Actress Ann Morrison says she relishes playing Norma Desmond in MTW's ‘Sunset Boulevard’
For actresses of a certain age, said Broadway veteran Ann Morrison, the role of eccentric, reclusive silent film star Norma Desmond — who hides from the modern world in her crumbling mansion on "Sunset Boulevard" — is a plum role worth aging into.
"I adore Norma. She is a rich and complex, multi-layered character. In her day, she was worshipped as the greatest star of all," said Morrison, who begins her run as Norma in Music Theatre of Wichita's regional premiere of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Wednesday.
"Now long forgotten by the world because she couldn't make the transition to talkies, she is trapped by her delusions and emotions. In her mind, she is stuck in that long-gone golden age of her life and career and can't escape," Morrison said. "She can't find peace. She can't find reality."
The show is a 1993 musical adaptation by Andrew Lloyd Webber of Billy Wilder's classic 1950 movie starring Gloria Swanson as imperious, somewhat scary Norma who is perpetually "Ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille." It also starred William Holden as Joe Gillis, a failed young screenwriter she takes under her wing and into her home — and her bed.
Playing MTW's Joe, who takes advantage of Norma's generosity and delusions, is New York-based actor Chris Peluso, an MTW alumnus most recently seen here as American soldier Chris in "Miss Saigon" and student revolutionary Marius in "Les Miserables."
Playing Max, Norma's over-protective butler and one-time husband is Nicholas Saverine, veteran of dozens of MTW shows and most recently seen here as Jean Valjean in "Les Miz."
Filling out the relatively small cast are Kaleigh Cronin as Betty, a perky and ambitious screenwriter who catches Joe's eye and prompts Norma's jealous rage; Cody Davis as Artie, Betty's oblivious director fiance; Charles Parker as legendary director Cecil B. DeMille; and Timothy W. Robu as Sheldrake, a studio producer.
Mark Madama, back for his 23rd summer with MTW, is directing.
Getting rights for "Sunset Boulevard" hasn't been easy, notes Music Theatre's Wayne Bryan, because Lloyd Webber — of "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cats," "Evita" and "Phantom of the Opera" fame — is notoriously prickly and protective about his intellectual properties.
"As it was explained to me by Lloyd Webber's people, he is generally so involved with his first-tier projects (Broadway, national tours) that he has very little time or interest in regional projects," Bryan said. The producing artistic director thought he had the show nailed down for the 2005 season after nearly a decade of negotiating.
But rights were pulled for unspecified reasons, Bryan said, and no regional theater was allowed "Sunset Boulevard" until 2010. Music Theatre's version becomes the Midwest regional premiere.
Morrison will be following in the footsteps of such divas as Patti LuPone, who originated the role of Norma in London, and Glenn Close, who played her on Broadway.
"I'm looking forward to playing Norma — now that I'm finally the right age," Morrison, 55, said with a laugh. "Norma likes to be larger than life. She likes to live on the edge of her nervous system. She thinks she is in control of her 'out-of-controlness.' She is silly and sad, not evil. I've known a number of women just like that — including my mother, who was a professional worry-wart. I am inspired by her."
Morrison grew up in Chicago, daughter of a musical father and a dancer/writer/artist mother. She apprenticed at Burt Reynolds' theater in Jupiter, Fla., performing alongside famous TV folks making their stage debuts, including Martin Sheen, Tyne Daly and Sally Field.
When she did the musical "Keystone" opposite Scott Bakula, she won critical raves and was cast in Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" for Broadway, winning a Theater World Award for her debut.
She returned to Broadway in "Lovemusik" and went to London to star in "Peg," a musical version of the classic "Peg O' My Heart." Back in New York, she was an original member of the popular "Forbidden Broadway" revues.
One neat trivia note: When Morrison later taped "Keystone" to be shown on PBS, Bakula's role as Sennett was filled with rising musical theater star Wayne Bryan, who 24 years ago was invited to come to Wichita to take over Music Theatre. Morrison has made several guest appearances here, including in "Oliver," "Good News" and most recently, in 2001 for "On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever."
"One I particularly remember was 'Cabaret' with a then-unknown Kristen Chenowith (part of the MTW summer ensemble) as one of the Kit Kat Klub girls. What a wonderful surprise that turned out to be," she said of the Tony Award winner best known as ditsy good witch Glinda in "Wicked" as well as for frequent guest spots on TV's "Glee."
Now a Florida resident who founded a theater workshop for people with developmental disabilities, Morrison is also a playwright who will premiere in New York this year with her one-woman "Linda Lovely Goes to Broadway," based on a true story about a woman who grew up with Down Syndrome who is now challenged by Alzheimer's.
For co-star Peluso, who will turn 28 during "Sunset Boulevard," the role of Joe, the reluctant gigolo, came along at just the right time in his life and career.
"I've always been classified as a young leading man. Now, I'm aiming for the maturity of roles like Joe," said Peluso, who was on Broadway with Sondheim's "Assassins" and Elton John's "Lestat" and recently completed a year-long national tour as bad-boy Prince Fiyero in "Wicked."
He'll be headed back to Broadway next fall in the new musical, "Bonnie & Clyde."
"I have to admit I didn't know 'Sunset Boulevard' until I was called about it. I hadn't even seen the movie. When you think 'musical,' you don't expect anything quite that dark," Peluso said.
Peluso said that after a recent two-month visit to Los Angeles where he managed to secure only one audition, he can identify with Joe's frustration over not getting his foot in the door.
Peluso said he likes Joe as a character, even though he suffers from low self-esteem and gives up on himself too easily.
"He's witty. He has a sense of humor. He is a big thinker, even to the point that it clouds him up. He tends to overthink things and lose his sense of what's right and what's wrong," Peluso said.
"But I like his spirit of adventure. He is fascinated by Norma because she is strange. He thinks life is more interesting when everything is a little crazy."
If You Go: "Sunset Boulevard"
What: Third show of 40th anniversary season for Music Theatre of Wichita
Where: Century II Concert Hall, 225 W. Douglas
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $22-$57 evenings, $20-$49 matinees (discounts for seniors, students, military and groups); call 316-265-3107 or go online at www.mtwichita.org.
This story was originally published July 3, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Actress Ann Morrison says she relishes playing Norma Desmond in MTW's ‘Sunset Boulevard’."