Sondheim on Sondheim - aka Who's turn is it to drag Barbara around stage?

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:02pm

Went to the 8pm Performance last night.

Its a LONG show! we got out at 10:50. There are many, many, unnecessary songs/scenes that could be cut to make it shorter and tighter. I agree with another poster who said "there is a good show in there somewhere".

One complaint I have was there are to many cut songs from shows. I want to hear the songs I know and enjoy. If you are going to do a song from Gypsy I want to hear Vanessa Williams belt out Everything's coming up Roses or Roses turn. Not the cut song "Smile Girls". I felt that there was a lot of lost opportunity with the material. I will say that of all the strong performers up on that stage I could listen to Vanessa Williams all night long. Someone please write her a show!

Hopefully in the next few weeks they will fix some of the problem areas.

Funny Note: My partner leaned over to me and said .. They are using a TelePrompTer! I said "On the rail? No that's a live video feed of the conductor so the actors can follow". He said NO look! I looked up and sure enough there is a TelePrompTer on the rail that only comes on for Barbara Cook's lyrics. This is my first time ever seeing Barbara Cook live and I must admit I was under whelmed with her. Which is weird to me because I have always heard such praise for her. Last night Everyone had to literally hold her to lead her around the stage. Is she that old? Do they lead Angela Lansbury across the stage by hand in Night Music?

I will revisit the show again later in the run to hopefully see a tighter and shorter show.

R ;o)

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:09pm

There is another thread you could have posted this in.
That is really interesting about the teleprompter though.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:18pm

Do they lead Angela Lansbury across the stage by hand in Night Music?

Actually, yes. She's in a wheelchair the entire show, but I think the leading her around has more to do with her character than with her old age.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:38pm

Angela got around just fine by herself during BLITHE SPRIT.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:43pm

Not only did she get around just fine in Blithe Spirit, she was dancing, doing leg kicks.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:50pm

Angela is also in much better shape than Ms. Cook.

I own this: http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Lansburys-Positive-Moves/dp/B0007DFP00

[Horton]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 1:58pm

I am not surprised by Barbara Cook teleprompter. Last year I saw her in concert at Tanglewood and a few times she forgot her lyrics. When this happened, she would look over at her accompanist and he would help her out by vamping and reminding her what came next. She has a beautiful voice, and the concert was fantastic but that does stick in my mind. Ironically, although I remember it happening more than once the only specific song I remember it happening on is "No One Is Alone."

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 5:42pm

I feel exactly the same way as you. I was hoping for at least If Momma Was Married from Gypsy and more than 2 songs that weren't cut from Company. Or maybe a few more West Side Story songs in there. Way to many cut songs that obviously weren't good enough to be in the original show. I did LOVE the videos of Sondheim (both the old and new ones) and I wish there were more. They need to cut out a few of the numbers and shorten it a good 30 minutes.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:12pm

Barbara is glorious in this show. Everyone else (except Sondheim) is mediocre. I loved the video interviews and the Cook segements and songs, but the rest of Sondheim on Sondheim left me cold.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:20pm

I think it's much better than "Putting It Together."

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:35pm

I saw the show today, and agree it is WAY TOO long. Is there really a need to have a sencond act? They should cut down on all the songs and make it a one act show and make it a faster paced musical. Some of the clips were really funny and some of the songs I was wondering what they hell are these and why did they put these into the show. Sondheim has so many nice pieces that they didn't display them. Cook started weak for some reason and got better throughout the show.

Also, I was talking to Norm Lewis at the stagedoor and he said there is a strong chance this will be extended.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:38pm

Sondheim has had 2 other major revues on Broadway. Obviously the cut songs are to give us some variety, and they keep the song selection from being too similar to the past revues. And there really aren't THAT many cut songs. Act 2 opens with a brand new song written for this production, some of you might be confusing that as a "cut song."
Updated On: 3/21/10 at 07:38 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:41pm

Oh c'mon, a Sondheim cut song is miles better than most of the stuff that makes it into the shows these days. I find it more disappointing that Pacific Overtures isn't represented. Especially considering Sondheim himself considers "Someone In a Tree" some of his best work.

Also sad that Kritzer isn't used more. She would have knocked Another 100 People or Miller's Son out-of-the-mark.

Also thought "Water Under the Bridge" would be perfect far for Williams' pop voice or something from Dick Tracy.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:43pm

"Oh c'mon, a Sondheim cut song is miles better than most of the stuff that makes it into the shows these days. I find it more disappointing that Pacific Overtures isn't represented. "

- Agreed!

"Also sad that Kritzer isn't used more. She would have knocked Another 100 People or Miller's Son out-of-the-mark."

- Agreed! I thought for sure she would have sang "Another Hundred People."

"Also thought "Water Under the Bridge" would be perfect far for Williams' pop voice or something from Dick Tracy."

- Agreed! I really wanted that number included. But they didn't include any of his work for film, besides "Take Me To The World."


Updated On: 3/21/10 at 07:43 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:46pm

Why didn't they just do all 4 Evening Primrose numbers? After all, it'd be the first time they were heard on Broadway.

I also find it odd that Pacific Overtures isn't represented as he's recently declared it part of a trilogy (with Assassins and Road Show) about America.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:48pm

I found it very odd as well! Maybe they will add something in during previews?
As of now, music from Pacific Overtures can only be heard during the entr'acte.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 7:49pm

QUESTION: Is the Do I Hear a Waltz? included the one with Rodgers music or the one with music and lyrics by Sondheim (seen in Putting it Together)?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 8:04pm

Don't quote me, but I think it's the version with Rodgers music. I could be wrong, I am hardly an expert when it comes to that score.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 8:46pm

Excuse me, but if you are REALLY into musical theater, count as a blessing that for the rest of your life you can say "I saw Barbara Cook, live." Just how live she was is an afterthought and neede't be mentioned.

I once saw certain parts of Rex Harrison live in the West End when he had to be at least 110 (or so it seemed.) But who gives a f. It was Rex Harrison.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 9:54pm

I hope you and your partner keep your pieholes shut when Ms. Cook is helped to the stage when she wins her Tony Award.
As far as being underwhelmed I get the feeling people expect her to belt or something, This is one of the finest voices in musical comedy history and the fact that she is singing so magnificently at her age is a miracle.
She understands a song, the melody and the lyrics and acts accordingly. If she is having some trouble adjusting to the set in the lights during the previews, who the Frig cares. As an above poster said be glad you can say you saw Ms. Cook in any show, much less a Sondheim show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 10:01pm

"As far as being underwhelmed I get the feeling people expect her to belt or something, This is one of the finest voices in musical comedy history and the fact that she is singing so magnificently at her age is a miracle."

I get that feeling too. Sadly, those expecting that have very little understanding of Cook and why her voice is so special.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 10:19pm

Seriously! You guys get to see Barbara Fvckin COOK. Live. In person. Singing. One of the last legends from her era still performing and you have the nerve to complain or try to mock her in some way?

Sorry but Miss Cook is one of the nicest people I actually have the privilege of knowing and nobody works harder at what they do than she does. So if she needs a little help in order to give you and everyone else an evening they'll never forget, I trust you can forgive her for a TelePrompTer if she needs it right now.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 10:24pm

^ Also, Angela Lansbury used an ear piece during Blithe Spirit in case she needed a line. I imagine she has the same thing for ALNM.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 10:26pm

^ She actually does not use an ear piece in Night Music. The idea was toyed around with, but she refused. It took her a while, but now she has all of her lines and lyrics down perfectly.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 10:27pm

ljay is correct. She absolutely did not want any kind of assistance on this show.