The ensemble; photo: Ann Kielbasa

This is a story about a silent film star attempting a comeback in films and romance. Norma Desmond was the silent screen star others looked up to for her emoting and her glamour. She epitomized what it meant to be a star. Her acting and her life were both outsized, grand, romantic and overwhelming and that is what is needed in the musical now on display in Chatham, New York. Norma is always the top, the best, the finest, the grandest and the most envied. While actress Elizabeth Ward Land has a remarkable voice and perfect cheekbones and a lithe body that wears Jimm Halliday's stunning gowns beautifully, she never achieves the mythic grandeur of Norma Desmond. Her gestures are small and her head never cocks to expose a pristine and taut neck, and her arms never grab hold of the air and hold it still. She never shows us the thrill of an ego that cannot be suppressed. She tells us of these things, though not in so many words, but she never shows it. That is a real shame, for in her two major songs - the best in the score - "With One Look" and "As If We Never Said Goodbye" she tells us beautifully about her self-esteem and her need to sustain it. She has given us a three-quarter degree performance and that's a shame for a brilliant Norma elevates this show a great deal. .

One thing about this script that has always fascinated me is the people - there's really no one to like or root for. The message behind the story is a simple one: everyone in Hollywood is smarmy, wants something from everybody, and is not to be trusted. Joe Gillis is among that crowd. As played by Pat Moran Joe is just that. He is handsome, a deadbeat author who accepts, all too easily, a setup that will give him a cover and guarantee his pleasures. Moran makes the sleaziness in all this marginally acceptable and his ultimate romancing of Norma leaves you wanting to wash your hands. This actor sings beautifully and moves with the grace of a lion stalking a victim. I liked him very much.

As the other man in a triangle relationship Moran has two such trios to play with. First there is Norma, him and her butler, Max who has a very deep investment in Norma. Joe also has Betty Schaefer, an editor turned author and her fiance, an assistant director named Artie who is Joe's best friend. .Betty is played beautifully, almost ethereally, by Rachel Pantazis. Artie is undertaken by the talented Jonah Hale. Max, however, is played in an almost Erich von Stroheim likeness by James Zannelli. As good as he is it was a shame to waste him in a role that only gave Zannelli two major spots in which to sing, for he has a fine, fine voice and it would have been a pleasure to hear more of that. 

Elizabeth Ward Land as Norma Desmond; photo: Ann Kielbasa

The show is filled with evidence of talent. Ashley Delane Burger's scenic design is remarkable and the lighting design work by Andrew Gmoser is absolutely perfect for this "film noir" musical. Hair and makeup work by Matthew Oliver is picture perfect for the period of the show. and risking censure for repeating myself Jimm Halliday's costumes are exquisite. John Saunders has delivered an almost ideal picture with the noted above exception. Musically, the ensemble sounded wonderful in their numbers and the pit band, led by David Maglione could not have provided more musical support. If only the composer could have written better music or even just more then four themes some of them already familiar from his "Phantom of the Opera" score.

No matter what, this will never be my favorite show. In Chatham it is already not my favorite of the season but the performances are worth the price of the ticket and the costumes will make you think you're in Paris for fashion week and without the usual airport hassles. I most certainly approve of this option. 

+ 06/22/19 +