Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to Lead Sondheim’s OLD FRIENDS On Broadway in 2025 — Page 7

meredithchandler73 said: "Why were certain shows represented more than others? I can't swear to this, but I think I read somewhere that Cameron Mackintosh selected heavily from Sondheim shows he has produced, including his previous revues."

at the start of the show bern and lea address the audience with some chit chat and talk about how the selections were all made from shows Cameron produced in London over the years - and that's why the song selections are the way they are.

VernonGersch said: "meredithchandler73 said: "Why were certain shows represented more than others? I can't swear to this, but I think I read somewhere that Cameron Mackintosh selected heavily from Sondheim shows he has produced, including his previous revues."

at the start of the show bern and lea address the audience with some chit chatand talk about how the selections were all made from shows Cameron produced in London over the years - and that's why the song selections are the way they are.

"

Did Cam Mac ever produce a Company, Night Music, Sweeney or Passion (OK some of those songs are from Side by Side by Sondheim which was one of his first successes...)

Can anyone spoil how exactly Bernadette sings ‘bounce’ with ‘I know things now’ now?

binau said: "Can anyone spoil how exactly Bernadette sings ‘bounce’ with ‘I know things now’ now?"

'Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends': Behind L.A.'s Broadway-Bound Revue



https://variety.com/2025/legit/news/stephen-sondheim-old-friends-revue-ahmanson-broadway-bernadette-peters-1236307283/

“With these two ballads, Peters reminds audiences that Sondheim’s gift was not merely the unforgettable music, but the veritable feast he offered actors within the narrative arcs of his songs. Peters has a distinctive, haunting voice and she delivers both songs impeccably, but it is her heartbreaking performances — the ache and palpable yearning of love and heartbreak that set them apart. In her interpretation, these songs become transcendent, soul-shattering meditations on life and loss.“

David Harris also missed his last shows in Moulin Rouge back in late January.

Totally agree with your review. Overall I loved it, and what a joy. However, this afternoon the entire audience stood through the last 3 songs because we thought we were giving them a standing ovation and then they would awkwardly start another song.

If David was indeed let go, I’d believe it. As wonderful as his voice is, his performance as Father in Ragtime in Concert really had no depth and didn’t “get” the period at all. I think he does much better with contemporary/shallow roles like Fiyero/The Duke. And as we know, Sondheim needs to be acted well.

And in some ways it’s preferable if he was let go. I’m hoping it isn’t a serious illness that meant he couldn’t do the show.

Updated On: 2/16/25 at 01:52 PM

Caught the show this weekend in LA, and I largely agree with Someone in a Tree's review, except I liked Bernadette a bit more than they did. Bernadette sounded solid (well, solid for 78) on Friday night. Her vocal estate has diminished over the years, yes, but that happens to all of us, and she remains one of the keenest of interpreters of this music. It is something special to hear her sing "Sunday" one last time, ya know? She's having fun, and we're having fun with her. Lea, on the other hand, sounds capital-F Fantastic. Her voice has mellowed and gotten richer in color since her ingenue days and she reveals comic timing I did not know she possessed in the Mrs. Lovett sequence. The Sweeney section was an overall highlight - both she and Jeremy Secombe (who doesn't really do anything else over the course of the show) are excellent.

I got what I wanted, overall. It's a charming "greatest hits" concert performed by a range of artists that range from very talented to definitive. Beth Leavel's Ladies who Lunch is the best I've ever seen - including Patti's, and there's similarly worth-the-price-of-admission work from Gavin Lee, Bonnie Langford and Joanna Riding. It's honestly just wonderful seeing these British artists get their well-deserved flowers on this side of the Atlantic. Jacob Dickey and Maria Wirries stand out nicely out of the younger performers. Jasmine Forsberg and Daniel Yearwood, who I know from other shows to possess incredible voices, are a bit wasted in their tracks, but one can't have everything.

Regarding the drama regarding David Harris's departure - I cannot imagine that if he was let go it was because of his acting, as was speculated upthread. While it is possible that Kevin Earley does not perform everything that he was initially assigned, his track was not a super demanding one. His biggest number is "Agony" with Kyle Selig, and is Paul in "Not getting Married Today" and Frederic in "A Weekend in the Country." There could have been some shuffling of numbers in the wake of his departure, but...he could have left the production for any number of reasons and we simply don't know why.

I saw the show on Saturday night 2/18. Bernadette was in great voice. I'm assuming she was able to get medical treatment for her vocal chords which were reportedly in bad shape on Friday night. There are steroid treatments (inhaled or injected) that can relieve vocal strain and even completely suppress the inflammation of a cold or a sore throat.

The show definitely needs some work before Broadway. The sequencing was strange and a few of the numbers didn't land. The only weak link was Jason Pennycooke. He lacked stage presence and neither of his numbers "Live Alone and Like It" and "Buddy's Blues" landed. His getting the audience to clap during "Buddy's Blues" was downright embarrassing.

Last minute- replacement Kevin Earley, who used to be a mainstay of Los Angeles musical theatre, was fantastic.

Lea, as others said, is a revelation as Mrs. Lovett. She has evidently played the role in Singapore and the Philippines.

“Last minute- replacement Kevin Earley, who used to be a mainstay of Los Angeles musical theatre, was fantastic.”

Not to take anything away from Kevin (whom I like) ; but it’s a fairly bland track.. so not sure where the FANTASTIC comment comes from. He is not given much to do. And he is not a mainstay of Los Angeles theater. His work has mostly been elsewhere . Just look at his website .
Curious as to what happened to Harris. He used to overshare on social media . Now silence . Hope he is ok.

Updated On: 2/17/25 at 07:06 PM