Sondheim on Sondheim - aka Who's turn is it to drag Barbara around stage? - Page 2

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 11:00pm

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)?

The one with Rodgers music

[BwayTday]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 11:01pm

I don't feel like starting a new thread, so here is a question. What would happen if one of the performers weren't able to perform one night? Do they have back-ups within the cast? Anyone know?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 11:07pm

They can get Kathie Lee Gifford at a moment's notice.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 11:07pm

There are understudies

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/21/10 at 11:34pm

I know that when Streisand last toured a few years ago, she had a couple teleprompters. She said that after she forgot a few words to some songs at some concerts in the late 1980's, she then was scared to do the same thing again/perform. So from now on, she has a prompter.

So what if Barbra Cook gets dragged around the stage? At least you saw her LIVE. I know that many people on another board was complaining about "An Evening with Patti & Mandy". I don't care. I can now say I saw Patti Lupone LIVE. Because who knows if the chance will ever come to me again.

Also, can somebody explain the Rodgers' music and Sondheim's music for "Do I Hear A Waltz"? As I only thought they used Rodgers' music. I've never heard of Sondheim writing music for the song.

[BobbyRobbyBobbyBaby]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:01am

I love how folks stand up for Ms. Cook and how much love is shown to her. She is a living legend and totally deserves it. She is one of the nicest people one could ever meet.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:05am

I'd take a bullet for that woman.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:08am

I do think it is a little sad that she now has to be lead around on stage, but that is one of the sad things about getting old, and that's life so who cares, and besides it's Barbara Cook she is the last of a dieing breed, enjoy what you can get out of her while you can. I would love to be able to say I saw her live on stage, teleprompter and seeing eye actors or not.
I did see Patti and Mandy just so I could say I saw them live, and I don't even care for Patti's voice,but it's cool to say I saw her live, even if she didn't sing her signature song that night.

[Brick]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:11am

Carrie Fisher had a teleprompter with WISHFUL THINKING in Berkeley. I didn't hear anything about it in New York, so I imagine it was just for previews and while they were working on the show.

[BobbyRobbyBobbyBaby]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:17am

She is 83 and doing 8 shows a week. I'd be lucky if I can do 8 things a day at that age. LOL!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:24am

She is not being "lead" around the stage.
The wonderful cast around her seem to care and help her a few moments, but she hits her marks and her musicality is brilliant.
I actually think the cast wants to connect to her so some of her magic rubs off on them, there are many tender moments between them.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:41am

The only time she is "led around the stage" is when she has to exit in dim lighting. The woman is 82 years old and I would venture to guess her eyes don't adjust as fast when walking into darkness from bright stage lights. The rest of the time she seemed to get around just fine on her own.

Hell, even if for some reason she did have to do a performance in a wheelchair and have the cast push her around (which any of them would certainly be very happy to do) - WHO CARES? She's got a better voice than most people half her age and she's certainly earned the right to take it easy.

When a legend like Cook comes to town and can STILL deliver the goods - you don't gripe about the small things.

[A Director]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 1:21am

Let's see how some of the current crop of Broadway Belters sound when they turn 83.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 9:33am

WHOSE turn. Not who's turn. Who's is "who is."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 10:07am

Oh c'mon, a Sondheim cut song is miles better than most of the stuff that makes it into the shows these days.

Depends on the song, but for the most part, I disagree.

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.

I do, too. I always assumed it was one of his favorites since he wrote a very similar song for Into the Woods entitled, Moments in the Woods.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:07pm

Sorry Kids.. She may have been great back in her day and may be the nicest person on earth but, I did not enjoy her performance at all in SOS. Maybe they were just bad song choices but, the Passion segment was deadly until Norm Lewis started singing. I just didn't feel anything from her.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 12:12pm

"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."

But Williams did sing a song from DICK TRACY. At least, she did on Friday, I suppose it's possible it was cut already.

Also, Barbara Cook was not "led" around the stage. That's a moronic statement.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 2:49pm

"Also, Barbara Cook was not "led" around the stage. That's a moronic statement."

Um...sorry...I enjoyed her performance and all...but she was... at least *coughs* guided around the stage.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 2:58pm

I believe the OP's original statement was that she was "dragged" around the stage.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 2:58pm

Yero, what Dick Tracy are you referring to? I was there Friday, and don't recall anything from Dick Tracy, and nothing from that film was listed in the playbill.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 4:00pm

Honestly, so what if there's a teleprompter? As long as you aren't losing something in her performance, who cares if she's getting a little help. I hope to get to see SoS, mainly to get to see Cook perform.

And I could be wrong, but I have a feeling that Lansbury has a BIT more than playing cards on her wheelchair tray . . . even if there is, I could care LESS! She also mops up the stage with everyone around her. She has SUCH SKILL, that what she does in ALNM seems effortless!

[keithp]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 4:09pm

In an a newspaper interview Ms Lansbury said she did use an earpiece in Blithe Spirit - saying that if the audience wanted to keep seeing veteran actors on stage that was one way of helping them do so (I am paraphrasing).

[keithp]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 4:20pm

I meant to say in my last post - I forgot, I need a teleprompter,so shoot me. The tone of your post was rude and distasteful in the extreme. Cook is a great performer - I saw her as recently as last year and she puts many younger performers to shame with her artistry. Perhaps as you mature (or should I say grow up)you will realise that singing isn't about huge voices and big notes. It is about the words and the meaning too and not many people deliver that more than Barbara Cook.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 4:23pm

I LOVE Barbara Cook. She's one of the main attractions in this production for me. If a teleprompter or other assistance helps her and doesn't ruin the flow of the show, then give the woman what she needs to be the star she is, has been, and always will be.

I hope that at some point something from Pacific Overtures is added. Would love Someone in a Tree, as it's one of my favorite Sondheim songs. But actually I'd love pretty much anything that gave a nod to that amazing show.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/22/10 at 4:33pm

Yero, what Dick Tracy are you referring to? I was there Friday, and don't recall anything from Dick Tracy, and nothing from that film was listed in the playbill.

Arg. You're right. The song I was thinking of was from FOLLIES. My mistake.

As someone else pointed out, Cook may have been helped offstage at some moments when the lights were especially dim, which is certainly understandable at her age. That is entirely different from being led around the stage all night. She is still perfectly capable of entering and finding her marks all by herself.