SIMPLY SONDHEIM at the JCC in San Francisco!
SIMPLY SONDHEIM at the JCC in San Francisco!
SIMPLY SONDHEIM at the JCC in San Francisco!#0
Posted: 12/7/05 at 12:37am
Wanted to know if ANYONE saw SIMPLY SONDHEIM at The Jewish Community Center in San Francisco. It was a HUGE hit...sold out completely and here is the review from TALKING BROADWAY:
We attended the 75th Birthday Salute for Stephen Sondheim last night at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco called Simply Sondheim. The auditorium was packed to the rafters to hear the master's many songs. By the time you left you were completely "Sondheim-ize" since we heard during a two hour and half hour with intermission fifty snippets or full songs from Stephen's pen from every one of his shows.
James Brewer and A.J. Productions must be congratulated for putting on a classy show featuring mostly local talent and guest stars Lisa Vroman, Judy Butterfield and the mystery guest. The direction by Tom Segal and Tom Orr was first rate. Artist just did not come out and stand and sing to the audience. The directors placed groups of duets, quartets and company all dress to the nines to present the smoothly presentation of Sondheim works.
It would be impossible to talk about each and every performer that gave their all to make the audience "Sondheim friendly" (actually they did not have to since most of the audience was aficionados of his work). However James Brewer, Amy Dondy, Kelly Ground, the petit 12 year old Hannah Rose Kornfeld, Kim Larsen, Judy Butterfield, Shay Oglesyby-Smith, Tom Orr, Peter K Stein, Stephanie Rhoads, Steve Rhyne and that mystery guest did a damn good job entertaining us. Oh I can't forget the special star Lisa Vroman singing three great Sondheim's songs the beautiful "The Girls of Summer", the campy "The Boy from ******" and the lovely tribute to the theatre "The Glamorous Life". She was accompanied by Peter Maleizke.
Also special guest star the young and talented Judy Butterfield did a lovely rendition of "I'm In love with a Boy" She also joined in the Saturday Night Medley that was first rate with Brewer, Larsen, Rhyne, Orr contributing to the score. It brought back memories when we saw the recent revival in New York. It is one of Sondheim's underrated shows.
Just some outstanding bits if you don't mind. Steve Rhyne did a outstanding rendition of "Everybody Says Don't". Peter L Stein did a first class rendition of the Sondheim put on called "A Revue". It was like a Friars Roast song for Mr. Sondheim. Kelly Ground was great in the parody of "Ladies Who Lunch" a parody by Lauren Mayer called "The Ladies Who Munch/Another Hundred Lyrics" which is featured in Menopause and the lovely "Not While I'm Around" and "Children Will Listen" with the lovely vocal cords of Kim Larsen. Tom Orr was great as the Wolf singing "Hello Little Girl" to little Miss Riding Hood played by Hanna Rose Kornfeld. The song ending had an unusual twist that Sondheim probably did not expect (or maybe he did).
Amy Dondy did a good "spooky" version of "The Last Midnight" and both Amy and James were great in "The Little Things You Do Together" sorting out laundry with one little strange object in the basket. Steve Rhyne and Tom Orr were fine in "Agony" and the trio of Kelly Ground, Shay Oglesby-Smith and Stephanie Rhoads in "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" was right on the mark. Stephanie Rhoads did a charming rendition of "What More Do I Need?" and good duet with James Brewer in "Take Me to the World" in the "The Evening Primrose Medley". Steve Rhyne and Kim Larsen did a fine upbeat version of "Bounce".
I can't forget the petit 12 year old Hanna Rose Kornfeld who brought down the house with "Back in Business". She came out in great tux outfit with hat tap dancing her little heart out. She brought down the house. Shay Oglesby-Smith was good in her interpretation of "Farewell". The "Hades" section from Frogs was well down with James Brewer playing the Nathan Lane role.
Now for that mysterious guest who goes by the name of Guy Haines. After a brief introduction giving a sketchy bio of this singer, he entered the stage holding a dozen rainbow balloons covering his face. This talented young man went immediately into "A Parade in Town". Only at the very last moment as he exited the stage, the mystery guest had on a upper face mask that looked like it came from New Faces of 52 (that is if anyone can remember the Venice scene in that revue.). When the entire company was taking their bows this shy individual used his backside to bow to the audience.
The entire revue used a great trio of musical artists with Daniel Lockert on piano, Daniel Fabricant on Bass and Randy Odell on drums. This is a kind of production that could be scaled down to play at the Plush room. Good job James on the Sondheim revue.
Directed by: Tom Segal and Tom Orr
Musical Director: Daniel Lockert
Production Stage Manager: Jovan Olague
Lighting Designer: Brandon Battaglia
Sound Designer: Michael "geese" Graphix
Executive Producer: Amy Dondy
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