Stars flock to Sunset Boulevard
By TRISHA HICKEY
Toronto Sun

It wasn't your average T.O. night out. Billed as a Hollywood Soiree, the stars - hometown favorites and Tinseltown regulars - flocked to North York's Ford Centre for the premiere of the hit musical Sunset Boulevard.
It was a social and cultural triumph for the evening's host, impresario Garth Drabinsky. Billionaires and politicians turned out to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage version of the movie classic. Judging from the ovation given to the show's star Diahann Carroll, they liked what they saw.
"I've seen Patti LuPone and Glenn Close play Norma Desmond," said Hollywood Reporter columnist George Christy. "Patti's a singer, Glenn is an actress, but Diahann is a singer, an actress, a diva. It was a triumph!"
Leading the applause was Fatal Attraction star Glenn Close, who once won a Tony for her portrayal of Norma Desmond. Fearful of upstaging her successor, Glenn kept her post-show appearance at the VIP dinner low key.
"It's Diahann's night," she protested (perhaps a little too much).
In contrast to Glenn's disappearing act was the enthusiasm of singer Patti LaBelle, who along with columnist Christy and Hilary and Galen Weston, waited eagerly for the star to arrive.
"My wife enjoys these events," said Galen, glancing approvingly at his glamorous wife (an ex-model who still looked the part in a slinky Armani dress) as she mingled with the show's stars, including Rex Smith, who plays Sunset's leading man, Joe Gillis and Anita Louise Combe, who plays Betty Schaefer, Norma Desmond's rival for Joe's affection. Although Anita plays a perky blonde, at the post-show bash she emerged as a sultry brunette with an hour-glass figure (see photo). With Anita was actor/beau John Barrowman, co-star of the new CBS series, Central Park West.
Stars from T.O.'s other big musicals were there to cheer colleagues, including Tommy's Tyley Ross and the Beast, Chuck Wagner. Chuck was sympathetic to actor George Kmeck, who missed his cue to shine a spotlight on Norma Desmond. After a few frantic seconds - and some dramatic tension - the spotlight found its mark and the show went on, leaving George to later take a ribbing from his wife, Nora Mae Lyng.