Major Changes for Sondheim on Sondheim Coming

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 12:32pm

I saw the show yesterday and enjoyed it quite a bit. As most have already said, the video clips were especially fascinating! Anyway, at the stage door last night, Leslie Kritzer told me that there were big changes coming. She wouldn't say what but kept saying "Major, Huge Changes." I will be interested to hear from people who see the show in the coming days and weeks what those changes are. BTW, the entire cast was so wonderful at the stage door, chatting with everyone. Tom Wopat was delightful. Vanessa Came out very late, but did not disappoint. She signed and took pictures in the very cold weather. It was a great experience for me.
Updated On: 3/28/10 at 12:32 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 1:05pm

Ohhhh, maybe this will get me back. Hopefully some more popular Sondheim songs put in there...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 1:11pm

I wouldn't call the changes "huge," but there are some things being cut and some new things going in.

Expect to see them implemented into the show by the middle of next week.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 1:22pm

It's going to be about Stephen Schwartz now.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 1:43pm

LOL!

Somethingwicked, any details you can tell us?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 1:45pm

Tell me it's recasting Wopat. (I know it's not, just wishful thinking)

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 2:18pm

spill the beans, somethingwicked

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 3:06pm

I saw the first preview. I'd definitely like to go back post-opening and see what's changed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 3:37pm

It's James Lapine. He always makes MAJOR changes in previews.

And they're usually brilliant.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 3:43pm

" Hopefully some more popular Sondheim songs put in there..."

Sondheim only has one "popular" song, and it's called Send In The Clowns, which is in this revue.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 3:59pm

There's certainly room for changes, but I just don't see how any director with any sense at all could seen Tom Wopat sing "Epiphany" even once and allow then allow it onstage.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:00pm

His "Epiphany" was much better than his "Finishing The Hat." The latter should be cut.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:08pm

I was so traumatized by Wopat's pathetic "Ephiphany" that his "Finishing the Hat" seemed competent in comparison.

Let's call it even and cut them both. And find Vanessa Williams something other than "Ah, But Underneath" into the bargain. Sondheim appeared in the clip before that song talking about how he had written the song for Diana Rigg, who wasn't a dancer, and then they wound up doing the song as something like a dance number. Something like, because Ms. Williams really looked uncomfortable last night, having to run all over that Pile O'Monitors.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:14pm

They need to cut out some of the cut songs and replace them with ones people would now. The cut song from Gypsy is a waste. Let Vanessa sing "Rose's Turn". Also, the "Multitudes of Amy", the cut song from Company, should be cut too. They really just need to shape the show.

Also, hopefully Norm will be right and it will be extended into a regular run.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:17pm

But "Multitudes of Amy" is needed to show how "Being Alive" derived.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:24pm

Cutting a :30 "clip" of a song like "Multitude of Amys" is not the cutting this show needs. I actually loved the "Being Alive" segment, that's the least of the problems.

I also disagree on Wopat, I really enjoyed him.... but I agree that "Finishing the Hat" needs to be trimmed.

I actually like "Smile, Girls" in there. I'd prefer if Vanessa were to sing one of the iconic songs, sure, but I liked "Smile, Girls".

Maybe they'll cut the wonderously sung, but extremely boring Passion segment (at least in part... it just went too long for my taste).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:26pm

Let Vanessa sing "Rose's Turn"

I love Vanessa Williams, but she does not have the voice for Rose's Turn (or any of Rose's other big numbers, for that matter).

I don't understand why so many people want to only feature the most well known songs. I find the evening infinitely more interesting getting to see how numbers and songs evolved, and Sondheim talking about that evolution, rather than just hearing the cast sing the songs everyone knows. Case in point: it would have been too predictable and easy for Cook to sing Losing My Mind. Giving it to Williams, with Cook joining for Not a Day Goes By is something new and different. What's the point of Cook singing Losing My Mind yet again? To carry the point further, do we really need another Sondheim revue where the cast gets together to sing Putting it Together?
Updated On: 3/28/10 at 04:26 PM

[binau]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:34pm

How do people respond to Cook's PASSION scenes? (There are a few songs aren't there? [I don't need exact details as a semi-surprise would be nice :P).

I mean, does this have a good chance of being truncated?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:40pm

Personally, I hate the idea of replacing the obscure songs with the well-known songs. We've seen that show before: It was called Side by Side by Sondheim and then it was called Putting It Together.

Give the man time. Lapine made Sunday in the Park into a Pulitzer Prize-winning show, and believe me, it seemed like nothing more than a pretentious mistake at this point in its early performances.

He may ultimately mess up on this one, but I hope to Sondheim-Is-God that he doesn't take all the misguided advice of the BWW crowd clamoring--like the hungry mob in Sweeney Todd--for "MORE HIT SONGS! MORE HIT SONGS!"

Ugh. May you all be condemned to watch "Herman on Herman" for the rest of your lives.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:44pm

The best change as of Friday was the addition of guns to "The Gun Song."
I am really looking forward to more changes.

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 4:48pm

I agree that putting in all popular songs is not a good idea. I enjoyed hearing some of the cut songs, especially with Sondheim's explanations. I liked the cut song from "Gypsy."

As others said, I don't think we need another "review" of popular Sondheim songs. The show needs some changes. I am still not sure how I felt about Vanessa's strip number. ??

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 5:21pm

I don't mind the obscure songs. I mind the bad obscure songs, like that thing from GYPSY that now has the distinction of bringing two Sondheim shows to a screeching halt.

But overall, yeah, give James Lapine time. He's got a lot on his plate, he's very very busy. If you don't quit bitching, you might miss the miracle.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 5:32pm

I agree with Roscoe, it's the bad songs that stick out. And I feel that Vanessa Williams has not been giving a good (solo) song that she can stand out on. I honestly think that they should replace "Ah, But Underneath" with "Me and My Town." It has some movement and the jazzy tune would work really well for Ms. Williams. Also, she is a pretty good belter and has a great dark humor to her. I would like to see her do either "Ladies Who Lunch" or "I'm Still Here" instead of "Smile Girls." I do have faith in Lapine and I do like getting the chance to hear obscure music, but when two production numbers land with a thud...

Also, Tom Wopat was out today and Lewis Cleale was in. His Epiphany was excellent for his first time performing it. It was very close to Len Cariou's version and was just thrilling. His "Finishing the Hat" wasn't as good, but I'm sure his interpretation will only grow stronger with time. He was great throughout the show!

And what can you say about Barbara Cook, flawless!

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 5:34pm

"And I feel that Vanessa Williams has not been giving a good (solo) song that she can stand out on. I honestly think that they should replace "Ah, But Underneath" with "Me and My Town."

- That is a pretty good idea. Or give her "Could I Leave You?" It could easily turn into her "audition" for Phyllis at the Kennedy Center.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/28/10 at 5:53pm

I would cut out the entire sequences from both "Passion" and "Assassins." Talk about downers.


"Ugh. May you all be condemned to watch "Herman on Herman" for the rest of your lives."

Sounds good to me. Certainly preferable to sitting through "Sondheim on Sondheim!"