L.A. Run of ‘Sunset’ Ends Quietly Despite Flap : Theater: Several dozen fans seek tickets to the final two performances. Most criticize the sudden closing of the musical.

After Andrew Lloyd Webber’s announcement that he would close down his musical “Sunset Boulevard” rather than have Faye Dunaway take over the leading role, Sunday’s two performances suddenly became the last chance to see the show in its U.S. premiere and in the city where it is set.

The controversy, coupled with Glenn Close’s last night in Los Angeles in the starring role of Norma Desmond, did not generate the same box office frenzy that preceded Michael Crawford’s farewell to “Phantom of the Opera.” But several dozen people did show up at the Shubert Theater’s box office in Century City to try to snag whatever cancellation tickets might be available.

William Lithgow had seen the show before, but he was waiting to buy tickets for Sunday’s matinee and evening performance.

In line for the evening show, he joked about wanting to see it twice in one day:

“We think Faye Dunaway will show up in the audience tonight.”

“And wreak havoc on the whole thing,” remarked the next man in line.

The production was thrown into a tizzy Thursday when producer/composer Lloyd Webber said he would shut down the production that was supposed to have continued with Dunaway in the lead role.

It meant that the opera--the musical, based on Billy Wilder’s film of the same name--was over before the svelte lady could sing. In fact, it was over because she could not sing, according to the statement released by Lloyd Webber’s company. Dunaway promptly disputed Lloyd Webber’s denigration of her vocal readiness.

And Sunday, even the most dedicated Lloyd Webber fans expressed disapproval of their man’s treatment of Dunaway and the people who had bought tickets to see the show after Sunday.

“It seems so strange to disappoint so many people,” said Yvonne Fleury of Santa Monica, who said she had seen “Phantom” 69 times and was back Sunday to take in her second performance of “Sunset” in as many days. She said she hoped that the lavish set would not be dismantled.

In fact, the set will be shipped to Toronto for a 1995 production of “Sunset.” A Lloyd Webber spokesman said Saturday that the set, valued at $3.5 million, will be sold to the Toronto producer. That would help to defray the $4-million-plus in advance ticket sales that will have to be refunded because of the decision to shut down the Los Angeles production. (The show will be back in Los Angeles during its U.S. tour.)

Not everyone attending the final performance was a return customer.

Frank Pellegrino, 63, had not seen the show when he paid $6,000 at a charity auction for Glenn Close’s own two house seats at her final performance.

He didn’t buy them because he’s a Close fan, he said: On Sunday, he couldn’t even think of the titles of any of her movies.

Instead, said Pellegrino, an ex-lounge singer (“Frankie Pell”) who owns a San Bernardino carpet store, he bid on the tickets as a surprise treat for his 87-year-old mother, Frances Pellegrino, who had never been to a musical.

But Sunday morning, when he sprang the news of their big outing, she said she would rather stay at home, sipping coffee on the couch.

He finally persuaded her to go after telling her that “Glenn Close is expecting us.”

Pellegrino also said he intended to tell his mother that he only paid $150 for the tickets.