Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Blvd

I went this afternoon and before today I had very little love for this musical. I saw the Glenn Close revival and don’t have many memories. Thought it was very meh.

Holy shit. Nicole gives the performance of a lifetime. It’s not just her voice. Her voice sounds like Whitney Houston. Her acting almost seamlessly incorporates silent movie mannerisms. She is performative, pretentious, affected. I couldn’t believe how much she made me believe she was an aging star, even though she’s a beautiful woman dressed in a sexy slip.

The entire production is so cinematic. I loved it, although I do wonder how it works with Mandy or someone else not as magnetic as Nicole. I thought David Thaxton was incredible as Max.

As for the Tony race, I’d give it to Nicole. Audra is incredible, but her performance colors within the lines. Nicole does something so different.