Sunset Boulevard has always been an eerie, glamorous, and ultimately tragic tale – a ghost story of Hollywood’s golden age. Based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 film, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1993 musical adaptation captures both the allure and the darkness of Old Hollywood.
Though the production has been staged worldwide for decades, this marks its first run in Singapore. Sunset Boulevard never quite achieved the same global renown as The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, or Cats, and on first watch, it’s clear why. It lacks the immediately recognisable hits of Webber’s most famous works and none of the songs truly stand out. However, what it lacks in musical familiarity, it makes up for with plot twists as winding as the roads through the Hollywood Hills.
The set is among the most impressive we’ve seen to grace the Sands Theatre – a visual treat that channels the grandeur of 1950s film noir. The world of Norma Desmond – a faded silent movie star left behind by the advent of talking pictures – is rendered in opulent yet decaying splendour, her mansion a haunting relic trapped in time, just like her.
“I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.” – Norma Desmond
Played by theatre legend Sarah Brightman, Norma is desperate to return to the big screen and finds herself entangled with a young, hungry, and ambitious screenwriter, Joe Gillis, played by Tim Draxl, who conveniently shows up at her door.
For those who grew up listening to The Phantom of the Opera, Brightman’s powerful vibrato remains nothing short of remarkable. At 64, her instrument has evolved – its tone and range have shifted – but still retains a hypnotic presence. And while her performance might sometimes lean more towards spectacle than emotional character exploration, you can’t help but root for Norma despite her descent into madness.
The pacing of the production also feels uneven, with certain moments dragging while others feel rushed. And yet, that’s the magic of Sunset Boulevard – a show that takes you in unexpected directions, blending mystery, romance, and tragedy into something you can’t quite look away from.
Tickets are available now and show details can be found here.