Sunset Boulevard is a compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film, with Don Black and Christopher Hampton's wonderful book and lyrics - and it arrives in Milton Keynes tonight.
The much-loved score includes the title number, With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Greatest Star Of All and The Perfect Year and will be performed by a full orchestra.
Michael Harrison is the clever visionary behind hit shows including The Bodyguard, Beautiful and West End newbie Young Frankenstein.
He is also the man responsible for bringing panto-pizzazz to Milton Keynes, and to venues countrywide. And Sunset Boulevard is of his making too: "There are really cheap producers out there, doing really cheap shows with actor-musicians rather than having a band, who are doing it at a really, really low cost," Michael told Total MK.
"Sometimes the standards aren't as high as they could be."
Although that is never the case with anything bearing his name: "That's why I am so proud of Sunset Boulevard - when you see it, the sound is glorious - that score couldn't be played by eight. it has got to be 16.
"We have a bigger orchestra for Sunset Boulevard than for any other musical and it is only playing places for one week.
"It can't all be money driven - the art has to come into it at some point.
"If you are lucky like me and have shows like The Bodyguard, and pantomime that do make money, that it can afford you the more riskier things."
In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screen writer, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world.
Persuaded to work on Norma’s ‘masterpiece’, a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious life-style. Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences…
Sunset Boulevard goes live at MK Theatre this evening (November 28).
To book tickets click here
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