Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration — Page 19

Robbie2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "“Someone in a Tree” is Sondheim’s favorite song of his so I’m happy they were able to make such a great video of this."



Didn't know that...



IMHO PACIFIC OVERTURES is really long overdo for a major revival on Broadway!!...i was lucky enough to have see the original 1976 Broadway production, and i loved it so much...

Updated On: 4/28/20 at 09:45 AM

No but according to Raul on that interesting podcast episode Wayman posted, Sondheim was thrilled at the concert.

I may have missed something in the comments chain, but I'm amazed there hasn't been more love for Alexander Gemignani's performance of "Buddy's Blues." I mean, singing, acting -- even *choreography* for goodness sake -- all flawless!



For me, that and "The Flag Song" were the highlights, but the whole thing was sublime. Thanks and congratulations to all the performers and producers and everyone else involved.

''IMHO PACIFIC OVERTURES is really long overdo for a major revival on Broadway!!...i was lucky enough to have see the original 1976 Broadway production, and i loved it so much...''

I love ''Pacific Overtures,'' too, but does this mean you missed Roundabout's revival in 2004-05? The wonderful cast included B.D. Wong (as the Reciter), Paolo Montalban, Telly Leung, Michael K. Lee and Francis Jue. And Sab Shimono, who played Manjiro in 1976, returned to portray Lord Abe, while Alvin Ing reprised his role as the Shogun's Mother and did ''Chrysanthemum Tea'' again (nearly 3 decades later!). It was directed by Amon Miyamoto, who did a celebrated Japanese production of ''Pacific Overtures'' that played in July 2002 at Avery Fisher Hall. The 2004-05 revival was Tony-nominated, but only ran for 24 previews and 69 performances, so I wouldn't expect any major remounting on Broadway.

Off-Broadway, the York Theatre did a downsized revival in 1984, featuring Kevin Gray and Ernest Abuba. And in 2017, John Doyle downsized it even more at the Classic Stage Company: reducing the cast to 10 (led by George Takei) and cut it down to a 90-minute, one-act version, excising numbers like the Lion Dance and ''Chrysanthemum Tea.'' This ''Take Me to the World'' podcast featured 4 of its cast members - Ann Harada, Thom Sesma, Austin Ku and Kelvin Moon Loh - reprising their ''Someone in a Tree.''

P.S. The original 1976 ''Pacific Overtures'' was shot for Japanese TV and can be found on YouTube in all its splendor and glory. Also worth watching on YouTube: ''Anatomy of a Song'' from ''Camera Three'' - a fascinating documentary in which Sondheim and Weidman explain and explore the creation of ''Someone in a Tree.''

Updated On: 4/28/20 at 03:07 PM

It's already up to 1.3 million views in two days. Impressive.

CarlosAlberto said: "That drummer is hot. He was worth the hour wait."

Jared from Moulin Rouge

Now that I've had over a week to reflect on this sublime evening (that's fortunately preserved for all time), the only minor disappointment that I have with the concert is the lack of Angela Lansbury.

I'm sure it would have been difficult to capture a performance from her due to her age and potential lack of technology in her home, but man oh man how I wish that one of Sondheim's very first interpreters could have had at least one more opportunity to approach a new Sondheim song.

I don't think that she's sang I'm Still Here, has she? That would have been the cherry on top of a perfect Sundae...

Needed to revisit this after the long weekend

Updated On: 11/29/21 at 10:24 AM