SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM First Preview?? — Page 2

I'm on the way home now, on my blackberry, so please excuse the scattered nature of this post.

Overall, the revue is off to a very good start. The cast is uniformly strong, though some are given more chances to shine than others.

The show could stand to be about 15 minutes shorter (we got out at 10:50 tonight), but they have a month to work that out. There are definitely a few numbers that could be easily cut.

The projections, for the most part, work VERY well and add a lot to the show. The exception is the Forum sequence which occurs early in the show. The projections there were a series of cartoony looking Roman columns and moving heads that looked like something someone threw together in powerpoint this afternoon. It made cringe and think we were in for a long night. Fortunately, the rest of the time the screens are used very well.

Most of the numbers were great, though the highlights for me were Williams and Cook simultaneously singing Losing My Mind and Not A Day Goes By, respectively. The other was the always incredible Norm Lewis giving a stunning rendition of Being Alive. The rest of the cast gets their moments too. Kritzer and Erin Mackey are both underused, though the latter does a lovely Do I Hear A Waltz. Euan Morton does a nice job with Franklin Shephed Inc.

Overall, about what I'd expect from a revue. Very entertaining, though not profound.

Joe--will you please tell Jordan's bitchy friend that PalJoey expressly FORBADE any negative comments about the early previews.

Negative comments will not be tolerated until the show is FROZEN.

---

In terms of general thoughts, I think they have a really good base from which to build over the preview period. The general concept of the show works really well.

What they need to work on, through cutting material and beyond, is sculpting the narrative through-line that holds everything together. Most of the numbers are performed well, but the ones that worked best are the ones that are clearly derivative of what's being discussed in the video content. Sometimes, Sondheim would talk about something specific and that material would be performed, but other times he would discuss general things in his life followed by songs that had no connection what he'd just said. Those numbers tended to be the ones that needed to go.

The opening sequence could also use a complete overhaul, but the latter half of the second act (when Sondheim delves into his most personal revelations) is pretty perfect. If they get the running time down to a solid two and a half hours, which I think they will, they'll be in better shape.

As was mentioned above, the true stunner of the evening was Williams and Cook's gorgeous "Losing My Mind"/"Not a Day Goes By" duet, though the hilarious "Send in the Clowns" YouTube sequence was a close second.

---

Updated On: 3/20/10 at 12:04 AM

I loved it! I really enjoyed the use of the video monitors as set, especially during the ASSASSINS segment. The Playbill doesn't list who sings what, it just has a chronological list of Sondheim's shows and what songs were included from each.

There's no plot, it's just Sondheim commenting on his music and how he wrote certain shows, sometimes he will interrupt the actors or sing along with them. I thought the conceit worked really well, though I think views on that part may be divided, with some people wishing the actors simply sang the full songs.

Because there's no story, the excitement for me came in wondering what song/show would come next and how it would be used. (I made sure not to read the Playbill beforehand so I had no idea what would be used or not.) So if you don't want to know what it included, stop reading now.
SPOILERS:


I absolutely loved that "Take Me to the World" from EVENING PRIMROSE was included!! I saw that show once at the Museum of TV & Radio and fell in love with the music, and was so happy to hear it sung here. The Act One closing number made such brilliant use of the TV monitors; As the cast sang a montage of the Act 1 closing numbers of INTO THE WOODS, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC & SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, the images on the screens began as the INTO THE WOODS tree logo, then morphed into the NIGHT MUSIC tree and finally ending as Seurat's painting from SUNDAY. It really was breathtaking.

Act Two was stronger IMHO, with segments on SUNDAY, ASSASSINS & COMPANY, among many others. In fact, I think (though someone can correct me if I am wrong) that the only Sondheim shows that were not represented were THE FROGS and PACIFIC OVERTURES. One of the highlights for me was Barbara Cook & Euan Morton singing "Beautiful" from SUNDAY. I adore that song, and they were magical together. And from the very first day the cast for this was announced, my thought was "Please have Norm Lewis sing "Being Alive. Please have Norm Lewis sing "Being Alive," and he did!! That completely made my night right there!

My only caveats are that I wish they had gotten a stronger older male singer instead of Tom Wopat. He sang "Finishing the Hat," and I was not impressed. After seeing the song performed in the past by such actors as Mandy Patinkin, Raul Esparza, Hugh Panaro & Daniel Evans, Wopat just seemed blah. It was almost spoke-sung, like Rex Harrison.

Also, I wasn't a big fan of the odd orchestrations for "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" and another song that is slipping my mind right now, but otherwise I thought they sounded great.

This is not a show for someone if you don't like Sondheim. In fact, I'd even say that if you're only so-so on Sondheim, you will likely come away disappointed. But if you are a big fan, as I am, I think you'd be very pleased! The show ran a lengthy 3 hours (maybe 2 hrs 55 mins, as it was exactly 11pm when I exited Studio 54) though to me it felt half that and I could easily have sat through another two.

