intensity to his characterisation. Peter Dark successfully
captures the brooding austereness of Norma’s mysterious butler, Max von
Mayerling and Vanessa De Jager is outstanding as Joe’s well-meaning girlfriend
Betty Schaefer.
Brian Sudding’s
fastidiously detailed, montage setting represents the various locations, including
Norma Desmond’s decaying mansion on Sunset Boulevard, a sound stage during the
filming of a Cecil B. DeMille epic and various offices and bars around 1949
Hollywood.
However, though
visually attractive, this setting is not without its own problems. Among them
cramped acting spaces, and the necessity to reduce Norma Desmond’s staircase to
just a few steps, robbing her of her all-important entrances and exits. A curious decision to position the conductor
of the excellent on-stage orchestra, immediately behind the actors, also
provided an unwelcome distraction, which destroyed the dramatic impact of
several scenes.
This review published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on Fri. Oct.9. An edited version will appear in the print editon on Wednesday Oct. 15.