REVIEW: Rachel Tucker in Sunset Boulevard | 2023 west end revival at the Savoy Theatre, London
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
Yesterday I finally headed to the Savoy Theatre in the West End in London to see the hotly anticipated new revival of SUNSET BOULEVARD.
The musical, which features a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics and a book from Don Black and Christopher Hampton, has been revived by Jamie Lloyd with Nicole Scherzinger starring as Norma Desmond.
On Monday night performances however, the role of Norma Desmond is played by another star: West End leading lady Rachel Tucker (Wicked, Come From Away).
Check out today's brand new video review for a recap of my thoughts on this bold new production, how they have changed after seeing it a second time and, of course, what my opinion is of Rachel Tucker's performance...
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00:00 | introduction
05:01 | what is the show about?
08:47 | do I enjoy this revival?
13:02 | who is Rachel Tucker?
16:40 | how is Rachel as Norma?
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The only thing I felt was that Nicole has more of a "I am a big star"/Diva (as Norma) quality in this role, which Rachel didn't have as much. Yet both were amazing! But yes, the role was definitely made to suit Nicole. Rachel sounded fantastic as well.
Ooh and Nicole had sharp black nails, which helps conveying the end scene. As where Rachel had short silvery ones. Small detail but still.
Nicole's acting in that final scene - all bloodied with that completely crazed look in her eyes - was breathtaking.
I went with no expectations but she was phenomenal. Also the slow fade-in to coincide with ‘This was dawn…’ - I really got the feeling she’d been wandering around in that state for a number of hours! Incredibly chilling. The lighting designer needs all the awards for this production.
Love to see it back in London again with Rachel as Norma Desmond!
I haven’t seen both performers - only Nicole - but I also wondered how the scene with Norma’s younger self would work with Rachel. Hannah Yun Chamberlain was such a good match facially - it was spooky and really quite moving watching the screen fade in and out between the two.
When I came over to see the show I booked a Monday because it worked
Into my schedule better not knowing that I would be seeing Rachel. I can’t imagine it be any better. I was truly blown away by her performance. So worth the trip over from New York. When it transfers here I will be sure to see it with Nicole
Why would you want to see a washed up pop star when you've already seen the best there is
@@doyouhearthepeoplesing2 each person brings their own strengths to the role.
@emhu2594 but Nicole is not a theatre performer
@@doyouhearthepeoplesing2 nobody is a theatre performer until they perform in the theatre. This also isn't Nicole's stage debut.
@@MickeyJoTheatre she isn't trained she is a mediocre pop star at best this is stunt casting to sell tickets
The Last Ship was fantastic hope they do another production of it.
Love that you had the opportunity to see not one, but two powerhouse performances from Rachel and Nicole.
I am so hoping this will be playing next year when I go to London for a special birthday 😊
That moment with Emma Lloyd’s ensemble character with the backstage kissing and symbols regarding sexual exploitation/favours in the wider cinema community is even more prominent when you realise the actor she is always with, also doubles as portraying Sheldrake. (Tyler Davis and now Harrison Wilde) So I agree that this further indicates those hidden themes as well as the association with Sheldrake’s influence, personality and thoughts towards the struggling actors under his care.
YES EXACTLY!!!
You can't play these themes like throwaway moments that would have to be explained. The show should have made it clear. People in my theater laughed at that part. If Lloyd was addressing sexual assault in the film industry, he should be truly ashamed of how it turned out.
Rachel was my first (and all time favourite) Elphaba. It’s so amazing to have been able to follow her career from I’d Do Anything to the incredible things she’s doing now. One of the west end greats in my opinion 💚
I saw Nicole Scherzinger in October and I loved her and the show. I’m going back in a couple of weeks just to see Rachel.
I always love your reviews. Thank you❤
Saw Rachel in this on NYD and completely blown away by her acting and intensity. She definitely gives the more mature vibe in terms of the faded star. I loved her mannerisms to camera.
I saw Rachel in the role and I have to say With One Look rendered me speechless! I’ve seen her before in Come From Away but WOL has to be the best performance she’s ever given of a stand alone song. I was a little frustrated that they didn’t tailor the show a little more to her, especially the poster in the opening of Act 2, seems an easy switch. I haven’t seen Nicole so have nothing to compare to but Rachel’s performance was stellar. She’s born to play Norma
I remember hearing As If We Never Said Goodbye for the first time when Rachel sang it on I'd Do Anything, so it was quite something to witness her perform it like this FIFTEEN years later! I haven't seen Nicole so I can't compare, but I thought Rachel played the creepy mania and vulnerability brilliantly, as well as stunning vocals. I was really pleased that the audience gave her such a strong response to the two big songs.. even if one couple did leave when their neighbours explained that it wasn't Nicole at the interval..!
That’s so baffling to me that anyone would book just for a star with no interest in the show itself whatsoever. How could anyone leave this at the interval?!
...so they didn't even recognize that it wasn't Nicole? Maybe theater just isn't for them.
Praying to GOD i get to see Rachel on Jan 1st because she is the sole reason I booked.First Saw her in The Last Ship. Have seen her in Lempicka, in concert and in John and Jen.Sadly not in Come From Away. Absolutely LOVE her.Absolutely blew me away at a tiny cabaret at the Crazy Coqs in 2017...SO thrilled for her.. cannot wait. Plus she's hilarious and such a wonderful woman...
You should do yes, unless there’s a last minute issue! That’s brilliant!
