Murder at the Adelphi

Murder at the Adelphi is Peter Gale's first-hand, day-to-day diary account of acting in the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1993 musical Sunset Boulevard presented at the Adelphi Theatre in London. The show was based on the highly acclaimed Paramount Pictures 1950 film of the same name directed by Billy Wilder. Along the way, Peter includes a galaxy of entertaining anecdotes about internationally famous stars, such as Steven Spielberg, Ingrid Bergman and even Marilyn Monroe. For example, Peter's partner, the actor Paul Hardwick, worked very closely with Marilyn in the film The Prince and the Showgirl. Peter volunteered to be the Sunset Boulevard company's Equity deputy and closely witnessed the seismic rift between the show's leading lady, Patti LuPone, and the show's composer/producer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Peter found Patti to be as warm and approachable as Andrew was cold and aloof. He says Trevor Nunn was one of the most supportive and inspired directors he ever worked with but the weird distance between Trevor and Andrew confused and dispirited many company members. Murder at the Adelphi is a 'must read' for any theatre fan.