OLD FRIENDS Reviews - Page 3

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 1:47pm

I don't really think it's fair to compare her voice to Stritch. Stritch could never have sung Sally Durant. That is a very difficult role to sing, and Bernadette sang all of the original keys and didn't miss any performances. She sounded a heck of a lot better than Imelda Staunton's awful vocals and lowered keys. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 1:55pm

Observer

‘Sondheim’s Old Friends’ Is a Love Letter in Two Acts—One Whispered, One Roared

A mixed bag of reverence and revue, Cameron Mackintosh’s tribute stumbles through a sluggish start before roaring to life in a second act that finally earns its ovation.

https://observer.com/2025/04/review-sondheims-old-friends-brings-star-power-and-uneven-pacing/

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 2:01pm

Owen22 said: "This is ridiculous. Bernadette Peters never had what would be called a "good" voice. Throughout her career she developed a very "distinctive" voice (same with Stritch). A character voice, which has, alas, weakened with age. But she was always a consummate singing actress which maybe gave the impression her instrument was better than it was."

 

Talk about ridiculous!

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 2:30pm

MemorableUserName said: "Observer

‘Sondheim’s Old Friends’ Is a Love Letter in Two Acts—One Whispered, One Roared

A mixed bag of reverence and revue, Cameron Mackintosh’s tribute stumbles through a sluggish start before roaring to life in a second act that finally earns its ovation.

https://observer.com/2025/04/review-sondheims-old-friends-brings-star-power-and-uneven-pacing/"

"Waiting Around for the Girls Upstairs"- oh Rex

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 7:54pm

Beth Leavel Takes Parade Backstage at Broadway's Old Friends Opening (Exclusive Photos)

https://parade.com/entertainment/beth-leavel-backstage-stephen-sondheim-old-friends-broadway-photos-exclusive

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 8:09pm

bjh2114 said: "blaxx said: "If racist, mysigonist, etc posts are not allowed, neither should awfully ageist posts like this one. You should be ashamed.

And many legends close to that age (Lansbury, Stritch, Rivera etc) have graced the Broadway stage to the best of their abilities for their fans. You're one of the few mean spirited posters who feels they shouldn't be seen if they're not up to your standards."

Well if that isn't a stretch, blaxx, I don't know what is. There's absolutely nothing ageist about this post. There have been PLENTY of older legends, as you point out, who have done 8 shows a week and done it IMMACULATELY. Lansbury, Stritch, and Rivera are all excellent examples of that. The roles that they inhabited on Broadway played to their strengths, and they were magnificent. Mary Beth Peil is another name that springs to mind immediately. Nowhere in my post did I say that an older legend CAN'T perform on Broadway. But they have to know what they're capable of doing when they take on a role.The problem here, for me,is that Bernadette is still TRYING to sound like she did 10, 20, and 30 years ago, and it doesn't work. Her most successful moments in the show were bits like Gotta Get a Gimmick because she was leaning into her playful side. I wish she had taken on more of a narrator role (in addition to the comic moments) because then it may have also helped give the show more structure! But listening to her try to sing Losing My Mind was simply hard to sit through."

Not a stretch at all, this is pure ageism. Nobody needs to adjust their performances to what you think they're capable of. And she does ten times better than Lansbury or Stritch did at her age, who could barely move or remember a thing; yet there they were magnificent and celebrated.

In the end, Peters shines brighter in one night than ageists would ever do in their whole sad lives.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/10/25 at 12:09am

blaxx said: "Not a stretch at all, this is pure ageism. Nobody needs to adjust their performances to what you think they're capable of. And she does ten times better than Lansbury or Stritch did at her age, who could barely move or remember a thing; yet there they were magnificent and celebrated.

In the end, Peters shines brighter in one night than ageists would ever do in their whole sad lives."

That "she does ten times better than Lansbury or Stritch at her age" is simply your opinion. I happen to disagree. And that's the thing... we don't have to agree. But to call me ageist for having a different opinion than you is honestly pathetic. I didn't enjoy her performance. That's all there is to it. And that makes me ageist? Truly wild.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/10/25 at 1:10am

bjh2114 said: "blaxx said: "Not a stretch at all, this is pure ageism. Nobody needs to adjust their performances to what you think they're capable of. And she does ten times better than Lansbury or Stritch did at her age, who could barely move or remember a thing; yet there they were magnificent and celebrated.

In the end, Peters shines brighter in one night than ageists would ever do in their whole sad lives."

That "she does ten times better than Lansbury or Stritch at her age" is simply your opinion. I happen to disagree. And that's the thing... we don't have to agree. But to call me ageist for having a different opinion than you is honestly pathetic. I didn't enjoy her performance. That's all there is to it. And that makes me ageist? Truly wild."

No, love. You were ageist when you said in a post she should know her limitations and when to quit, not an opinion but a statement.

What is pathetic is that you don't own it.

Ageism at its finest:

bjh2114 said: Nowhere in my post did I say that an older legend CAN'T perform on Broadway. But they have to know what they're capable of doing when they take on a role.

 

An almost 80 year old performer doesn't owe you to identify anything. Again, there is a reason she's a legend  and you...just sit and watch her get standing ovations every night.

Updated On: 4/10/25 at 01:10 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/10/25 at 2:16am

blaxx said: "No, love. You wereageist when you said in a post she should know her limitations and when to quit, not an opinion but a statement.

