When I first heard one of Sarah Brightman’s songs in 1992, I was utterly captivated. Yes I know the year to be precisely 1992. It was the Barcelona Olympics, and every time the theme song Amigos Para Siempre aired on TV, I would drop everything and rush to the TV! Back then, if you missed it you missed it, there was no Youtube or MeWatch to rewatch again!
Fast forward to the present, if you didn’t already know, you can catch Sarah Brightman in Sunset Boulevard, an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical masterpiece. It’s currently being presented at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands as part of the Melbourne season. It’s only on from now until 23 February in Singapore, so make haste!
Spoilers ahead!!!
It’s a tragic story about a faded superstar from the silent movies era, who did not transition well when the “talkies” came. Norma Desmond is still living in the past, aided on by fake fan letters written by her well-meaning butler (who you will find out has an interesting identity). She even falls in love with a struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis.
This is not your usual feel-good storyline. It is rather thought-provoking in fact. It is a story about a person not just being past her prime age, but also not having the correct skill sets to survive in a changed industry.
I was struck by the disturbing parallels between Norma Desmond’s plight back in the 1950s and our current world. Just as the advent of sound in cinema rendered Norma’s skills obsolete, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries and challenging the average person to adapt or risk being left behind. Upgrade and upskill, the government is constantly drumming in. Are we all well-prepared and well-equipped to make the transition? Will we be able to seamlessly ride the wave, or be left by the wayside?
Does this not touch a raw nerve? I was curious and disturbed enough that I spent the evening after the performance furiously reading up on the reasons why many silent movie stars were unable to transition to the “talkies”.
Credit must be given to Sarah Brightman too for taking up this role which must feel somewhat similar to her own life now that she is 64. Her vocals are no longer as pristine as what it was when I first saw her, but nonetheless she still exudes a commanding stage presence.
Many don’t realise this but this is something everyone will have to go through, unless you are unlucky enough to die young. Lots of people after reaching retirement age and having retired from their jobs, suffer a profound loss in identity. They no longer command authority, they are no longer needed.
Perhaps the storyline does not yet resonate with the Gen Zs, but it certainly did with me. A couple of young looking people sitting next to me were glued to their phones for the entire first half of the performance. I was surprised they even returned after the intermission. Perhaps it was to give the show one last chance, because they left immediately after the next song ended.
It was also interesting to note the audience gasping when Joe Gillis kissed Norma Desmond. Is it not quite acceptable for an older lady to be dating a younger man these days? The love story of the French president always comes to mind when it comes to such relationships. We may have our own personal preferences but I was surprised by the audible gasp, which means that societal norms have not quite reached that level of acceptance yet, at least not in Singapore.
Although the music from Sunset Boulevard may not be as famous as the ones from Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera (it’s coming again in May 2025!), there were a number of catchy tunes which I enjoyed and would love to listen to again. I might be suffering from biasness with Les Mis and Phantom though, because I’ve known their songs for 2 decades, and hearing them so many times reinforces the idea that those are more famous songs. Check in with me again 2 decades from now.
All in all, I truly enjoyed watching Sunset Boulevard for its thought-provoking storyline, spectacular performances by the cast and moving melodies. Will Norma Desmond be able to resurrect her career or will she fade further into history? The plot twist at the end will leave you glued to your seats.
Leaving you with this quote from the musical: “Everyone needs new ways to dream”.
Sunset Boulevard at the Sands Theatre
More information on Sunset Boulevard
To book Sunset Boulevard tickets on Klook (use my promo code 365DAYS2PLAYKLOOK for a 5-10% discount)
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