Review by Tony Annicone

North Shore Music Theatre’s blockbuster musical of the fall season “Sunset Boulevard” is based on the Academy Award winning 1950 Billy Wilder, black and white movie which starred Gloria Swanson and William Holden. The musical version has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The story is about a faded film star, Norma Desmond who was a popular actress back in the silent films of the 1920’s. The show is told in flashbacks by Joe Gillis who is an up and coming film writer who is being chased by two car repo men while trying to evade them, ending up at Norma’s run down mansion on Sunset Boulevard. Once inside, Norma convinces Joe to help her with her script of “Salome” to present to Cecil B. DeMille with her playing the teenage heroine. Joe, desperate for a job, takes her up on her offer which leads to romance and ultimately tragic circumstances unfold as this relationship continues.

Read more “Ripley, Stellar Cast Deliver Blockbuster Treatment of ‘Sunset Boulevard’”