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THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH
No punches pulled at opera
house
The Belfast Grand Opera House is pulling no punches, when it tells us that it is about to
stage the largest musical ever seen in Northern Ireland, in the dazzling shape of Andrew
Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard.
Produced by the composer's own Really Useful Theatre Company, the show opened in London's
West End, in 1993, and then transferred to Broadway, where it won seven Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber took his inspiration from Billy Wilder's film of the same name, which tells
the bittersweet story of Norma Desmond, a former goddess of the Hollywood silver screen,
whose attempted come-back, aided by a struggling writer, ends in emotional turmoil and
tragedy.
Visually and musically, the show recreates the glamour and glitz of the 1920s black and
white movie age, when stars were considered immortal and untouchable - even in their
private lives.
Lloyd Webber went looking for the multi-talented Faith Brown - still trying to shake off
her former life, as the alternative Margaret Thatcher - for the central role of Norma.
The director is Robert Carson, who took charge of The Beautiful Game, the Lloyd Webber-Ben
Elton musical, about cross-community football, and love, in Belfast - but we won't hold
that against him.
This four week season is part of a tour, marking the first appearance of Sunset Boulevard
in the UK, outside of London, and is the longest-running musical in the recent history of
the Opera House.
It opens this coming Wednesday, February 27, and runs until March 23, with evening
performances at 7.45pm, and Thursday and Saturday matinees.
THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Lloyd-Webber has Faith in the future
By Roy Winter
WHEN Faith Brown walks on to the stage of the Grand Opera House next Wednesday night she
will be opening one of the biggest musical theatre events to hit Belfast for years.
And she knows she will be following in some very distinguished footsteps in the role of
Norma Desmond.
Faith admits she was surprised to get the part, which has been played by stage greats
including Elaine Page since being brought to London in 1993 by Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
The lead role of the fearsome old-time Hollywood star Desmond - the role made famous by
Titanic legend Gloria Swanson in the 1950 film, which went on to scoop three Oscars, is a
huge change for the 54-year-old, who became a household name for her impressions of Mrs T
and Cilla Black.
The bubbly blonde - who stays in London with hubby of 30 years Len and their 23-year-old
daughter Danielle - said: 'I have only ever had to audition twice in my life, for
Brookside and for Sunset. I could understand why I had to for the musical though, because
Andrew only knew me as a comedienne. I had to prove to him I could be something else.
When I was on stage during my audition I couldn't even look at Andrew, because I was
petrified. When I did catch a glimpse, I could see his head in his hands and thought 'he
hates me' -but it turned out he was crying. When I finished my song he simply said 'When
can you start'?'
And Faith is loving her time in the show: 'I think this is the most amazing thing I've
done in my whole career.'
Sunset Boulevard runs at the Grand Opera House from Feb 27 until Mar 23. Tickets are
available from the Opera House ticket shop Tel 028 9024 1919.