Can we give it up for Tom Francis who was just brilliant
First saw Rachel as Elphaba in Wicked...and she was !
Was excited to see deadline reporting Nicole is coming to Broadway with Sunset Blvd in November. So looking forward to seeing this. Curious if you have heard anything about a cast recording. NS seemed to indicate it was coming when talking to Michael Ball and there was a flurry of rumors right after that
I need to see Rachel in this role she is amazing!
I saw Rachel Tucker in The Last Ship in Chicago prior to it going to Broadway. She was very good.
you lucky person x
i am going to see both. rachel tucker is just amazing, and nicole scherzinger is being praised for her acting and vulnerability.
SURELY Broadway is beckoning Nicole to recreate the role ?
Saw Rachel Tucker last night... Saw Glenn close is 2016?... But this show....was amazing !
Hey Mickey. Will you be reviewing the new London revival of PACIFIC OVERTURES?
Love your reviews!! I wonder how would you know Nicole's scheduled day offs? I tried to check twitter/Instagram but there are little mentioning about schedules.... Thank you!!
As far as I know Rachel’s last show is Monday 1st January so Nicole is scheduled to perform every other show until it closes
This is the best version of the musical. This is the best way to bring the movie to the stage, the level of meta this version has with Nicole works as in the original movie. As much as I love Rachel, this version is tailor-made to fit Nicole. It doesn't make any sense to have "young Nicole" as "young Rachel" and Joe showing Nicole's photo addressing Rachel it's really odd. BTW Norma is not "mad" nor "crazy" that's why most actresses who play the role have it wrong.
Are you going back to see the current leads in 'Cabaret' ?
I like that Rachel actually smiles at the curtain call initially! I found it so disconcerting that Nicole and the whole cast never really break character right up until the bitter end
I sort of agree- it was quite effective (though I couldn’t decide whether it wasn’t also a bit pretentious 😂) - and very disconcerting! Hope they’re allowed a big grin on closing night!
She looks pretty shell-shocked, I.e. emotionally drained, at curtain.
I don't think anyone can see it now. Only a few seats at £237 left.
It sold out pretty quickly when Nicole won some prize for her performance
Damn Rachel looks TINY during the bows
Does a slime tutorial count?
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I was lucky enough to see both and prefer Rachel. I found Rachel’s acting much more believable with vocals that matched Nicole’s. Rachel’s performance was more sad at the end and broke my heart - some of Nicole’s acting was a little too campy and took me out of the show at moments. Both great though and amazing production. And can’t leave a comment without saying I think Tom is a star 😊
Does Nicole do matinees on the other days?
yes 😊
This JL minimalist style is becoming rather Copy+Paste; the productions look the same regardless of the text specifics. As you say, the lack of visuals can be flat and even confusing. Having seen his “Betrayal” in London, it can work for certain content in the hands of charismatic actors. As the years go by, it is evolving from groundbreaking to underwhelming.
Agreed - I saw the Effect & it actually took away from the play quite considerably. I went away and read it after I saw it and the minimalism/ lack of props made the big moments hard to parse.
Thank you! Every time he comes out with new work and it gets praised to the heavens and im just over here wondering if im taking crazy pills because every production looks a like. Its driving me crazy
Sure.
I saw Rachel last night and much preferred her performance to Nicole. Her singing/acting is just phenomenal. She seems to actually understand Norma, whereas Nicole seems to be playing herself. I'd definitely prefer to see Rachel again, rather than Nicole.
Do you have a cold ?
I've seen both ladies and preferred Rachel's mania throughout, her close ups were so authentic for the role of Norma and so beautifully grotesque. For me, Nicole is note perfect but she failed to bring any genuine emotion, perhaps out of fear of not looking beautiful the whole time... of course, she's stunning, we all know that, but this would be the perfect place to lose the mask in favour of the role, which Rachel does so dramatically! I hope she gets the chance to headline it proper at some point in the future?!
I don't live in the UK unfortunately, but if I did, I would go for Rachel. However, I'll admit that it's for a different reason. I'm not a big fan of Nicole because of her stance against abortion rights. I don't think I would be able to enjoy her performance knowing what she's like off stage.
A Cyrano without a deformity is literally ableist, and a Sunset Boulevard without an old woman is literally ageist. It's just erasing the reason why these characters are rejected by society. I expect this from Hollywood but I'm disappointed to see this attitude infecting stage productions as well.
I think drawing a line by which a 50 year old is an 'old woman' and a 40 year old is not is perhaps a little reductive.
@@MickeyJoTheatre Every time Stephen King's Carrie gets adapted she is always depicted as a pretty thin girl... when the whole point of why her character is so relentlessly bullied by her peers is because she's fat and people are fat phobic, but you're just not allowed to have a fat hero in a movie. That's why the protagonists in Let Me In and in Never Ending Story who were also fat in the novels has to be portrayed as gorgeous thin kids in the movies, even though this erased their struggle... if you don't mind hearing a word as harsh as "fat" instead of "overweight" in a discussion about prejudice as opposed to semantics.
Yes... But being 40 as an actress especially in film is HARD. Ageism in Hollywood sets in very very early. Everyone is having prevantative botox, people are lying about their age and so on... So I don't think that having a 45 year old actress play the part is taking away from the message... It rather gives it a sharper edge and a different angle (by the way the first actresses portraying Norma were barely older). And honestly good roles for women at that age are VERY rare in musical theatre. So I don't think you're comparison fits here.