London Calling with Champaign Charlie - Dateline: 4/12/08

An old favourite of Champagne Charlie's returns; it's SUNSET BOULEVARD will once again open on a West End stage for the 1st time in 11 years with in a brand new production opening on December 15th 2008.

This new and intimate production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's fabulous musical was a staple for Champers and all his foreign and UK based friends wanting a taste of what's really great about the West End.

It's a new more intimae production which played a sell-out season at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury earlier this year. It works with the same format using actor/musicians and follows on to the West End in the same way that previous enormously successful transfers from the Watermill have done.

These include John Doyle's multi-award winning "Sweeney Todd". In fact, theatre fans, the musical arranger of "Sweeney Todd", Sarah Travis is the musical arranger for this production of "SUNSET BOULEVARD".

Taking on the part of ‘Norma Desmond', one of the greatest female roles in musical theatre will be Kathryn Evans, with Dave Willetts as ‘Max Von Meyerling' and Ben Goddard as ‘Joe Gillis'.

I may be showing my age by no one can forget when it originally premiered in London at the Adelphi Theatre in 1993, where it ran for almost four years and played to nearly two million people. Based on Billy Wilder's classic film, "SUNSET BOULEVARD" has book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. 

Naturally Kathryn was anxious to sneak out of rehearsals and call me with news of how things were going.

Charlie:When did you hear you had the job?

Kathryn:Hedda Beeby phoned form the wonderful Watermill Theatre in Newbury to ask if I would be interested in playing Norma Desmond it is a role I have always coveted.

Charlie:What was your past experience of the show?

Kathryn:I saw the show three times in the West End - twice with Patti and once with Elaine.  I loved it but our own production is very different.

Charlie:Why do you think it has lasted for so long & merits a revival? 

Kathryn:I think that is a combination of a beautiful score, terrific and a wonderful enduring book that perfectly reflects the quality of the original movie. Our actor/musician - based production is a very different "take" on the show from what was seen originally in the West End 14 years ago. 

Charlie:What challenges does your role present you with as an actor / performer?

Kathryn:Apart from great songs and a lovely acting challenge, the real challenge is what happened backstage I seem to spend the whole show running up and down stairs for different entrances and costume changes.  

Charlie: How do you prepare for it before the run and each night - what kind of routine do you go through?

Kathryn: I like to get into the theatre at least an hour and a half before the show to get both my mind and body composed.  I do a full warm-up with the entire cast an hour before the curtain goes up - and I also like to lumbar up for the tango I do with Ben Goddard (Joe Gillis). Norma is such an emotionally draining part that without all that preparation I couldn't do it justice.

Charlie: Despite your experience do you still get nervous and how do you overcome this?

Kathryn: Yes I do still get very nervous just before I go on stage, but once I'm on the nerves vanish.  I do a lot of deep breathing to combat he initial fear, but I think that some nerves are essential - they keep you on your toes.

Charlie:You've landed this terrific role but if you could be in two places at one what other work around would you like to be in and why?

Kathryn: Before this transfer was confirmed I was lined up to play the Mother in the British Premier of "Light in the PIAZZA" at the New Curve in Leicester for director Paul Kerryson.  That would have been a very exciting opportunity.

Charlie:What was your 1st break?

Kathryn:My first big break was to pay Evita Peron at The Prince Edward Theatre - I was there for eighteen months before playing her again in Manchester for 9 months. It was my first West End show.

Charlie:Sometimes things go wrong on stage for all sorts of reasons you can't control - when has this happened for you and how did you get out of it?

Kathryn:I was singing "Don't Cry for me, Argentina" on the balcony of the Cara Rosoda when the bra engineering of my dress let me down. When I lifted up my arms in the classic pose of the show, out I popped!!  The disappointing thing was that I don't think anyone noticed.  

Charlie:Do you make plans for the future or do you just see how things pan out?

Kathryn:When Sunset finishes I want to go back to my house in Suffolk and spend some time with my husband and my dogs - it will have to be a vey good offer to bring me away from that. And roles like NORMA don't come around very often, do they!

Now I must rush back into rehearsals but give my love to EVERYONE at Broadwayworld.com - see you soon I hope!

Charlie:Will do - we'll let everyone know with pictures too...how the 1^st night goes!

 

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