Sondheims' Finest
Sondheims' Finest
#0Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:00pmNVM, using search function
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
Updated On: 1/2/05 at 06:00 PM
#1re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:01pm
Didn't we discuss this a few months ago.
Oh well-I love ITW ASSASSINS and SITPWG
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
#2re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:03pmoh. whoops. sorry, i'll delete this thread and use the search button better
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
#3re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:05pm
OK, I'll bite.
1. SWEENEY TODD
2. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
3. COMPANY
4. A FUNNY THING HAPPEND ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
5. FOLLIES
6. INTO THE WOODS
7. PASSION
8. SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
9. ASSASSINS
10. ANYONE CAN WHISTLE
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
Updated On: 1/2/05 at 06:05 PM
#4re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:07pmSweeney is all Broadway will ever need.
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
#5re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:10pmSondheim as said himself that his only show that he thinks is absolutely perfect is ASSASSINS, so we know that ASSASSINS is, in his opinion, HIS finest. I wouldn't flat out disagree, but in my opinion his finest score is SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, closely followed by SWEENEY TODD.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#6re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:14pmI would have to say SWEENEY TODD, closely followed by SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:21pm
Actually, did he say Assassins is "perfect" or did he say that it's exactly the show that he and Weidman set out to do? I think it was the latter.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
Updated On: 1/2/05 at 06:21 PM
#9re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:24pm
Assassins is slowly gaining on SITPWG's Number Two spot in my mind.
But I find it impossible to really rank his shows.
I mean, it changes for me all the time.
PO was down at number 8 or so, but after I saw the revival I'd probably put it at number 4 or 5.
The only one set in stone is Sweeney at Number 1.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
maybethistime
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/04
#10re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:31pm
I love his classic collabs, esp. WWS and Gypsy and as for music&lyrics, SWEENEY is flawless (except that when you listen to the obcr, you have to ajust your volume every 5 minutes too keep your ears on, like when the chorus suddenly comes in... 
)
VeuveClicquot
Broadway Star Joined: 11/2/04
#11re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:36pmWhoops, posted in the wrong thread. Sorry, message moved. Updated On: 1/2/05 at 06:36 PM
#12re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:38pmHe spoke in one of my classes - what he said was that ASSASSINS is his favorite show, and the only one with no room for improvement. I doubt you were in my class, and I'm certain that I'm correct in what I heard.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:41pmDon't get bent out of shape, Munk, I'm not challenging you. I recall him making similar statements in print around the time of the Assassins revival, but I don't recall him saying Assassins is "perfect". That's all.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:58pmSITPWG is his most brilliant score IMO. The rest his scores -- Follies, Sweeney, Company, ALNM, ITW, PO et al are all remarkable for various reasons. I wouldn't try to rank them.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 1/2/05 at 06:58 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#16re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:06pmeh, i'm not a big Follies fan. Assassins, Pacific Overtures and Forum are my favs (i've never heard Sweeny Todd. I KNOW! I KNOW! shoot me know...)
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
Updated On: 1/2/05 at 07:06 PM
#17re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:20pm
I say this often...
Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George
Pacific Overtures is right up there too
#18re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:21pmYou have NEVER heard Sweeney Todd? Where have you been?
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#19re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:22pmi've been obsessing over Sondheims other work. Oh i'm SORRy!!! *takes off his b-way expert/lover padge and hangs it woefully on the shlef* I'll never ever be worthy!!
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#20re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:25pm
1. Sweeny
2. Into the Woods (though it lacks thought-provoking material)
#21re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:27pmWe have to find a way to remedy that.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#22re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:27pm
I wouldn't say it lacks thought-provoking material if you know what to look for.
(Whatever happened to that ITW Sexual Undertones thread?)
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#23re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:35pm
Follies is creeping its way up my list; I'm reading Everything Was Possible right now. Fascinating book.
My #1 changes all the time.
#24re: Sondheims' Finest
Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:37pm
Gov, I'm fnishing up a Jerome Robbins biography and then I'm going to re-read Everything Was Possible
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
Videos