BLACKPOOL BOULEVARD_

THE BLACKPOOL GAZETTE
Final crack at fame proves a spine-tingler

Review by Robin Duke

As tour de force performances go, they are unlikely to come any better than this.

Faith Brown, as Norma Desmond, is faultless in this touring version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton award-winning musical stage adaptation of Billy Wilder's cult 1950 film.

The former Funniest Lady on Television award winner may not have seemed the most obvious choice to play the silent movie queen who decides to make a comeback some 20 years after her peak.

But if the hairs on the back of your neck during her spine-tingling and showstopping interpretation of now cabaret favourite As If We Never Said Goodbye don't convince you that she IS Norma Desmond, then the standing ovation she receives at the end will.

For once, this is not a watered down provincial version of a West End hit the sound is crystal clear, the set is as impressive as its London original and the cast is cherry picked to pay full justice to a typically left of mainstream Webber success story.

Norma's day has been and gone but, infatuated by the handsomely uninspired screenwriter Joe Gillis another first rate performance by Witches of Eastwick and Beauty and the Beast star Earl Carpenter she determines to have another ill-fated crack at fame. The powerfully-voiced Michael Bauer is marvellous as Norma's patient and permanent long-suffering servant, former director and first husband Max and Cari Ann Gregory completes the leading quartet as the sweetly naive younger love interest Betty Schaeffer.

But whilst it's songs such as the evocatively ironic The Perfect Year a chart topper for Dina Carroll which you'll come away humming, this is also an ensemble show with the likes of the Schwab's bar routine and New Year party proving Webber knows what to do with a cast of two dozen when he's given one.

At the end of the day, though, even in such impressive company it's Faith Brown's show, bringing as she does as much to the role as Gloria Swanson brought to the original film version.

It's in Blackpool until February 16 no excuses will be accepted, it's a must see show.

THE BLACKPOOL GAZETTE
Faith's success was in the stars

(from Duke's Diary - Monday 28 January)

Faith Brown has never been happier. And that's saying something for an entertainer who was voted Funniest Lady on Television and has TV credits including Who Do You Do?, Brookside and The Faith Brown Chat Show.

"Life is fantastic," says Faith, who is gaining nightly stand-up ovations for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at the Opera House.

"I had a week off before coming to Blackpool so I arrived here fully re-charged and raring to go."

Better known for her impressions of Cilla Black (just the two apologetic lapses during this interview – "I'm sorry, you just seem to bring out the Cilla in me!") and Margaret Thatcher than for straight acting, Faith has silenced any sceptics with a bravura performance as the faded silent movie queen who is attempting a comeback.

"I love every single minute of the role every single performance," she says.

"People have said surely after being on tour all this time the novelty must be wearing off but I still get an energy rush every time I hear the music striking up.

"I'm so wrapped up in the role that I'm oblivious to anything else.

"I know the audience is out there but I can't see them and I can't hear them. Whilst I'm on stage I AM Norma Desmond."

The showcase role has meant her manager's phone has been red hot with offers for the born again performer.

"My career has started all over again in a whole new direction," says Faith, who was last in Blackpool in the season show Summer Holiday.

"It's all beyond my wildest dreams."

Her sister-in-law actually saw the success coming in the Chinese stars – and Faith says there is more to come.

"She told me last year was going to be my year and from that I'd go from strength to strength," says Faith.

So much so that the impressions could become a thing of the past.

"I've got my own band for my own shows and I do after dinner things but I'm hooked on this now.

"I'm a thespian at long last and I'm loving it," she says.

• Sunset Boulevard runs at Blackpool Opera House until February 16.

LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH
Dawn of a new Faith

by Sarah Sharp

OLD style glamour, gutsy ladies and gorgeous gowns combined to make Sunset Boulevard's premiere in Blackpool streets ahead of the rest.

Billy Wilder's bleak and semi-autobiographical screenplay has been adapted for the stage by musical maestro Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

And last week his third leading lady Faith Brown brought Norma Desmond to the resort for the first time ever.

And what a dazzling debut! Faith IS Norma Desmond -- the saddened and slightly mad screen star with the most expressive body language ever and more fabulous frocks than Shirley Bassey.

And she has been hiding an amazing voice behind those famous impressions.

Miss Brown moves expertly and with much emotion from a demanding diva who sweeps up and down stairs at the beginning of the evening to a desperate and clearly mad witch-like creature, much reminiscent of Bette Davis's crazy character in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

Leading man Earl Carpenter is excellent as the writer with money problems, no work and a car about to be repossessed. And his character carries more than a little echo of Billy's own early Hollywood career.

High praise must also go to Rob Howell for his impressive sets and costumes which cleverly brought the magic and magnitude of the old Hollywood studios back to life.

And of course to the talents of Jane Law who designed all of Faith's delightfully over-the-top outfits and which almost deserved Faith's standing ovation on Thursday night all on their own. But how could anyone forget the performance of the lady inside them!

Take a stroll down Sunset Boulevard for fabulous old-fashioned entertainment. Running at Blackpool Opera House until February 16.

Call 292029 for details and bookings.

LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH
Part to die for says Faith

MISS Brown is showing a new Faith with her latest role. The irrepressible impressionist from Liverpool is donning a turban and dropping the comedy routine to play former Hollywood superstar Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard.

The Citizen caught up with her as she prepared for the musical's big opening night at Blackpool Opera House.

Faith admits to being aged 55 but looks more like 45 as she sparkles with energy and enthusiasm over her transformation from mimic to serious musical actress.

"I'm absolutely loving this part," she said. "It's a part to die for and I can't believe I'm following in the footsteps of Elaine Paige and Glenn Close.

"I got three call backs after I auditioned and Andrew Lloyd Webber was there himself at the third one so I was even more nervous. And I'm singing away and he's got his head in his hands and I'm thinking, 'he hates it. Oh God should I carry on?' and it was awful. And then I realised he was crying!

"And he said to me after that the part was made for me! Which is quite weird as when I was last in Blackpool about six years ago in Summer Holiday I was wearing a turban as I couldn't be bothered faffing with my hair. And this woman called me Norma. It's funny how things come round."

Faith Brown cut her teeth on the club circuit with fellow Scousers Cilla Black and Jimmy Tarbuck and fell into the comedy route by accident.

"I was originally a soul singer and then one night the zip went on my dress and I lapsed into a Hilda Baker voice and it went from there. But singing is my first love and the songs in Sunset are so wonderful. I must thank the musical supervisor on the tour David Caddick because he's taught me so much.

"In fact the whole cast and crew are wonderful -- it's like a big family and I'm the mother confessor. We do the group hug thing too before a show like Madonna but without the praying thing.

"And it's great to be in the North again. I love Northern audiences because they like good things and they know when it's crap and they tell you so. I'd rather people were honest.

"Norma is a tough, heavyweight part and every night I'm emotionally and physically drained -- I actually become Norma.

"But it's fantastic and, hopefully, just the start of the new Faith.:

Sunset Boulevard runs at Blackpool Opera House until February 16. Call Blackpool Live on 292029.