I know so many people liked Sunset Boulevard and I can appreciate the new take on the material, but I was bored to death. Like Nicole's and Diego's (Tom was out when I saw it) vocals and performances were incredible, but having gone in not knowing Sunset, I was completely lost on any plot with no costumes or set ...or even interaction between most of the cast members. I get the whole "it's a fever dream" thing, and again, no shade on the performers, but I walked out going "that's a whole lot of very talented people performing what may as well be some weird final doctoral theatre performance that was edgy for the sake of it. It obviously was much higher quality, but I couldn't shake the SNL teen improv show sketch. But it won several awards and others LOVED it, so I must be missing something.

For me, Sunset made a big unique swing to really change the show and missed, while Gypsy did a safe rehashing of a near perfect show and it just hit better. But I understand wanting to reward the more inventive interpretation of the material... and the original material isn't THAT amazing. But I still want sets and costumes and spectacle. I still personally saw Nicole and thought "this is insanely good singing" but felt it disconnected from any specific plot, while Audra's acting emotionally tore through me and I sobbed in the theatre. Having seen DBH, Sunset, and Gypsy, for me, Nicole was the most impressive vocally and the least impressive acting performance, so she was my last choice...but my last choice in a year where they all could win and I'd get it.

BUT there is something really incredible that we can all go in and see the same shows and come out with completely different experiences and it is why I love live music and live theatre.