Gray Sunset

The porch was getting dark and the sky was graying over as the movie flickered to life. Mid-week I watched the classic film noir Sunset Boulevard staring William Holden and Gloria Swanson. It's one of my all time movie favorites. I wanted to view it one more time before taking in the Maine State Music Theater musical adaptation yesterday with J-. For me the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical score was strong with "With One Look" and "As If We Never Said Goodbye", but there was no real  musical show-stopper. And when Denise Whelan's "Norma Desmond", the faded silent-fim star was off stage, the story paled. She gave a mighty strong performance. The set was magnificent, complete with the winding staircase as a centerpiece. Along with Norma, the two other lead actors, Joe, the down on his luck writer and butler Max were perfectly cast. They had to be to make this show work. The standing ovation was certainly well deserved. Best show of the season!