Sondheim Gala at City Center! WOW!

This is a wet dream. Jealous.

I was a bit shocked by how pedestrian this was -- especially since John Doyle helmed it. No imagination whatsoever. Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou together on a stage, and they aren't even asked to eek out a few notes from Sweeney? If Glynis Johns wanted to be there, why weren't the seas parted to be sure that that happened? Nothing from Follies, except the overture? Half a song from Forum? Most everything done in reverse-chronological order? Snooze.

Debra Monk was GREAT. Len Cariou sounded so solid. The Someone in a Tree number was STUNNING. Lane and Murphy were as dependable as ever. But for the price of these tickets, and the potential of the evening, this was a big disappointment. Where was Bernadette? Patti? Elaine? Barbara? Victor Garber? Harvey Evans?

Updated On: 4/26/10 at 10:13 PM

Tonight was truly a special night. After having listened to the Sweeney OBCR countless times, actually hearing Len Cariou's voice on Pretty Women was almost an eerie experience.

Raul was INCREDIBLE and sent the audience into a tizzy after Being Alive.

CZJ arrived baubled, bangled and beaded, and really acted her songs nicely. I may need to ask adamgreer and ljay's permission, but I would really like to join the Angela mafia and start campaigning full-time for her 6th Tony win.

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"nothing from 'follies'".....maria did "broadway baby"

And Joanna Gleason! And the original Cinderella. (What was her name?) And seeing Danielle Ferland again.

Kim Crosby! I love her.

I'm so jealous of all those that were able to go, it sounds like it was amazing.

I enjoyed myself immensely tonight, and there were many wonderful moments, but I agree with some others that the Lincoln Center concert was overall superior- it felt more polished and professional. This one seemed much more "thrown together" and lacked the "wow" factor of the Lincoln Center show.

That being said, the highlights for me this evening were the original cast of Into the Woods uniting to sing No One is Alone, Deborah Monk singing The Gun Song, the Merrily overture, and Nathan Lane (who woke the audience up after Sutton bored us all with her Anyone Can Whistle). Lane arriving onstage with the tuba and cello was priceless. Angela was resplendent, as always, but why did they have her sing Liaisons? I can hear that 8 times a week at the Walter Kerr! I also loved the finale- Jim Walton led the entire group in a rendition on Our Time.

If Glynis Johns wanted to be there, why weren't the seas parted to be sure that that happened?
I believe her health precluded it, the same reason she wasn't at the opening of A Little Night Music.

Updated On: 4/26/10 at 10:41 PM

That was amazing. I had such a great time! I enjoyed the song line-up better here, but liked the cast line-up slightly better at LCT.

It was thrilling to see Len Cariou live, especially holding hands with Angela.
Raul was great as always. Loved the Woods reunion. Maria Friedman was a surprising delight. Debra Monk truly brought the house down. Catherine performed an emotional Clowns out of context.

I may need to ask adamgreer and ljay's permission, but I would really like to join the Angela mafia and start campaigning full-time for her 6th Tony win.

Please do join! We need all the help we can get.

Updated On: 4/26/10 at 10:52 PM

She truly deserves it. Her "Liaisons" was perfection tonight (after not having sung it for two weeks - she returns to the show tomorrow).

Team Finneran!

"Liaisons" has to be one of Sondheim's worst songs. Blech!

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One bit of annoyance I have to mention....someone needs to PLEASE tell the people in the lighting booth (at the back of the gallery) to SHUT UP during the show. I could hear their entire conversationand knew that they were quite excited that the Jets opted not to sign Leon Washington. It was really rude and incredibly disrespectful.

If I knew where the door to the booth was I would have taken matters into my own hands and told them to shut up.

Myself, ljay, and our other friend had N102, 104, and 106, right next to the lighting booth.

Updated On: 4/26/10 at 11:38 PM

Just had to comment on seating: Adamgreer, I apologize if I blocked your view at all. I was in M102 and tried my hardest not to bob and weave, but man is it about time they're renovating to improve the sightlines at City Center. I watched most of the performances with my left eye only and through the spiky hair of someone two rows in front of me. Nevertheless, a thrilling evening. Raul was absolutely amazing, as were Murphy, Lansbury, and a host of the other usual suspects. For me the two biggest wows of the night were Maria Friedman busting out big at the end of "Broadway Baby"--what a carefully and delightfully calibrated performance--and Jim Walton leading the ast in "Our Time."