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

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/21/23 at 7:41am

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! 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/6/23 at 9:33am

Full Cast Announced! 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtJKPZnonS3/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 9:46pm

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]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 2:37am

It is selling fairly poorly right now.

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 10:05am

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.)

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 12:10pm

I feel it will still come over. The London production could be like an Out of Town tryout and bring it home to Broadway next year. 

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:12pm

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

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:50pm

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

She sounded great in the Gala performance that they filmed! She’s a legend! 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 1:04am

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]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 3:50am

I always wondered what Bernadette must think of her vocal decline, and then I read an article from 1999 where Bernadette did make some comments about her aspirations to sing into her older age. "Lena Horne was doing her concert at 65 . . . I mean, my voice may lose some of its luster. But look what I can look forward to, you know? Hopefully I can keep on singing". Well, I guess it did indeed lose some of its lustre but Bernadette is still singing not just at 65, but 75. And I imagine she is very happy about this. As am I. 

I have noticed that since Annie Get Your Gun each time she does step on stage her voice feels a little more tired - the irony is that if you listen to the 'Gypsy' cast recording now from 2003 in hindsight I think she sounds excellent vocally when you consider the state of her voice now. However, I personally think this is just part of the ageing process and I enjoy listening to the changes in Bernadette's voice over time. Her "Losing My Mind" at original Old Friends concert in particular still comes across as particularly desperate and devastating with the sound of her voice right now. I don't think "I know things now" really fits well in her voice, and it won't be the performance of 'Children will listen' you heard on the ITW OBC. But her signature vulnerability and unusual/unique/bizarre texture of her voice are still there.

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. 

Updated On: 8/13/23 at 03:50 AM

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 11:08am

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.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 11:35am

I'm often torn between hearing an older cherished performer one more time and potentially being quite disappointed or just staying with my positive memories of when I've seen them before.  I remember turning out to see Stritch in A Little Night Music and how painful it was to watch her labor through moments when she clearly could not remember lines.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 8:25pm

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!

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/13/23 at 8:30pm

It really is quite amazing that LuPone has been bulldozing Being Alive in concert for more than two decades.  It is as if she's never really thought about how to tell the story contained in that song and build both the emotional and vocal arc.

[The Rural Juror]

Posted: 8/14/23 at 2:18pm

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. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 8:41am

First Preview has been delayed to September 21 due to the withdrawal of Haydn Gwynne. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw422IouUnO/?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ==

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 1:40pm

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

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 2:07pm

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

I’m really sorry that happened to you Jordan! Hope Haydn Gwynne is ok. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 2:35pm

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.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 2:52pm

Jordan Catalano said: "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."

I'm confused as well. It's also a concert, correct? So, it's not like the understudy or standby has book scenes and blocking to learn. Although, according to their website, all dates are currently listed as "Good" for avalibility. Not a single "limited" or "sold out". Does this have audience?

 

[binau]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 3:16pm

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). 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 3:25pm

I'm actually surprised that Michael Ball did not wanna join this show since Aspects ended prematurely. Guess he has some other projects lined up. 

[MisterJT07]

Posted: 9/7/23 at 3:50pm

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.   

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/8/23 at 8:37am

According to Playbill's article, Haydn Gwynne has withdrawn from the production due to "personal circumstances". To be honest, I assumed she was only out for a week or so, not the whole run.

Playbill Link

[JasonC3]

Posted: 9/9/23 at 1:46pm

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