Especially considering MEF has quoted one of my all-time favourite Sondheim songs:
CHILDREN AND ART
(Marie looks up at Dot in the painting. George and Elaine stand to one side watching.)
MARIE You would have liked him, Mama, you would. Mama, he makes things- Mama, they're good. Just as you said from the start: Children and art... (starts nodding off) Children and art...
He should be happy- Mama, he's blue. What do I do?
You should have seen it, It was a sight? Mama, I mean it- All color and light-! I don't understand what it was, But, Mama, the things that he does- They twinkle and shimmer and buzz- You would have liked them... It... Him...
Henry... Henry?... Henry...
GEORGE (coming over) It's George, Grandmother.
MARIE Of course it is. I thought you were your father for a moment. (indicates painting) Did I tell you who that was?
GEORGE Of course. That is your mother.
MARIE Isn't she beautiful? There she is- (pointing to different figures) There she is, there she is, there she is- Mama is everywhere, He must have loved her so much...
GEORGE Is she really in all those places, Marie?
MARIE This is our family- This is the lot. After I go, this is All that you've got, honey- (as George starts to protest) Wasn't she beautiful, though?
You would have liked her. Mama did things No one had done. Mama was funny, Mama was fun, Mama spent money When she had none.
Mama said, "Honey, Mustn't be blue. It's not so much do what you like As it is that you like what you do:" Mama said, "Darling, Don't make such a drama, A little less thinking, A little more feeling-" (as George looks at her sharply) I'm just quoting Mama... (indicates Louise in the painting) The child is so sweet... (indicates the Celestes) And the girls are so rapturous... Isn't it lovely how artists can capture us?
GEORGE Yes, it is, Marie.
MARIE You would have liked her- Honey, I'm wrong, You would have loved her.
Mama enjoyed things. Mama was smart. See how she shimmers I mean from the heart.
I know, honey, you don't agree, (indicates painting) But this is our family tree. Just wait till we're there, and you'll see- Listen to me... (drifting off)... Mama was smart... Listen to Mama... Children and art... Children and art... (Elaine starts to wheel Marie our of the gallery.) Goodbye, Mama.
I once read that the major flaw in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (if you discount the second act, which, I for one, love) is the addition of the character of ELAINE.
She pushes MARIE'S wheelchair, and she stands around. The otherwise near flawless script stalls on this useless character.
YES, she helps prove that George can't connect, but we've picked that up already...
i love "Move On" and "Sunday" from this score, plus Dot's entrance number...
Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys.
"I guarantee that we'll have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out.
But I also guarantee that if I don't
ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for
the rest of my life..."
