Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends to run in the West End with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga — Page 2

binau said: "Was just dreaming that if it came to Broadway it would be amazing if it was finally the Bernadette/Patti show we’ve always dreamed of. The set list could easily suit both headlining. I would not be surprised if Patti was already asked for the west end run and said no lol."

Now that you mentioned it, I’m also a bit surprised that Patti isn’t doing it in London. I think she loves it over there more than NYC. Correct me if I’m wrong. As for a Bernadette/Patti show on Broadway, I think that’s definitely possible! Just depends on if the Queen herself wants to do it or not!

Robbie2 said: "I bet this will land on Broadway as well for a limited engagement spring '24 ... Bernadette Peters and ?"

Now I'm hearing from some sources that we could see a production of this next year April '24 now wouldn't that be amazing!

https://sondheimoldfriends.com/

JasonC3 said: "It is selling fairly poorly right now."

Dammit. If it doesn't sell well in London, I don't know why they would bring it to the USA in the spring.

By the way, huge Lea Salonga fan here. There's speculation that Lea would go back into HERE LIES LOVE after OLD FRIENDS in London - especially during Tony award voting time. However, Lea's role is so small in HLL, I have this fantasy where Lea could be in both shows in the spring. It's highly unlikely that it's even logistically possible. Also, not sure if anyone is allowed to be in two shows running simultaneously. (There's a famous story about Cynthia Nixon doing it back in the 80s, but I think they made an Equity rule against that afterwards.)

How did Bernadette sound in that special concert performance and/or has anyone heard her sing live recently?

SisterGeorge said: "How did Bernadette sound in that special concert performance and/or has anyone heard her sing live recently?"

She’s a legend ofc but she did not sound good at all IMHO. I think her vocal has been declining since Annie Get Your Gun. So sad but it’s just nature. I’m still looking forward to seeing her in London

binau said: "....Unless you actually dislike the sound of her voice (and I know some do because it's quite bizarre) I don't know why anyone would want to miss what will perhaps be a final chance before the theatre dumbs down to hear Bernadette stumble through a song or two, and lie about what we are hearing a little. Every opportunity to see her now might be our one last look and soon she won't be coming down those stairs again. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Completely agree. I have concerns after the last time I heard her on TV (was it the Tonys? the Sondheim Birthday?), but of course we will be at the show our first night in London.

Speaking of Sondheim muses singing into their 70's, we just saw Patti LuPone at the Hollywood Bowl's Sondheim concert last Sunday. That lady is still pretty damn dazzling, if unevenly so. Her "Being Alive" was like a bulldozer running over any nuance with the dials up at 11, but then she dueted with Brian Stokes Mitchell on the full version of "A Little Priest" which was pure bliss. In Act II she kind of ruined "Send in the Clowns" with a strange sort of yodeling to arrive at each note. But the peak of the night was her supremely well-wrought "Ladies Who Lunch", which was just perfection. On balance, she still has a voice that can be magnificent if given the right direction. Brava!

I saw Bernadette in concert in Pasadena back in June. I thought she sounded pretty remarkable for a 75 year old woman. Of course people love to compare any Broadway actress in her 70s to Patti's current vocals, but that's not really fair at all. Bernadette sounds, at her worst, absolutely fine given her age and how long she's been doing this. It appears to me that she often holds back, so as not to blow her voice too early. She sang for over an hour, and still ended with "Being Alive" where she fully belted the last note of the song as if it was 1990 again. Wonderful!

Not to mention how unbelievable she is physically. I don't mean her looks (though, yes, those are beyond reproach for her age) but more her energy and movement. Extremely few in her age bracket have the physicality she's managed to maintain for so long.

Waking up to the email my performances have been canceled was…not on my list of BS to deal with today.

I hope she’ll be ok, she’s incredible. I’m confused as to their lack of a standby who can go on for a week though, while they recast.

The only performances that really have sold many tickets are (or were) the first and last performance. Find it a little awkward. Feels a little like Cameron Mackintosh wrongly assumed the strong demand for the ‘real’ concert would translate to a run, even after losing most/all of the big names (eg Staunton, Ball, Dench).

Based on Bonnie Langford's interview that I saw, the run is not really a concert where someone sings 2-3 songs then they leave the stage and then return in the finale. She said that this run is going to be different (from the 1 night concert) because it's going to be staged like an ensemble piece where everyone is pretty much interacting with each other on stage. She also mentioned that the show is going to be like 7 or so "mini-shows" of Sondheim musicals.

Bernadette Peters: ‘Sondheim’s music is about the big, important things’

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/sep/09/bernadette-peters-sondheims-music-is-about-the-big-important-things