They didn't have any merchandise yet (which surprised me, as all the other Roundabout first previews I've attended had all their posters & shirts on display the first day) but they said they will have stuff by the time the show opens.

Judging by the audience reaction, most sounded very pleased, and many people in the mezz gave a standing ovation, which I've actually seen less and less of at Roundabout shows nowadays.)


ETA: I really hope they release a cast album! There were some numbers that just have to be recorded!

---

Updated On: 3/20/10 at 12:06 AM

No one is more surprised than I, but I absolutely agree with everything PalJoey has said in this thread.

Tom Wopat was the weakest link in the cast for me, for sure.

A wonderful revue concept, and an absolute gift to Sondheim lovers. For everyone who has wondered what it's like to sit in Sondheim's living room (and surely there are too many of us!), this is an absolute gift. In fact, I was delightfully surprised at how candid Sondheim was. It's like a cross between reading Sondheim's biography (except it's all first-hand, coming directly from him), and the talks he gave with Frank Rich, telling great showbiz stories better than anyone. Priceless. The video production, and the TVs in the set are very interesting, like a puzzle. At the first preview, naturally there were Sound issues, and the band wasn't always gel-ling. It'll all work itself out. I could have used more richness from the sound of the band, but hopefully the Sound people will ride them more as they learn the show.

To have Barbara Cook, and this wonderful cast is a tremendous, further, gift. Their interpretation of the very interesting selection of songs (I didn't take notes, so won't be able to recite an accurate song list), the way everything was presented was generally true to the actual show. Barbara Cook singing "I Read" AS Fosca. One of the highlights of my life.

I think Tom Wopat is wonderful in general, but after hearing Mandy Patinkin sing "Finishing the Hat" earlier in the week, I struggled with Wopat's version -- probing and honest, but not vocally thrilling. I hope that whatever they end up cutting, is not the video footage of Sondheim -- it was all just so interesting and fun.

The ensemble was excellent. The acting and singing was just terrific.

When's the last time "Everyday a Little Death" was being performed on Broadway in two theatres at the same time?

When's the last time "Everyday a Little Death" was being performed on Broadway in two theatres at the same time?

Not only that, but next month there will be four Sondheim musicals running concurrently on Broadway!

---

Joe--will you please tell Jordan's bitchy friend that PalJoey expressly FORBADE any negative comments about the early previews.

Negative comments will not be tolerated until the show is FROZEN.

But of course, an entirely different set of rules apply to you when it comes to your posts about previews of the revivals of West Side Story and A Little Night Music, right? You've trashed both productions early and often, before either one was "frozen."

Straight men don't text bitchy comments about Sondheim shows after first previews.

Straight men text angry expletives about basketball players who f*ck up.

Straight men don't text Sondheim.

Do you realize what an idiot you sound like?

I personally was not impressed, especially after going to the fantastic Sondheim birthday concert. I did enjoy Norm Lewis' Being Alive a lot and enjoyed Euan Morton's Shephard Inc. Both of them were wonderful. The two girls were underused. Tom Wopat sucked the energy out of everything he did and I think the show really payed for it. If its possible I hope he's replaced, or improves drastically. While I like Barbara Cook, her voice has become thin...I'm sure she'll improve over time. Tom Wopat though should never be allowed to sing Epiphany or Finishing the Hat. He doesn't act his songs very well or sing them well.

Some more thoughts

Highlights
- Losing My Mind/Not a Day Goes By (Cook and Williams)
- Franklin Shepard. Inc (Morton)
- Opening Doors (Morton, Scott, Kritzer, and Mackey)
- Send In The Clowns (Cook)
- Entire Passion sequence (Cook and Lewis)
- Entire Assassins sequence (all minus Cook)
- Children Will Listen (all)

Needs work/cutting
- You Could Drive a Person Crazy (Cook and Wopat)
- Ah, But Underneath (Williams)
- The Best Thing Ever Has Happened (Williams, Wopat, Lewis, and Scott)
- Finishing The Hat (Wopat)

Wopat is NOT that bad, but his Finishing The Hat is not great, cut it or give him something new.
Cook is fantastic. Her Fosca numbers were surprisingly moving. And she gives a beautifully effective 'Send In The Clowns.'
Williams is very good, some of her material needs work though.
The supporting cast is great. How about a Merrily revival with Morton and Kritzer?

I think they will definitely fix and improve things throughout previews. I am confident they will.

Updated On: 3/20/10 at 01:50 AM

Wopat is not that bad. He certainly doesn't need to be replaced. I didn't like his Finishing the Hat (if they're gonna keep that song, give it to Norm Lewis), but I thought his Epiphany was very good. Finishing the Hat is just not in his range.