In Singapore for the first time ever, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, a musical adapted from Billy Wilder’s film of the same name in the 1950s, features in-the-flesh one of the most iconic voices in the history of theatre: Sarah Brightman. A more muted whisper of what were perhaps once her pristine glory days, Sarah Brightman’s now-delicate, stirring voice, at 64, casts a quiet disposition on the play. Sunset Boulevard is not the type of musical that’s for everyone – but maybe Brightman’s presence makes it just what it needs to be.
A part of Webber’s repertoire that comes sprinkled with an extra dash of cynical gothic horror, Sunset Boulevard a slight step away from his usual emotive and expansive hits. This puts it in a special little corner of musicals, particularly in comparison to the kinds that typically take Singapore’s fanfare. This one doesn’t come chock-full of show tune classics, and is, instead, built on thematic significance, characters, and musical numbers that many might consider to be understated gems.
Set in the 1950s, the play explores the ruthlessness of Hollywood through the story of Norma Desmond (Sarah Brightman), a former silent film star who now lives with the obsession of fame in a derelict mansion. In stumbles her young knight in shining armour, a screenwriter looking for his big break with Paramount Pictures. Both form a symbiotic relationship as they claw with hunger at the possibility of being part of the cut throat world of stardom.
With Sarah Brightman returning to the stage after decades to adopt the role of Norma Desmond, the parallels between her character and real life are hard to ignore. Perhaps most known for her portrayal of Christine Daaé in Webber’s adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, and once the muse and wife of Webber himself, time has yielded the soprano’s voice now differently.
These realities lend themselves to the character fairly well. Brightman’s portrayal of Norma Desmond comes across stirring and remarkable, but not without the wavering quivers in a grieving voice that’s desperate for one more shot at fame. Most in the theatre would likely have purchased their tickets to watch Brightman, and whether or not it meets expectations, her performance holds the attention of the theatre with pin-drop silence.
Webber’s take on the musical is somewhat jazzy and delicate, which might leave some aplomb to be desired in the dark grit of the subject matter. Listen closely, and there’s plenty to appreciate in wordplay and a gentle sorrow that pairs well with Brightman’s performance. Still, a deeper, more emotional experience still feels amiss.
Brightman’s leading co-cast members Tim Draxl (who plays the screenwriter) and Robert Grubb (Max Von Mayerling, Norma Desmond’s devoted butler) put up incredible performances, but are tampered by what feels like a lack of energy across the musical. Supporting cast members are synchronised in talent, but don’t exactly help carry the ensemble numbers owing to the somewhat dreary atmosphere that feels almost too reliant on Brightman’s Norma Desmond. While Brightman might not offer the best possible casting for Norma Desmond, her dulled presence feels eerily acceptable.
A notable character in Sunset Boulevard is its grounding set pieces, modular, hyper-detailed, and the perfect atmosphere for a somewhat filmic and noir experience. Lighting, too, is a remarkable part of mood-setting in the musical and those who keep their eyes peeled for little details such as the way that characters’ shadows hover upside down, are in for a treat.
Sunset Boulevard is certainly worth a watch, with some considerations. Enter with different expectations, an active mind to assess the layers hidden within each character, and a willingness to search for the subtleties in the smaller things.
In 2025’s climate, this story is grounded in the very human emotions of ego, love, greed—wrapped up in blanket melodrama—that will ensure its relevance for some time to come. And, while Brightman might not be the same starlet the world was once familiar with, she brings a different side that’s certainly worth appreciating.
Sunset Boulevard will run until 23rd February, tickets can be booked here.