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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Police Reports Education Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Politics and elections Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Kraft and Heinz merger Landgren cartoon: Muddy baseball fields Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Almond cookies pass the test Page Onorato: Cranky old winter may finally come to an end Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Page Onorato: Come grow old along with me, someday Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... CAMELOT THEATRE Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Kinder, gentler version of tale told in classic Wilder movie Comment By Roberta Kent For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 1:12 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 1:18 PM By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 1:12 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 1:18 PM 'Sunset Boulevard' --> 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 19 at the Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Avenue, Talent. For tickets ($25-29), call 541-535-5250 or go to www.c... » Read more X 'Sunset Boulevard' 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 19 at the Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Avenue, Talent. For tickets ($25-29), call  541-535-5250 or go to www.camelottheatre.org. » Social News “Sunset Boulevard,” Billy Wilder’s classic 1950 gothic film about a faded silent star and an ambitious screenwriter, is untouchable, right? Even Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1993 over-the-top Broadway musical stayed true to the film’s dark grotesque images.  What would become of “Sunset Boulevard” if the familiar plot outlines remained the same, but perceptions of the characters changed?  The Camelot Theatre production of Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” that opened on Friday is a kinder, gentler take on Wilder’s film. Director Roy Von Rains, Jr., Camelot artistic director Livia Genise and Nathan Monk have given us a romantic tragedy instead of a melodrama.  Genise’s Norma Desmond is more cougar than black widow spider. Think Madonna and her collection of boy-toys. Monk’s Joe Gillis is a nice guy, seduced by Hollywood glitz. He's not the film’s deeply cynical opportunist.  Poor Norma Desmond. She just needs to get out of that gloomy house, re-invent herself and find the right role. Something age-appropriate, like Shirley MacLaine appearing as a sassy American dowager in Downton Abbey or Meryl Streep as the Witch in “Into the Woods.” Just think of Norma’s rejuvenated career if she had been willing to play Salomé’s evil mother instead of her script’s 16-year-old lead!  Genise doesn’t give her Norma Desmond the jagged edges of the dangerously loopy original. This is a more nuanced character who has moments — but only brief moments — of accepting reality.  Monk gives Joe the right balance between hungry ambition and intermittent integrity. There is wide-eyed excitement when he realizes he is in the presence of a real star. And he genuinely likes the old broad — except here, she is not that old.  Sarah Gore makes for a perky ingénue as Betty Schaefer and Jeff Golden is properly amused and amusing in his cameo as Cecil B. DeMille.  The weak link in the cast is Mark Schneider as Norma’s lugubrious butler, Max. To be effective, Max has to come across as vaguely threatening or overly protective. Schneider is neither. He is just dreary and stiff. In addition, Max has two important revelatory songs in “Sunset Boulevard.” Alas, Schneider cannot sing either.  Both Genise and Monk can pull off Lloyd Webber’s technically complex score. Like Lloyd Webber’s “Evita,” “Sunset Boulevard,” with its sung dialogue and big production numbers, is more opera than musical. (A lot of the music is reminiscent of “Evita” as well.) It is to the credit of musical director Michael Wing and his six offstage musicians that they give the illusion of a much larger pit orchestra. Sarah Gore’s choreography creatively moves a very large cast of extras around the stage, as well as up and down the theater’s aisles.  Camelot’s production has much of the razzle-dazzle of the Broadway production on a substantially less generous budget. Scenic designer James Leyson provided a minimal set with lush details reserved for Norma’s dramatic staircase and the mansion’s furnishings. “Sunset Boulevard’s” rich ambience is really provided by lighting designer Evan Carbone and by sound and video designer Brian O’Connor, starting with a projection of the play’s “credits” and continuing with bits of “silent film” for effect.  Barbara Henson’s costumes and Virginia Hudson’s wigs artfully carry through the '50s setting of the play’s action. True to Rains’ and Genise’s concept, there are no '20s-diva turbans here for Norma. The faded star may be in seclusion but she kept current on her subscriptions to Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.  If you are willing to accept Norma and Joe — and the rest of Hollywood — as real people rather than cardboard cutouts, Camelot’s “Sunset Boulevard” works. This “Sunset Boulevard” is no larger-than-life horror story. It is a romance with an unhappy ending. Norma and Joe are simply two unhappy, vulnerable people who never should have met. There is no close up for Mr. DeMille. Roberta Kent is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach her at [email protected].       By Roberta Kent For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 1:12 PM Updated Mar 22, 2015 at 1:18 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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