"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I'm going to be in London during that time. I've signed up but I'm guessing tickets are going to be very hard to come by and/or very expensive. I have heard they are going to film it however.
Just got this email which hints at the show being filmed and live-streamed/aired.
“We appreciate that many of you are disappointed not to have been able to purchase tickets, but we want to let you know that we are finalising plans so that you may be able to share this unique event with us.”
Jordan Catalano said: "People really don’t know what “Chefs Kiss” means?"
Shocking isn't it. Some people don't have the general knowledge that you purport to have. That's why I asked so 'chef's kiss' back to you, the Greek version.
It’s conversations like this that make me an infrequent visitor to this board. The first post was interesting and deserved thoughtful comment. Instead it descends into an ill tempered, bitchy spat, which could have been avoided by ignoring or doing a bit of Googling. Tiresome.
In the vague tune of 'Last Midnight' and performed by Bernadette Peters as she prepares to fly to London for this concert and decides to read this thread, the time is the present.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!
It's the last concert It's the last dish It's the last celebration Soon it will be boom Squish! Couldn't get a ticket Missing Steve Are you?
No, of course what really matters is the snark Someone you can snark Fine, if that's the thing you enjoy Giving the snark If that's the aim Give me the snark Rub it in my face I wasn't nominated for a Tony in Follies or Into the Woods
(((No! (No)))) No?
I'm in a hitch I'm aging and I can no longer sing the witch Patti is singing Sondheim on Broadway Like I should be But oh, why bother You'll just do what you do and snark
It's the last celebration So, goodbye all Coming at you fast, concert Soon you'll see Judi Dench sing Clowns when it should be me Here, you want to bitch? Have another bitch This concert was made to make Cam Mac rich! Just let me sing out like Sam Mendes let me and I'll roar But no doubt you'll say you wanted more Well, you can blame the death of Elaine Stritch
It's the last concert The last before the hearse Now, before it's past midnight I'm leaving you my last curse
I'm leaving you alone You can tend Broadwayworld it's yours Separate and alone
All right, Steve, when? Take me with you again! Write a new show for me me the way you did then! Give me vocal strain, crying and a Mandy punch Just take me away from this bunch I'll do Square One on Zoom Or Sweeney in a small Room Or The Goodbye Girl plume London, Here I COMEEEEE
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Beyond excited to see Bernadette on stage again for the first time in over 4 years!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
imeldasturn said: "Anna-Jane Casey, Bernadette and Bonnie Langford rehearsing You Gotta Get a Gimmick [x]"
Oh! We are in for a treat!
And is Bernadette ever not adorable?
"Opinions are very interesting because we all have different ones. You are entitled to your opinion, but that does not mean you should always give it to others, especially when your opinion is not necessarily grounded in truth, but in what you believe or want to believe."
So far it has been a genuine surprise - Bernadette makes an entrance in a red cape (we don’t know it’s her at first), and then sings “I know things now” in character. She then gets to act in character again while someone sings “hello, little girl”. Then sings Children Will Listen as Bernadette in concert. Act one ends with Sunday, Bernadette as Dot and Daniel Evans as George. Jenna Russel nearby. Just beautiful.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Surprisingly despite the understated marketing Bernadette probably had the best role in the concert. In the second act she was in ‘Broadway Baby’, ‘You Gotta Get a Gimmick, Losing my Mind (solo) and Not a Day Goes by. Broadway Baby was hilarious - opened by Julia McKenzie doing an audition then Bernadette walks on acting obnoxiously to upstage before someone else trying the same on her - the song ending as a very impressive group number. Helena Bonham Carter sings a few very off pitch lines (I think intentionally?) and then the joke is 'she gets the part' despite being clearly the least talented at singing, which I thought was a very 'good sport' thing for her to do (somewhat mirroring her role in the Sweeney Todd film).
Bernadette played Mazeppa in Gimmick and she was still acting the whole song, even while in the background and others doing their bits which I loved. Her Losing My Mind had soo much emotion and was so indulgent in the best possible way ('you said you loveeeeeeeee meeeee' so delicately is always Bernadette showing why she is Bernadette for me). I’ve seen her do the song a few times now and listened to many recordings - it’s the same interpretation but you can really feel she is quite affected emotionally by the song and it’s really resonating with the audience in a way I didn’t expect. Those orchestrations just soaring to the audience from the stage even when she wasn’t singing was just so overwhelmingly beautiful. A moment that will stay with me forever.
And she sings Not a Day Goes by (with a group) to photos of Sondheim!!! She managed to be centre stage for the ovations of every song she was in including end of act one and two. Was this concert written for me?
There were a few other special parts - such as Judi Dench singing Clowns and Michael Ball/Maria Friedman doing some highlights from Sweeney Todd on some of the les mis set.
When the recording comes out some might notice how much Cam Mack made the show surprisingly about himself. He performed a few lines, has an opening speech, played that old ALW/Sondheim video they made about himself. Just a bit much. I also found it so funny for Imelda Staunton to come and tear the house down with 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' in character straight after Bernadette's 'Losing My Mind' - she did a great job but between this, Cam Mack, Bernadette I couldn't help but chuckle whether we are watching the ego cogs turn of these stars as they get their moment.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Stage/curtain. They had like 5 cameras so I'm sure this will be released one day?
Bernadette at the end of 'Losing My Mind'. Already feels iconic.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Footage of Bernadette's entrance has appeared on YouTube. God it really captures the surprise - I just wasn't expecting it myself and was so exciting!! Has the full "I Know Things Now" too. I would not say it fits her voice well as much as some of the other songs she sang in concert, in particular Losing My Mind - but it is always great to see Bernadette do something new as it doesn't happen often. SHE WAS TRULY THE STAR OF THIS CONCERT.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000