Sondheim Birthday Concert!!!!!

[binau]

Posted: 11/17/10 at 6:19pm

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/17/10 at 6:26pm

It's fun to imagine your Bernadette avatar is either saying or reacting to your headline.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 3:47am

Lol, these are funny.

The DVD is amazing. I was there, but it's even better on DVD. What a special concert.

How amazing is Patti's Ladies Who Lunch? It's such a different and fresh interpretation of the song.

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 9:49am

HAHAHA! Great artwork above.
Watched this incredible concert last night. The orchestra sound is so rich and full. It really makes a difference.

Seeing some of these performers sing songs now 20-30 years later than when they did originally was emotional. You could feel the deeper understanding each actor brought to the lyrics in the delivery of the material.

So many great performances, so many little touches in the direction. I am now an official Donna Murphy fan for life.

It may be Sondheim's birthday, but we get the gifts!!!!
Updated On: 11/18/10 at 09:49 AM

[binau]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 3:33pm

The DVD was pretty jaw-dropping. After Patti owned her song I thought that they'd have no where to go but everyone followed with something also 'special' and unique.

I LOVED how after Audra's cute performance of 'glamorous life' (could anyone else have pulled that off?) the cold gloomy strings from "Could I Leave You?" started while Donna was already 'in character' sitting down, before the light was even on her. Such a great segue. Patti's facial expressions throughout the song were pricelesss!

I also loved BP's entrance for "Move On". It also looked like Mandy mouthed "I Love you" to her and then she said "I love you too" at the end of it, which is pretty funny.

Oh and the way John McMartin finished his song and walked off the stage (also in 'character', right?)...depressingly moving.

And all the jokes...so funny :P.

Updated On: 11/18/10 at 03:33 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 3:51pm

I thought John McMartin gave one of the absolute best performances that night (in a night of outstanding performances), but it was even better and more moving on the DVD.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 3:57pm

I got the Blu-ray on Tuesday and have watched it twice so far. It's a true gem and so glad it was preserved for everyone to see. Personally, I think it trumps the Sondheim Celebration at Carnegie Hall, which is a pretty high standard.

Was anyone else similarly moved by John McMartin's "The Road You Didn't Take"? An extraordinary performance, as was the surprise SUNDAY reunion right after.

(EDIT: I guess people were, since the two posters above me also mentioned it!) Updated On: 11/18/10 at 03:57 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 4:08pm

Reading all these rave reviews is getting me so **r*!
I'm ordering my copy right now!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 4:13pm

You won't regret it. I usually don't enjoy watching concerts on DVD (except for a few highlights), but it was one for-the-ages rendition after another.
Updated On: 11/18/10 at 04:13 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 4:14pm

If it's even a smidget better than "A Celebration at Carnegie Hall," I'll be happy as a pig in sh!t.

[once a month]

Posted: 11/19/10 at 9:58am

MANY highlights, I just loved this concert. David Hyde Pierce was a hoot!

[binau]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 11:36pm

bump for those that have seen it on PBS

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 12:46am

It seems I saw somewhere, here I think, that either Ben Wright or Ken Jennings did one of these last Sondheim concerts. Does anyone know which one did one of the concerts?

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 12:47am

Ben Wright was at the City Center concert.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 12:59am

That's it! Thanks ljay. I would love to have been there. I wish that concert was also on DVD. I kind of developed a bit of a crush on him!

[A Director]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 3:07am

Patti owned nothing.

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 11:51pm

Patti owns your soul.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 11:54pm

Director's sole purpose on this board has been to bash LuPone.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 1:53am

LIFE changing, have watched it 3 times in the last 24 hours...lol.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 9:31am

I know this will be an unpopular opinion here, but I thought LuPone was a low point (along with Patinkin) in an otherwise brilliant evening. The Sweeney number was a great idea, but she had some cringe-worthy notes in there. While her Ladies Who Lunch certainly had its moments, I found it very indulgent.

That said, it was a truly remarkable evening.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 9:50am

During the Divas segment, there are several moments where Peters and Stritch are in the same shot, both watching the other perform. Every time I watch it, I wonder if at this time, either one of them had any inkling that they'd be co-stars soon.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 10:31am

I wondered the same thing. Paltrow and Danner were bandied about for awhile there, and it seemed like the Peters/Stritch thing came pretty suddenly and without warning, at least in the press... so I kind of thought maybe neither of them had any idea at the time of the filming. Or may I just sort of prefer that idea.

Also, "indulgent" is a good word for Patti's "Ladies Who Lunch," or maybe "indulgent without cause."

[Boq101]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:24pm

I still want Paltrow and Danner to do Night Music somewhere.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:27pm

themysteriousgrowl, what was your old username on this board?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:43pm

The StritchPeters thing ran thorugh my mind also. I was thinking that at the time they may not have known.