Maureen Gets Ready for Her Close-Up

CLOC Musical Theatre (Melbourne) is preparing to launch its 2012 season with the Australasian non-professional premiere of the musical adaptation of the 1950 classic Billy Wilder movie Sunset Boulevard.

Playing the lead role as the faded and deluded silent movie star Norma Desmond, around which the tale revolves, is Maureen Andrew (pictured). You may recognise Maureen from her ongoing appearances in Neighbours, or from her roles in one of the many musicals in which she has appeared – Billy Elliot, The Boy from Oz (with Hugh Jackman), Saturday Night Fever, Grease (the touring arena spectacular), Cabaret (with Lisa McCune) or even her time as an original cast member of Hair in 1971.

Maureen is thrilled to be playing the larger-than-life character of Norma Desmond, portrayed so brilliantly in the original movie by real silent screen movie star Gloria Swanson, in what became her most iconic role.  “This part is every actress’s dream, playing a character who is so commanding yet pitiful at the same time,” says Maureen.  “And to also have the chance to sing the glorious Andrew Lloyd Webber score is an extra bonus, as I think he wrote lush, rich and beautiful music which captures the 1950s era and the Hollywood setting perfectly. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and to work with a company with such high artistic and technical standards, which this show requires”.

With music by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, whose names are associated with such successful musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and CLOC’s 2011 production Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard pays loving homage not only to the movie, regarded as one of the finest ever made, but also faithfully recreates the era of Hollywood, studios and stars in the years after talking pictures had taken over silent movies, with a show which is famous for its magnificent sets and costumes, biting humour and memorable dialogue (“I am big – it’s the pictures that got small!”). 

Sunset Boulevard runs from May 4 - 19 at the National Theatre in St Kilda for twelve performances, including a special Mother’s Day matinee on Sunday May 13, in which all members of the audience will receive a gift of appreciation from CLOC.

Tickets can be purchased by phoning 1300 362 547, or online at www.cloc.org.au

Images: (top) Maureen Andrew; (below) L to R: Mark Doran (Joe), Phil Mambert (Max) and Maureen Andrew (Norma Desmond); Ken Jones (Cecil B. DeMille) & harem girls; Maureen Andrew; L to R: Warwick Reid, Sallyanne Mitchell, Lauren McCormack and Geordie Worlan; L to R: Nerissa Saville, Andy McCalman, Chris Bradtke, James Rooney and Brenton Staple; L to R: Lucinda Barratt, Carolyn Bruce, Ronald Feldman and Jessica Forber, L to R: Mark Doran (Joe Gillis) & Michael Butler (Artie Jones); L to R: Allie Sutherland, Shane Foster & Anita Smith; L to R: Peter Phillips, Hayley Doran & Peter Stanbrook and L to R: Warwick Reid & Scott Hili (Financemen). Photographer: Richard Crompton

More Reading

More on Sunset Boulevard at CLOC - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/balancing-family-and-theatre-sunset-boulevard-cloc

Community Theatre Seasons 2012 - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/community-theatre-seasons-2012

More Community Theatre - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre