Sunset Boulevard, or How I Learned to Love Understudies.

I hesitate to post this, because I don't love the idea of comparing working actors in the same show. I think they are all doing top tier work, it really just comes down to personal taste.

I saw Mandy last week, and Nicole last night. Maybe it is a case of your 'first' being your best, but I think I prefer the Mandy version of the show. Her Norma felt much more grounded, you liked her a lot more, and the end feels more tragic as a result. That said, on paper I see that what Nicole is doing worked better within the design of the show (more presentational, aloof and dreamy), but I just enjoyed Mandy more (haha, Many Moore). That said, Nicole's last 10 minutes were pretty sensational. And having the audience responding to her star power was electric. Anyway, both are definitely giving a full-pricr performance. If there were understudy awards, Mandy would certainly be deserving.

But then I'd also want to award Sydney Jones for her Betty Schaefer. She was on last night, and personally, I was shocked by how much more I preferred her interpretation. The singing, for me, felt way more on point. And I just believed her ambition -- and the love affair -- way more. The character just clicked for me, in a way it hadn't the week before. She's doing phenomenal work, does great face acting with the cameras. Not sure how old she is, but I could see her really taking off! I'd love to see her star in something.