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Review | Nicole Scherzinger is too glam for ‘Sunset Blvd.’ It hardly matters.

Review | Nicole Scherzinger is too glamorous for ‘Sunset Blvd.’ It hardly matters.

Nicole Scherzinger is a powerhouse vocalist, but she's miscast in the iconic role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard.'

Nicole Scherzinger is a powerhouse vocalist, but she's miscast in the iconic role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's “Sunset Boulevard.” The former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman has the vocal chops to belt out the show's soaring ballads, but she lacks the dramatic chops to portray the faded silent-screen star with the necessary pathos and vulnerability.

Scherzinger's Norma Desmond feels less like a tragic figure and more like a campy caricature. She plays up the character's eccentricities and over-the-top mannerisms, but she never really gets to the heart of who Norma Desmond is.

As a result, the show's emotional core is missing. We don't feel sorry for Norma Desmond, and we don't root for her to find happiness. We just watch her as she spirals further and further into madness.

The rest of the cast is excellent, but they can't save the show from Scherzinger's miscasting.

The rest of the cast is excellent, but they can't save the show from Scherzinger's miscasting. Hugh Jackman is excellent as Joe Gillis, the struggling screenwriter who becomes Norma Desmond's lover. He brings a lot of charisma and charm to the role, and he has a great chemistry with Scherzinger.

Kevin Chamberlin is also excellent as Max von Mayerling, Norma Desmond's devoted butler. He brings a lot of warmth and humor to the role, and he provides a much-needed emotional anchor for the show.

Ultimately, “Sunset Boulevard” is a missed opportunity.

Ultimately, “Sunset Boulevard” is a missed opportunity. It has a great cast, a great score, and a great story. But Scherzinger's miscasting as Norma Desmond sinks the show.

If you're a fan of the show, I recommend seeing it for the rest of the cast. But if you're looking for a great performance from Nicole Scherzinger, you'll be disappointed.