A bitter comedy and a dark tragedy, the story centres on a wealthy, egotistical, faded star, Norma Desmond, desperate to ‘return to the millions of fans she deserted’, and young, down-on-his luck writer, Joe Gillis, who sees a opportunity to exploit the situation. Read more …
Sunset Boulevard: The Lunchtime Cut is both a savage indictment of the star system (and the monsters it creates) and a depiction of a writer’s impotence in Hollywood. Based on Billy Wilder’s classic film noir, Morag Fullarton’s adaption retains the dark comic heart of the original while turning it into a theatrical treat.
It would be very easy to turn the melodrama into a kitsch extravaganza, but the production has enough self-awareness to strengthen the witty one-liners with genuine pathos.
It’s a tribute to Fullarton’s skill that, despite lasting a mere 50 minutes, her version of Sunset Boulevard misses none of the film’s most famous scenes or legendary lines.
A Play, a Pie and a Pint, Glasgow from Monday June 1, 2015, until Saturday June 6, 2015. More info: http://playpiepint.com
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