“You’re far too nice, you’ve got to be a diva, you must be a diva.” A director’s uncompromising note to actress Caroline McMichael who plays the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, a disturbing play full of adult issues surrounding a silent movie star who has dropped out of the spotlight, living alone in a decaying mansion in Los Angeles.
But then along comes Joe and the story soars to the heights. Later this week her address will be the Grand Opera House, Belfast, where at the moment it’s all go, with lots of fun but really hard work during rehearsals.
This production is intense so how can young people between 16 and 21, with less than three weeks’ rehearsal, ever tackle such an iconic show? And how will Caroline approach the main role of the obsessed, embittered diva? With the tuition of director Tony Finnegan she will slip into the role on opening night, with Conor Cox playing Joe Gillis, her love interest.
At rehearsal I notice seating marked Brando, Chaplin, Astaire and Garbo - exciting times in Tinseltown. Other Summer Youth Company productions have included Oliver! and Miss Saigon, but Sunset is even more spectacular with the iconic staircase swirling down to the front of the stage with 71 cast members dancing and singing as they reflect Hollywood in its heyday.
Tony is a stickler for professionalism, from attending rehearsals on time to getting into character, be it a small role or a major part; one cast member travels from Derry every day and is always punctual.
The director gave the main characters their scripts four weeks ahead of rehearsals with advice to read them over and over prior to a pre-project weekend where the principals sat in the hot seat as Tony and musical director Wilson Shields interviewed them in character.
“This year it was mesmerising,” Tony told me. “They had researched their characters thoroughly and knew about their lives living on Sunset Boulevard, so any problems I might have anticipated just disappeared with their enthusiasm and their dedicated approach.”
The majority of the young people have no acting experience but Tony Finnegan prides himself in being a teacher in life skills as well as a theatre director, helping them to gain confidence
Why Put Your Daughter On The Stage?
Are there any long-term benefits for joining such a company? Yes, there certainly are - and I know this for a fact. For the young people taking part it’s a brilliant experience, testing their nerves, allowing them to hear an audience react with applause. It’s heady stuff and three nights they will never forget, and that’s why they come back to the youth productions year after year. Some, like Alisha Weir, who played Matilda in the 2022 film Matilda The Musical, will even move on to a career. But there are so many other aspects of life to learn.
Like What?
How to work in a group, how to train your memory, how to take criticism and accept discipline and how to build self-esteem. And working to professional expectations will be all important later in life when they are looking for work.
When it comes to youth theatre, Tony is the best in the business and watching him at work is fascinating. The majority of the young people have no acting experience but he prides himself in being a teacher in life skills as well as a theatre director, helping them to gain confidence.
What happens if someone doesn’t fit in? “We have a responsibility to the audience who pay the money and they must realise this, so it’s a hard lesson to be told you’re lacking in what is needed but always I’ll suggest something else for them to do, perhaps a line of their own which will give them pride and long-term an appreciation of their skills, and also to learn about limitations,” Tony tells me.
“They are surrounded by professional technicians when it comes to stage crew, lighting and sound but not everyone wants to appear on stage so we have a youth ‘tech team’ to shadow an expert, to look over their shoulder and assist where needed. They sit in on discussions and gain experience that will help them in future employment.”
This is the thirteenth Opera House summer youth theatre production and it shows the support for young actors and respect for Tony and Wilson that the theatre is prepared to ‘go dark’ and close their doors for three weeks. Obviously the public also appreciates and enjoys the youthful enthusiasm and talents as tickets have been flying out of the box office since the show was first advertised.
If you want to enjoy the talents of 71 young people and the story of a super superior diva, get along to the Belfast Grand Opera House.
Sunset Boulevard runs from July 18-20 with performances at 7pm each day, as well as a 2pm matinee on Saturday. Box office 028 9024 1919. goh.co.uk