What is pathetic is that you don't own it.

Ageism at its finest:

bjh2114 said: Nowhere in my post did I say that an older legend CAN'T perform on Broadway. But they have to know what they're capable of doing when they take on a role.

An almost 80 year old performer doesn't owe you to identify anything. Again, there is a reason she's a legend and you...just sit and watch her get standing ovations every night."

Knowing your limitations is not exclusive to age, blaxx. There are countless reasons why ANY performer may not be able to perform a song, a monologue, a dance, or any type of art to the highest potential. I'm not the one making this about age. You are. Also, where did I say that she as a performer (or any performer for that matter) owes me anything? She's welcome to do as she pleases. Just as I am welcome to respond to her performance however I please. I also never said "she should quit." That's a complete oversimplification of what I wrote. I've clearly hit a sore spot with you, and I'm sorry that you feel the need to project whatever issues you have onto me. Whatever helps you sleep easier at night, "love".

[chanel]

Posted: 4/10/25 at 7:36am

Rex Reed: "Bernadette Peters knocked 'Broadway Baby' out of the park." Oh, poor Rex. What actually happens is that Bernadette does a funy, purposely awkward version as if she's an actress auditioning with a song made famous by Bernadette Peters (herself). And then she's joined by all the other women in the show and they ALL knock it out of the park. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 4/11/25 at 3:55pm

Just got an email that Salonga is out tonight, Friday, April 11.  Telecharge offering rescheduling or instant refund via the link in the message.

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 4/11/25 at 4:15pm

I am so curious to know who will sing each of Lea's songs! I'm sure that one person won't be covering all of them, so I'm very curious how it will be split. I hope someone can report.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/11/25 at 5:24pm

Why wouldnt her understudy (Jasmine Forsberg, who we know can sing) just step into the track? 

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 4/11/25 at 8:15pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Why wouldnt her understudy (Jasmine Forsberg, who we know can sing)just step into the track?"

It’s possible Jasmine is covering all of Lea’s songs. But Lea mentioned in an interview that she covers Mazzeppa for Bernadette. And I’ve seen a small clip of her doing the Bonnie Langford part of You Could Drive a Person Crazy. When Clare Burt was out in London (Beth Leavel sings her songs on Broadway). Janie Dee (replaced by Kate Jennings Grant on Broadway) did “Little Things You Do Together” and Joanna Riding did “Ladies Who Lunch.”

I’m betting one of the other veteran performers will end up doing the Lovett songs. And maybe “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

Jasmine and the whole cast are super talented. I would be interested to see many permutations of the song assignments.

[Iowa]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 12:25am

Saw the show tonight, and they took an “all hands on deck approach” to covering Lea’s track. It was quite complicated! For “Side by Side,” Beth Leavel joined Bernadette. Jasmine Forsberg did “Loving You,” Kate Jennings Grant did her solos on the “Into the Woods” section, Bonnie Langford did the Mrs. Lovett numbers, Maria Wirries sang “Somewhere,” Joanna Riding performed “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” Paige Faure filled in for her on “Not a Day Goes By,” and Beth Leavel once again joined Bernadette for “Old Friends” and the “Side by Side” finale. They all did a commendable job and no one sounded tentative in the least, but I really missed the extra excitement that Lea presumably brings to the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 12:32am

Oh man, I would have loved to see Bonnie’s Mrs. Lovett! 

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 8:00am

Iowa said: "Saw the show tonight, and they took an “all hands on deck approach” to covering Lea’s track. It was quite complicated! For “Side by Side,” Beth Leavel joined Bernadette. Jasmine Forsberg did “Loving You,” Kate Jennings Grant did her solos on the “Into the Woods” section, Bonnie Langford did the Mrs. Lovett numbers, Maria Wirries sang “Somewhere,” Joanna Riding performed “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” Paige Faure filled in for her on “Not a Day Goes By,” and Beth Leavel once again joined Bernadette for “Old Friends” and the “Side by Side” finale. They all did a commendable job and no one sounded tentative in the least, but I really missed the extra excitement that Lea presumably brings to the show."

Thank you so much for the report. This does track with what I’ve heard about how coverage works for this show. Presumably the younger ensemble members just cover each other entirely, but for most of the veterans with one or more solos/duets - different veterans cover. The way the songs were split up here sounds fabulous and I would have loved to have seen it!

[binau]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 9:12am

How I wish Bernadette would do the 'Mrs Lovett' songs just one night. 

[Iowa]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 11:43am

Jordan, I think you'd like Bonnie's Mrs. Lovett a lot, even though she understandably needs more performances under her belt to land all the laughs and nail the underlying desperation in her two extremely difficult songs (both lyrically and rhythmically). Not surprisingly, she brings a panto/music hall sensibility that totally works for the character - as did Angela back in the day (now there's a delicious irony!), but Bonnie is definitely her own fabulous thing. 

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 11:45am

Lea is out for the matinee today.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 5:32pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Lea is out for the matinee today. "

My friend sent me the insert. Basically, Beth got promoted to a lot of the “emcee” type stuff she does with Bernadette.

• Kate got “Children Will Listen”
• Jasmine got “Loving You”
• Bonnie got the Sweeney tracks
• Joanna got “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”