This Stephen Sondheim revue was as much a master class as an entertainment, with some great entertainers illustrating Mr. Sondheim’s lecture. He came in the form of video footage from past TV interviews and contemporary interviews recorded especially for this production. These were displayed on amazing floating TV screens, which moved in a variety of directions like the pieces of a Scrabble game. Behind the menagerie of screens was a small but full sounding orchestra silhouetted like the orchestra from FANTASIA above a rotating maze of stairs and platforms that seemed to create an infinent variety of settings for the lengthy list of musical numbers. Designed by Beowulf Boritt, all of this was beautiful and showcased the talent and the event perfectly. Mr. Sondheim's descriptions of his work, his stories, his shared memories, were all lovely to hear––he is an enjoyable speaker, displaying an intimacy and ease as if we were in his home chatting with him about the history of Broadway––his remarkable experience of Broadway. His experience with Broadway starts with a mentorship from Oscar Hammerstein, writing lyrics for WEST SIDE STORY and GYPSY, then on through his wide variety of musicals for which he composed the music as well as the lyrics: COMPANY, FOLLIES, SWEENEY TODD and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, which is enjoying a revival this season as well. All this and Barbara Cook too! After all the other very fine performers made their entrances, Barbara Cook walked on to an extra round of thunderous applause. There she stood, taking it all in for a moment, a woman who represents the history of Broadway herself. She is the original star of MUSIC MAN, PLAIN AND FANCY and SHE LOVES ME among other things. The past twenty years she has been a busy cabaret and concert star, quite often devoting programs to Stephen Sondheim’s music. I caught one of these at Carnegie Hall some years ago and also saw her in the more intimate Cafe Carlyle. Yes, there she stood, resplendent, now in her early 80s, singing with that clean clear soprano that made “‘Till There Was You”, “My White Knight” and “Ice Cream” so stunning once upon a time. At this performance she gave us brilliantly executed solos of “Take Me to the World”, “In Buddy’s Eyes” and “Send in the Clowns.” We are all so lucky that there is a show for Barbara Cook in 2010.
Of course there are other people in the show too and they are delightful. The other two big stars are Tom Wopat, who has been a Broadway regular for the past decade or so and Vanessa Williams, who had played the Witch in the revival of INTO THE WOODS. As a kind of supporting ensemble, but shining through with solo work as well we were given the powerhouse known as Leslie Kritzer, Norm Lewis who sang a killer “Being Alive,” Euan Morton, who got a lot of comedy material, but who was under used and two fine young singers new to me––Erin Mackey and Matthew Scott. All of these people were charming and sang their material with excellence, both as individuals and as a tight chorus.
James Lapine conceived and directed the production, introducing the audience to quite a bit of rare material. One great use of this idea was hearing the various versions of Bobby’s final song for COMPANY, leading up the the final choice, “Being Alive.” Inbetween hearing these versions, Mr. Sondheim appeared on screen to explain why each version was discarded. This technique was also used to show the evolution of the opening number for FUNNY THING...FORUM––the winner finally being, “Comedy Tonight.” Although I’ve heard Mr. Sondheim tell the story at different times, his telling of the time Oscar Hammerstein signed a picture to him that said, “To Stevie, My friend and teacher,”* was very moving and preceded an emotional “Anyone Can Whistle” being played on the piano by Mr. Sondheim on screen while the cast sang to it on stage. For students of the musical theater, there just isn’t a better classroom to be in than SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM and by the end of June it will saddly all be over.
*Sondheim fans, I have quoted this from memory, so if I didn’t get it world for word please forgive me.
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