Mandy Gonzalez Commands Sunset Blvd Revival with Unforgettable Norma
Fantastic, because Broadway really needed another diva spectacle—enter Mandy Gonzalez as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., proving yet again that if you’re going to revive a classic, you might as well cast a powerhouse. I don’t want to be the one to say it, but Gonzalez has been edging toward this role since her Tony-worthy turn in In the Heights, and surprise, she’s nailed every last dramatic eyebrow raise. Taking over the Palace Theatre stage last month (previews kicked off March 10, per Playbill), she faced the obvious hurdle of stepping into Glenn Close’s immense shoes. Yet between her spine-tingling vocal runs and perfectly timed stares, she reminds us why she’s a favorite in every People Magazine “rising star” roundup.
According to The New York Times review, Gonzalez delivers “a masterclass in theatrical obsession,” balancing grandiose flair with unexpected vulnerability. I told you so—when Broadway hands out big roles, they know who’s boss. In a recent backstage chat with the New York Post (March 15 edition), she admitted to cold-reading the script twenty times and sprinting up to the stage door at 4 a.m. for vocal warm-ups. Apparently, coffee alone won’t cut it when you’re belting “With One Look” and still making the orchestra sweat.
Let’s talk specifics: Gonzalez’s Norma is at once regal and unraveling. She towers over the set’s grand staircase like a fallen queen, yet you catch her off-guard moment where the mask slips, and her whispered confession hits harder than a truck. Industry vet and BroadwayWorld editor Jamie Bell praised her “stunning control,” noting that the climactic bench scene brought the entire house to silence. I mean, did anyone expect otherwise?
Behind the scenes, director Sam Mendes (yep, that Sam Mendes) has loaded the revival with gargantuan lighting cues and an orchestra pit big enough to lose a goat in. Sources tell me he chose Gonzalez because she brings a rare combo of classical training (hello, Juilliard), feral stage presence, and a sense of humor—essential when you’re portraying a delusional silent-film star. She even quipped to Playbill, “If Norma had Wi-Fi, she’d be livestreaming desperation,” showing that our girl can roast herself with the best of ’em.
Sure, this production comes with enough drama to fill two acts—set changes that threaten small earthquakes, costumes so heavy your chiropractor bills will skyrocket—but you can’t deny it: Gonzalez is having a moment. And if you thought her curtain call was the finale, wait until you catch the post-show meet-and-greet chaos. What to watch next? Will she flirt with a Tony nod, or just keep serving eyebrow arias until we beg for mercy?
Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The New York Post, The New York Times, People Magazine, BroadwayWorld
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
