Sunset Boulevard

New Century Theatre would not be the expected staging in my mind for Sunset Boulevard. It's a small, casual space, definitely not what one would typically picture for a grandiose Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

But I was happily surprised by how deftly the actors made the space make sense. Norma Desmond, executed beautifully by Sarah Gibson, was still the larger-than-stage-life character we need her to be, equal parts self-obsessed maniac, fragile ex-ingenue, and tragic product of society's hunger for perfection. The musical unfolds in flashbacks and every inch of the stage is used to capture Old Hollywood movie sets, the interior of a star's mansion, bigwig office spaces, and a mental institution. Norma falls apart bit by bit as those around her struggle to piece her back together with accolades, lies, and the latest beauty treatment. Her slippage is often humorous, but with that twinge of pathos that makes laughing feel a bit naughty. It isn't kind to laugh at the crazy lady, but it makes for good theatre. And that's all Sunset Boulevard, the play itself and this particular production are shooting for, a bit of levity in a sea of melodrama.

Gibson is supported by a great ensemble cast, most notably Aly Westberg as the bubbly, young, naive Betty Schaefer, who serves as a refreshing foil to Norma's descent into murderous madness. Betty's love for and Norma's mad infatuation with Joe Gillis, played with a bit of swagger and lots of melancholy by Tim Kuehl, serves as inspiration for much of the show's movement. Joe, in many ways, is just as pathetic as Norma.  He may have his wits about him, but his depression and negativity seem to rob him of those faculties.  It's a dangerous mix for a naive girl and a woman gripping sanity with her little finger.

A sluggish start quickly smooths into a solid performance by a great ensemble. A deft use of video cameras aid the audience's attachment to a once-loved star and allows the theatre to feel bigger than it is without losing the intimacy the space provides. The show suffers only by comparison to Webber's more famous classics, the book for this show lacks the oomph and hook of the catchiest of Webber's music.  But there are still gems scattered throughout, and the actors provide a sad, engaging story of youth and hope lost.

Sunset Boulevard plays at New Century Theatre, located in the City Center in downtown Minneapolis, through Sunday, June 23rd.

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