Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
8 Oct 2014 to 25 Oct 2014
View Session Times
Tickets

Subscribers
$46.00 Full price
$41.00 Concession and Groups

Non-Subscribers
$56.00 Full price
$51.00 Concession and Groups

Early Bird
$51.00 Full price
$46.00 Concession and Groups

Duration - 150 minutes (inc interval)


  
   
StageCenta App
Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store
Synopsis
Set in the busy and cut-throat world of Hollywood in 1949. We are introduced to Joe Gillis a writer, trying to pitch his idea to one of the studio bosses. Joe has fallen on hard times and is being closely followed by repossession agents who are threatening to take away his car. Joe tries to lose his pursuers and drives through the streets of Hollywood and into Sunset Boulevard.

Unsure of where he is, he ends up in the gardens of a mansion owed by Norma Desmond a former film star. In the late 1920’s films began to use sound and very quickly ‘talkies’ overtook silent movies in popularity, until they finally died away.

Joe recognizes Norma and we learn that she was the greatest silent movie star of all time, but as the genre died so did Norma’s career. Now she lives rich but alone with the exception of Max, her butler and refuses to accept that her career and fame has faded.

JOE: You used to be in pictures, you used to be big.

NORMA: I am big…it’s the pictures that got small!

Norma plans to make a comeback after 20 years out of the business and she sees an opportunity in the young writer stranded in her house. She has written a screenplay based on the biblical story of “Salome” and Norma asks Joe if he will work for her and edit the script. She plans to give it to the famous director Cecil B. DeMille and is sure he’ll want to give her the job. Joe is unsure at first, but then agrees to help her.

Back at the studio Joe meets Betty Schaefer, she turns out to be in a relationship with Joe’s friend Artie Green. Betty convinces Joe to work with her on a script, which she thinks is certain to get produced. In the meantime Norma has had all of Joe’s belongings brought to her house and although Joe is unwilling to move in at first, he realises that as he is so poor he has no choice.

Soon the eccentric Norma Desmond develops feelings for Joe and although she doesn’t pay him, she lavishes him with new clothes and gifts. On New Year’s Eve Joe turns down Norma’s invitation to her party, instead he goes to see his friends Betty and Artie. Max informs Joe that because of his rejection Norma has attempted to kill herself.

Joe returns to Norma and finishes editing “Salome” and the script is sent to DeMille. An impatient Norma waits for a response and meanwhile Joe continues to work with Betty on their new script. While Artie is away working, Betty and Joe get closer and begin to fall in love.

Days pass and finally Norma receives a call from the studio, but it’s Norma’s classic car that they are interested in and not her. Max hasn’t the heart to tell her the news. Norma marches off, triumphantly she thinks, to meet DeMille who humours her, but remains vague about her film.

It’s not long before Norma finds out about Joe’s relationship with Betty. She phones Betty to warn her off, but Joe catches her and takes the phone off her. Sick of Norma’s control over him he asks Betty to come to the mansion. When Betty arrives, Joe tells Norma that he and Betty are leaving. Norma is outraged and as they leave she pulls out a gun and shoots Joe, killing him. Norma swiftly descends into madness and in the final moments of the show, Norma believes she is on the set, making her comeback film and the curtainfalls with her most famous line:

"...And now, Mr. De Mille, I am ready for my close-up."

Artistic Team
Stephen Pike
Sharon Tree
Annette Sharpe
Richard Block
Miriam Miley-Read
Hamish McConchie
   
Joyanne Gough
Cast
Bronwyn Sullivan
Daniel Wells
Vanessa De Jager
Peter Dark
Marcus Hurley
Dick Goldberg
Miriam Miley-Read
Calen Robinson
Steve Galinec
Kylie Becvarik
Roseanne Boyd
Ali Clinch
Hayden Crossweller
Alexandra Dunn
Linda Gledhill
Deanna Gibbs
Erin Gough
Rhys Madigan
Kitty McGarry
Kelda McMannus
Mitchell Taylor
Claudia Teatreault-Perry
Ben Trabinger
Previous Shows
The Owl & The PussycatThe Owl & The Pussycat

Show finished on 18 Jun 2021
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Duration - 45 minutes
 Musical
GypsyGypsy
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 11 May 2019
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $25 - $69
Duration - 2 hrs 45 mins, incl interval
 Musical
DOWNTOWN The Mod Musical
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
 Musical
GreaseGrease
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 15 Aug 2015
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $57 - $49
Duration - 150 minutes
 Musical
Tuesdays with MorrieTuesdays with Morrie
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 15 Mar 2015
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $39 - $47
Duration - 2 hours no interval
 Play
Sunset BoulevardSunset Boulevard
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 25 Oct 2014
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $41 - $56
Duration - 150 minutes (inc interval)
 Musical
The Great PizzarottiThe Great Pizzarotti
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 2 Jul 2014
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $20 - $25
Duration - 70 minutes (no interval)
 Opera
A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 15 Feb 2014
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $39 - $49
Duration - 150 minutes (including interval)
 Play
A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 3 Aug 2013
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $32 - $42
Duration - 2 hours 20 minutes (Inc. interval)
 Play
I Love You. You're Perfect, Now ChangeI Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Show finished on 5 May 2013
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tickets - $35 - $45
Duration - 2 hours 20 minutes (Inc. interval)
 Musical
Copyright © 2014,2020 Inbizecom Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.