Sondheim Celebration on 3/16- Page 2

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 5:04pm

The Times review

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/arts/music/17sondheim.html

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 5:28pm

Very suitable review.

I can't wait to see it again -- I hope the PBS production or at least a DVD release captures all of it - as well as any differences from tonight's show.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 7:01pm

And both women appeared to be genuinely enjoying each other's solos during that section of the concert.

Plus they both seemed to be chatting a lot during the VERY LONG standing ovation given to Sondheim.

And do I have to go back to the top of the show when all the stars were being "introduced" and Patti and Berndette came out together though from different sides and Bernadette blew Patti a kiss. I didn't see Patti's reaction as I was looking at Bernadette at the time but I don't think she flipped her off or anything.

Maybe we can now put this supposed cat fight to bed.

Great, now you've started lesbian affair rumors instead.

[moljul]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 11:00pm

"Great, now you've started lesbian affair rumors instead. "

LOL Thanks for a great belly laugh.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 11:23pm

Got back a little while ago really a lovely evening. Especially enjoyed the SUNDAY and SWEENEY bits.

Was a bit disappointed with Mandy's falsetto, guess it hasn't held up through the years, though his full voice was still very powerful. I thought Bernadette was very good solo, but her "ons" with Mandy were definitely off. Mandy actually reversed "The way you catch the light" and "The color of your hair." You seem him hesitate when he got to the second line and thought "oh crap, I already sang that."

One of the funniest moments of the night were when Cerveris and Hearn both came on stage. Lupone entered, saw one, then saw the other, looked extremely bewildered, and rushed offstage. After that, Cerveris and Hearn argued who would play Todd and who would play Turpin.

Cerveris (gestures to chair): You first.
Hearn: Yes, I was.
Cerveris: I mean, after you.
Hearn: Yes, you were.

Eh, guess you had to be there :).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 11:27pm

Tony Vincent, what did they do in place of the West Side Story number?

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 11:52pm

They did a different West Side Story number in the place of Olivo--this time Alexander Gemignani singing a gorgeous Something's Coming. It was beautifully done. I also adored John McMartin on The Road You Didn't Take. It wasn't the sonic boom of other performances maybe, but it was incredibly moving. And if there's any more extraordinary sound than one or two hundred Broadway performers singing "Sunday," I certainly haven't heard it. I was moved to tears. A beautiful night. And anyone who didn't hear the songs they wanted: there's still City Center!

[jv92]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 12:28am

Wow! What a night! Bravo! Will post more tomorrow.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 12:31am

I can't even believe I got to witness some of that....wow!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 12:45am

I think John McMartin's The Road You Didn't Take was one of the highlights of the evening. Although I did laugh at how quickly he skedaddled off the stage after he was finished.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 12:57am

Such an excellent evening! All those Broadway stars, it some times just took my breath away! But I would say that the highlight of my evening was witnessing John McMartin not only recreate "The Road You Didn't Take," but the whole character of Benjamin Stone. It was one of the few times of the evening I was transported to the the original show and it just seemed like he was singing to Dorothy Collins, don't ask me why, I just felt it.

One of Loony Price's strokes of genius was to have the dueling Sweeneys of Michael Cerveris and George Hearn sing "A Little Priest" with Patti LuPone. It added so much to LuPone's interpretation and made for some thrilling harmonies/vocals/whatever it was just thrilling, spine tingling. I always get choked up at the end of "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through" and tonight was no different, plus the choreography was great! Laura Benanti was in fine voice and she really acted the hell out of "So Many People."

There were two other moments that really stood out to me. The first was Mandy and Bernadette's "Move On," WOW! The two of them still have it and it was so special to see them preform together again. The second was Marin Mazzie's "Losing My Mind." You could tell from the reaction of the five other women sitting around her that she did something spectacular with that song tonight. Her rendition was the best I've ever seen live. Better then Judith Ivey, better than Kim Crosby, and even better than Victoria Clark. All six of the women did wonderfully with their solos (some better then others, yes), but Marin's is the one that resonated the most with me. Brava!!

AND that "Sunday." Oh my god, never sounded better. I was in tears. As well as Mr. Sondheim, I assume.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 7:38am

Anyone know how they coordinated all those performers? Were they all understudies/swings that snuck out of their shows right at/just before curtain? I think I saw 2 Billys there, but I didn't recognize any other stars (granted, I was in the 3rd tier).

Also saw Fyvush Finkel on the way in and Kiril Kulish on the way out. Not the star gazing of the first night, I'm sure, but cool to run into recognizable faces in the hallway.

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 8:03am

We were wondering if they'd do the Sunday number again given that shows were in performance last night. That was a truly unforgettable moment.

Were there any other differences in the night?

[kelzama]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 9:36am

just thinking of hundreds of broadway voices filling every aisle in the theater singing Sunday gives me chills. must have been magical.
Updated On: 3/17/10 at 09:36 AM

[Fanb]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 10:43am

Sounds awesome. What a lineup of talent. Thanks for the reports.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 1:24pm

Jewishboy, that was a great review to read. I wish I'd been there to witness Marin's "Losing My Mind." What did you think of Murphy's "Could I Leave You?"

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 1:32pm

Oh, Ray, thank you. Well in my opinion Murphy's "Could I Leave You?" gets better each time I see her do it (this was my fourth). It was impeccable.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 2:42pm

Marin's Losing My Mind was sublime. I cannot wait to watch it again when the concert airs on PBS.

Also, the gowns/ensembles Diane von Furstenberg designed were lovely. They suited the ladies' personalities and styles so perfectly, too.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 3:07pm

Marin sang the best "Losing My Mind" since Dorothy Collins. Kennedy Center folks and Steve S., look no further for your Sally.

[binau]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 4:18pm

have you heard Murphy's recording of "Losing My Mind"? (What do you think Mazzie does 'better'?)

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/17/10 at 4:41pm

Oh yeah Marin does better. Murphy's interpretation is great, I love listening to it. But, it's not on the same league as Collins and Mazzie.

[MomofOZ]

Posted: 4/30/10 at 6:32am

Jewishboy...it's interesting you thought John McMartin was singing to Dorothy Collins....please go to my website www.rememberingdorothycollins.com and read what he wrote on the Memories page.
Quite the insight you have