Sondheim's Best/Worst?

[Orpheum]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 6:50pm

Best - SWEENEY TODD

Worst - FOLLIES

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 7:06pm

Not enough to say what you think is best and worst..say why. And don't use lame excuses like "It was boring" say what you think are the key flaws... weak book, uninteresting characters, bad performances etc. Also say whther you actually have seen the show or just know it from recordings.

For me BEST: SWEENEY TODD becaus it has a sensational book, lyrics that perfectly encapsulate the story and characters and the spookiest score ever heard on Broadway. This is Broadway at its very best.

The worst: DO I HEAR A WALTZ? - By no means really awful but there are great lyrics and wonderful tunes but seldom in the same song....and the book never really interests us in the chraracters. Sill, I have never seen WALTZ only read the script and heard the cast album.

Updated On: 8/26/05 at 07:06 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 7:23pm

Follies is the worst what? You might not want to make a comment like that and not back it up!

I don't think he has a best and worst. I enjoy all his works for different reasons.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 7:25pm

Best: Sweeney Todd
Worst (and only even slightly bad show): Getting Away With Murder

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/26/05 at 8:20pm

His work is so diverse, there's no way to compare.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:24am

I have to agree with orpheum.
My personal fav is Sweeney todd and least fav is follies OF WHAT I HAVE HEARD.
I own/saw:Sweeney todd, sunday in the park with george, assassins, passion, company, into the woods, pacific overtures, follies, and a little night music

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:07am

Best: Sweeney Todd. Just pure brilliance. I'm not even sure where to begin, because if I do, I'll have to go on and on.

Worst: I'm not familiar with any of his early, minor stuff (i.e. Saturday Night, etc.), but as far as his work goes in his shows, I'd actually say West Side Story. Not his worst show, but far from his best work.

"Keep away from her -
Send for Chino.
This is not the Ma-
ria we
know. Modest and pure..."

I don't think that's the only instance of West Side's lyrics not really syncing exactly with the music and rhythms. Also, outside of "Something's Coming," Sondheim himself has said many a time that he isn't particularly proud of his lyrics on West Side. And when you can't decide something, always refer to what Stephen Sondheim says or does.

Hey, WWSSD? (What Would Stephen Sondheim Do?) That goes perfectly with "Unworthy of Your Words!"

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:14am

Only you Priest. Only you would list "Getting Away With Murder" someone was clutching his Meryle Secrest Sondheim bio!

[yipper]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:27am

Lets keep in mind that Sondhiem's worst is better than most other's best.

My favorite Sondheim show is "Follies." One of the best books ever written for the stage with a score that can't be beat. But beyond that, I always find myself profoundly moved when I see it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:22am

Best - Follies
Worst - I have to think about it

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:25am

Jam-man, in citing WSS, were you referring to Sondheim's contribution to the show or the show itself? BIG difference.

Also I wonder...I read saw/somewhere that Bernstein and Sondheim wrote lyrics for WSS, but when they put both their names to the lyrics, everyone would forget Sondheim and write things like music and lyrics by Bernstein. So Bernstein took his name out of lyrics to give Sondheim notice. Does anyone have any idea, I'd be really interested to know what songs Bernstein himself contributed some lyrics to.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:36am

BEST: Sweeney Todd.

STTDBOFS is Sondheim's masterpiece, and the show for which he will always be remembered. Even were it not the work of genius it is, the subject alone would makeit THE Sondheim show by which all others would be defined.

WORST: BOUNCE

Sondheim was definately off his game with WISE GUYS/GOLD!/ BOUNCE. The constant name changes I feel reflected the turmoil and search for cohesion the show was undergoing. As they say about musicals: You never finish a musical, you abandon it. I feel that this wasthe case with BOUNCE; Sondheim got sick of beating this dead horse.

BTW: Bounce is still a pretty well-written show, despite having no legs.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:27pm

Best - Sweeney Todd or Assassins. Both snesational.

Worst: Most likely Do I Hear a Waltz, though "What Do We Do? We Fly!" is remarkably truthful.

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:30pm

wickedqrent, I was talking about his contributions. Now, they're still pretty good, but a LONG, LONG way from 90% of his other works. West Side as a whole is, IMO, easily one of the top 5 musicals ever.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:32pm

Personally I liked the score from Waltz

Take The Moment
Bargaining
This Week Americans
Someone Like You
Stay
Do I Hear A Waltz ?

[roquat]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:49pm

Yes, another boring vote for "Sweeney " as his best.

Worst--"Passion", without a doubt. Send evil posts if you like, but it was the one time I actually agreed with the snotty old matinee matrons who were grumbling about it as they left the theatre. Pointless, redundant, with NO memorable music (I generally like at least one or two songs from every Sondheim show, even the ones I'm not nuts about; not this time.) It was like watching a stomachache. I doubt anyone would have applauded even if there had been pauses after the "songs", or come back after the non-existent intermission. As soon as the final curtain fell, everyone got up to leave; it opened again for the curtain call and people heading up the aisles stopped, gave up some perfunctory applause, and then fled.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:17pm

Best: Sweeney or Assassins.

Worst: Probably something I haven't seen.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:32pm

Best: Sweeney Todd

Worst: Bounce

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:10pm

Let's face it...whichever Sondheim show you mention as best or worst, someone is going to disagree with you. Even the Sondheim I don't "love" has something redeemable, sometimes even remarkable.

I cannot understand how anyone can think FOLLIES is a bad show. It's brilliant. However, I thought the recent Broadway revival was overall pretty terrible. (Some fabulous individual performances though.) The London revival in 1988 was sensational. And, of course, the original....

Someone hated Passion, and I have to admit that I was less than enthusiastic about seeing it, but since we missed the Broadway run, my husband wanted to see the Kennedy Center production a few summers ago. Even the NYTimes said that the DC production bordered on historic. Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn and Rebecca Luker were simply amazing. The audience was blown away. I was moved to tears at the end.

And I adore COMPANY, which was the first Sondheim show I ever saw on Broadway (in 1970!), but even Sondheim himself said that he didn't understand the character of bobby until he saw the Kennedy Center production. (I am not comparing the two productions, mind you. I enjoyed them both immensely, but how can you compare the original cast of that show to ANY other????)

What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that the way Sondheim is produced is critical to its being appreciated. I didn't see Saturday Night or The Frogs, but, as someone else on is thread mentioned, even Sondheim's "worst" is better than most's "best." (Oooh, that was a tricky sentence.)

Sorry about the long post!