Vintage Hollywood was on display in the Sydney Opera House forecourt and steps, complete with an antique Rolls Royce at the media preview for SUNSET BOULEVARD on the day before the show opened at the Joan Sutherland Theatre.
Inspired by director Billy Wilder’s movie starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, Andrew Lloyd Webber fashioned a major musical from it which premiered in the West End in July 1993, directed by Trevor Nunn.
Sarah Brightman has come to the Sydney Opera House to play the lead role, Norma Desmond. To add to the glitz and glamour the Ensemble performers acted as a press corps vying for Norma’s attentionA strong supporting included Robert Grubb who appeared in the musical’s original production thirty years ago and is this time playing the role of Norma’s minder Max. Also part of the media preview were two of the other principal cast members, Tim Drawl as her flame Joe Gillis and Ashleigh Rubenach as Betty Schaefer.
SUNSET BOULEVARD, an Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment in arrangement with the Really Useful Group production of SUNSET BOULEVARD, is currently playing a two month season at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House until 1st November 2024.
Text and photos by Ben Apfelbaum
