Gateway to Broadway Soap Box "In Support of Linda Balgord"     March 19, 1998 This commentary is in response to a statement in "First Act: Ken Mandelbaum’s Buzz" in the March 20, 1998 issue of InTheater, specifically the section on page 9 on the new U.S. National Tour of Sunset Boulevard planned for this fall starring Petula Clark. The specific part I am referring to is as follows: "The new production of Sunset Boulevard (to premiere in Pittsburgh in December) will star one of London’s Norma Desmonds, Petula Clark. But the 1996-97 U.S. touring version of the show, somewhat stripped down but still closely modeled on the original, proved far too expensive to move around for short engagements, and the long stops did not pay off (of course, we’ll never know how that production might have fared had it boasted some kind of a star name rather than Linda Balgord as Norma)." I am writing this commentary out of frustration and infuriation at the end of this statement - not specifically aimed at or singling out Mr. Mandelbaum’s statement, but more at the cumulative effect of having read so many statements like this over the past year: "…of course, we’ll never know how that production might have fared had it boasted some kind of a star name rather than Linda Balgord as Norma…" It is uneducated, thoughtless statements like this made by reviewers which perpetuated the lack of interest in and attendance at the U.S. National Tour production of Sunset Boulevard during its all too brief run in 1996 and 1997. I argue that what this statement should say in order to be fair and accurate is: "…of course, we’ll never know how that production might have fared had reviewers and writers not perpetuated the false belief that it absolutely had to have a "big name star" to be a great production - but instead had given Linda Balgord a chance to prove her talent and splendid performance in the role of Norma Desmond before we made this kind of generalization that audiences across the country would read and take as the gospel truth…" If reviewers wanted to - or even could with a clear conscience - say that the U.S. National Tour failed because Ms. Balgord’s performance as Norma Desmond was inferior, lacking in her acting, singing, or both - fine. But, I have not read statements like this. Instead I find a plethora of statements blaming the failure of the tour on the lack of a "big name" in the role of Norma Desmond. Even before the U.S. National Tour production of Sunset Boulevard opened in 1996, reviewers and reporters consistently made it a point of mentioning that, with Linda Balgord in the title role, there was not a "big name star". In essence, the constant mention of this simply created a terrible untruth that Ms. Balgord would be inferior in the role of Norma Desmond simply because she wasn’t a so-called "big name". This created a snowball effect - a perpetuated falsehood that Ms. Balgord would not be or was not good in the role and probably caused many potential audience members to simply not even consider seeing the National Tour of Sunset. And, of course, a huge injustice was done to this fine cast, and specifically to Ms. Balgord who was utterly brilliant in the role. Though I will not take the liberty of claiming that Ms. Balgord "acted" the role of "Norma Desmond" better than Glenn Close since I did not see Ms. Close in the role, I certainly can attest to the fact that Ms. Balgord’s singing of the role was far, far superior to Ms. Close’s simply from listening to the American Premiere recording of Sunset Boulevard. I am fortunate enough to have one of the rare Promotional CD recordings of Linda Balgord singing "With One Look" and "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and Ron Bohmer singing "Sunset Boulevard" and I am certain that anyone who would listen to this would easily agree. What is my ultimate point, you ask?…It is the following: Musical theatre critics need to stop blaming the "failure" of the National Tour of Sunset Boulevard on the fact that it did not boast a "big name" in the role of Norma Desmond and instead admit that they not only cursed Ms. Balgord but the entire production with this statement before she even had a chance to get on stage and prove them wrong (and I had the pleasure of witnessing her do just this five different times). And I shudder to think of how many theatre critics (including Mr. Mandelbaum?) made and continue to make the statement about the lack of a "big name" without ever having seen Ms. Balgord perform in the role… Unfortunately, audiences across the United States were closed-minded enough to believe the critics’ statements that Sunset Boulevard had to have a "big name" to be a success and stayed away from the show. Only audiences in cities like Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago truly know what they missed. Only we will have had the pleasure of knowing the real truth of the excellence of Linda Balgord as "Norma Desmond", Ron Bohmer as "Joe Gillis" and the rest of the spectacular cast of the U.S. National Touring production of Sunset Boulevard. Just another example of how musical theatre critics and reviewers can abuse their power and position of authority with casual, uneducated, assuming statements which can unjustly damage fine musical theatre cast members and entire productions with a simple stroke of their pens… Just so visitors to Gateway to Broadway are aware, I want to let you know that I mailed this letter as a Letter to the Editor of InTheater Magazine. I sincerely hope that even a small part of my letter can make it into an upcoming issue of InTheater. If it does, all of you will be the first to know! I would love to see my support of Ms. Balgord in print - as would all of her many dedicated fans - probably many visitors to this web site. She is a wonderful performer, a delightful person, and certainly has a high level of talent which gives her the right to be known for more than just being labeled the "non-big name star" which supposedly caused the failure of the first national tour of Sunset Boulevard. If you would like to comment on this particular edition of Gateway to Broadway Soap Box, please e-mail your comments to the webmaster at norma_desmond@sprynet.com. Reactions to the commentary will be published on this web site in the near future. Both statements of criticism to what I have written as well as statements of support to Ms. Balgord are most welcomed for submission. -Kristine © 1998 Kristine M. Kulage, M.A.. Presented in collaboration with Gateway to Broadway