"Close Encounters"

James Chern and friends had an interesting night out on Broadway!

I saw Sunset about 7 times in NY, seeing each of the women who played it: Glenn Close twice, Betty Buckley once, Karen Mason (understudy who was an incredible star herself) twice, and Elaine Paige twice, (once on closing night).

Besides going to see Sunset a week after it opened in NY with Glenn Close and seeing Police Barricades blocking numbers and numbers (at least 100) looking for tickets -- and willing to pay close to $250
for a $70 seat!--, from us who had ordered them about 8 months earlier, which itself was kind of overwhelming to see, I have a funny memory.

A couple months later, January of 1995, I was a senior in college, and president of my class. We had always done one theatre trip a year, so we got tickets and I got to see it again. At any rate, after the show, about 300 people waited behind barricades to see the great Glenn Close who gave an extraordinary performance. A couple of friends of mine, when I wasn't looking, all of a sudden were walking into the backstage door. I said "To hell with that, if anyone's going back there, I AM!" So I jumped the barricade and said to the police "I'm with them!" and they let me go.

I didn't realize that my two friends had tagged on to a group of people who were family members of a cast member, giving them a private tour. At that point I didn't quite know what to do, so I walked with them. We met Alan Campbell briefly who welcomed all of
us. We got backstage, and this cast member said "OK, Just follow me and we'll go on a tour" then pointed to me and my friends saying "And you guys can wait here for whoever it is you're waiting for."

Well, I was waiting for Glenn Close (not that she knew that or even knew me!) and so, we started walking around. We found the "Quick Change room" where Norma had to make dress changes and saw the "New
Ways to Dream outfit as well as the leopard skin dress. My girlfriend decided to put the turban on, just as another cast member stumbled upon us, asking who we were and who were we looking for. They didn't quite appreciate my response, and quickly escorted us out
(security was obviously extremely high around Glenn Close for obvious reasons), but it was one of the funniest experiences I ever did, and I really wish I could have met her.

Ah well, everyone needs new ways to dream...

"A Great Surprise"

William Grace recalls his first encounter with the musical.

I have to be honest with you. I went to Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre in London expecting the worst. The initial reviews of the World Premiere production starring LuPone and Andersen had left an overwhelming impression on me. I have to say, they may well have been right - the musical is much less compelling in its pre-revamped state. When the London production was closed to bring it in line with the improved Broadway version, the more favourable reviews that followed were never prominently circulated. For many, including myself, Sunset was a drab, boring failure. My grandfather, who never saw Sunset MKII still considers it thus. Blind are those who cannot see!

And so it was that I found myself walking along the Strand towards the Adelphi. I was impressed by the exterior appearance of the Theatre - it looked wonderful in the dark with the 'Sunset Blvd' signs reflecting in the copper features of the frontage. Inside, the beautiful art-deco interior wonderfully enhanced the atmosphere. Whilst my companions collected the tickets, I made the long trek - and how long! - down into the basement, through the Jesse Matthews bar, and back up another flight of stairs to the gents WCs. I had to rush back to avoid missing the start of the show, signalled by endless bells and announcements.

We took our places in the wonderfully comfortable seats, five rows from the stage, and looked around us. The stunning auditorium was not the subject of our attention, however: a woman in front of us had the most inconsiderate of hair-styles. Her long blond locks were piled up in a 4-inch high tower at the back of her head. I ask you! If you are going to the theatre, you just don't dress to ruin it for others! By the time the orchestra struck up, I had learned to peer around this monstrosity, and I focussed my attention on the huge 'Sunset Blvd' logo which covered the front of the stage, bordered by the shadows of palm leaves, gently moving as if blown by a pleasant tropical breeze.

Finally this curtain lifted, and the crowd gasped. We stared up from the bottom of a swimming pool, and watched in amazement as a body was dragged from where it floated on the surface - the water rippling as it broke contact. Amazing! After this spectacle, the following scenes on Paramount were artfully co-ordinated with the use of slotted grey-textured dividers. Just as the audience had calmed down, we came to the car-chase scene. The chase was visually stunning, and only enhanced by the wonderful score. Upon the 'screen' that had covered the stage, Joe (played by John Barrowman), in his little car, tried desperately to evade the financemen who were seen behind him. Spots were highlighted on the screen, showing wheels spinning, cars speeding, and finally the blow-out as Joe swerved into the driveway of 10086 Sunset Boulevard.

In the garage - could that really be a real car? We pondered this as Joe was led inside. Now, the greatest spectacle of all was revealed - the interior of Norma's mansion. It really was incredible. Detailed, lavish, and so real! It looked as though it was a permanent feature built of stone. Perfect for Betty Buckley, who was playing Norma, to pout, sing and dance over.

We were amazed by the quality of the music,the singing, and the production. We emerged from the theatre, having clapped profusely, into the night air. The only comments were favourable, as we raved about the musical on the way to 'Paradiso e Inferno' a nearby restaurant. The next chance I got, I purchased the American Highlights CD, and listened to it. And again. And again. And again. And again...

...and that's how it started!

"A Memorable Trip to the Toilet"

Brook Malcolm had quite an experience in the Adelphi returns queue...

I had already seen Sunset three times, but I was down in London visiting my friend who was at drama school there. We decided to go and see the show again as Petula Clark had just officially taken over as Norma, she had only done about four performances. It was a very warm day and when my friend and I arrived at the Adelphi Theatre there was already a matinee performance on. We asked at the box office to see if there were any tickets left for the evening performance.... of course, there weren't!

We asked if she thought that there may be some returns, and she laughed! We told her that we were going to start the returns queue and we promptly sat down on the stairs in the foyer. When we had arrived, Act Two had just started so we sat there waiting and waiting in the heat, tiredness getting to us both. I needed to go to the little boys room. "Where do I go?" I wondered. I asked a barman who was dancing his way around the foyer singing his own rendition of "Sunset Boulevard" where to go. He said that the bar was closed so I would have to use the disabled toilet in the foyer. Anyone knowing the geography of the Adelphi Theatre will know that the disabled toilet is located right by the doors to the stalls. I went in, I started my business and the walls of the little room began to shake...

"This time I'm staying, I'm staying for good... With one look I'll be meeeeeeeeeeee..."

I had never heard anything like it before! I came from the toilet shaking... some people rushed out of the doors and out of the theatre, leaving the doors open, so I stood and watched the enthusiastic audience giving a standing ovation. I raced back to my friend and told him of my uplifting experience, then the girl in the box office signalled for me to come over. I went. She whispered that she had two seats in the stalls in the centre of row B... Row B! I promptly produced my credit card and stuffed the tickets in to my wallet before my friend could see. I told him that I had got tickets for the middle of the gallery...he seemed quite happy with that. Imagine his face when arriving at the theatre in the evening, after a fantastic meal at Planet Hollywood when I produced the tickets...

It was a great show. Not my favourite, but still excellent. But the over-riding memory of me having a pee to the sound and vibrations of Petula Clark is something that I will never forget.

Have you had a memorable experience concerning the show? Or do you have a special memory of an exceptional perfomance? If so, do mail us your story, ad we'll feature it on these pages.