Sunday In The Park With George @ SF Playhouse

SFCowboy said: "I saw Sunday In The Park With George at the SF Playhouse earlier this week. I wasn't expecting much, but I ended up really impressed with this production. It's a small theater, so it doesn't have quite the impact of a large-scale production, but the singing was fantastic. The 6(?)-member orchestra was so good, at first I thought it was a recording. This is the strongest show I've seen at this theater in the past couple of years. Recommended! I just received a promo code from the theater for 15% off: FRIEND15.

I also had the pleasure of riding MUNI home with two of the actors from the show. I learned that Celeste 1 and Celeste 2 are actually sisters in real life, with one replacing a different actress who left the show."

Just can't bring myself to see "...George" in such an intimate setting. Still hoping that ACT revives its beautiful production sometime.

I enjoyed it for the second time a week ago.

It's in Union Square, so the usual lots and structures are your best bets. It's part of the same building as The Kensington Hotel (enter through the hotel lobby - it's on the 2nd floor) and Farallon Restaurant. It used to be the Elk's Lodge.

They've got a great "happy half hour" from 60-30 minutes before curtain with half price drinks (and intermission reorders) in their comfortable lobby.

NYfanfromCA said: "We are seeing this on Sunday. I've never been to this venue, so am not sure where to park, but we will figure it out. Glad you enjoyed the singing. The reviews I read panned the costumes and set."

My wife and I are also going to the musical on Sunday. We're seeing the evening show. Street parking isn't too awful, depending on your patience or willingness to walk a bit. It might be tougher if you're seeing the matinee. MarkBearSF's directions are a good guide.

I saw the original ''Sunday in the Park With George'' on Broadway many, many times, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, and their PBS filming and 1994 reunion concert. Plus, the meh Menier Chocolate Factory version and 2017's radiant revival, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. I know the show so well, frankly, I was tempted to skip the S.F. Playhouse production, but I'm glad I didn't. I doubt anyone will ever truly escape the iconic spirits of Patinkin and Peters, but John Bambery and Nanci Zoppi are more than up to the task. And part of what makes this revival so special is the intimacy of the theater.

Here's a BWW interview I did with Bambery, who plays George ...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/BWW-Exclusive-John-Bambery-Paints-the-Town-in-SUNDAY-IN-THE-PARK-WITH-GEORGE-and-Recalls-His-Visit-with-Chita-Rivera-20180725

Updated On: 8/18/18 at 06:38 PM

Wayman_Wong said: "I saw the original ''Sunday in the Park With George'' on Broadway many, many times, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, and their PBS filming and 1994 reunion concert. Plus, the meh Menier Chocolate Factory version and 2017's radiant revival, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. I know the show so well, frankly, I was tempted to skip the S.F. Playhouse production, but I'm glad I didn't. I doubt anyone will ever truly escape the iconic spirits of Patinkin and Peters, but John Bambery and Nanci Zoppi are more than up to the task. And part of what makes this revival so special is the intimacy of the theater."

Okay, sold. Just bought my tickets. Thanks Wayman.

You're welcome, Hest88. Hope you have a terrific time.

I actually had a couple of minor quibbles, but the reviews have been almost all rapturous. Let us know what you think!

Updated On: 8/19/18 at 02:09 PM

*Nancy Zoppi, for the record.

We saw the Sunday 8/19 matinee. Agree that the singing and acting were both wonderful! The leads are very strong, and really, everyone was great. I didn't know much about the story except I had listened to the most recent Broadway cast recording and loved it. I didn't realize that it was based on a real-life artist! Anyhow, talk about going in slightly blind!

We sat in row B, the third row, on the center aisle. The gentleman in front of us on the aisle was super tall, so we had to move our heads a bit to the right and left to see around him. If I see a production here again (which I will since I purchased a 6-pack FlexPass that never expires), I will opt for a row further back with a slight rake. The seats are old and worn and I could feel the metal bar through the cushion while I was sitting, but luckily the singing was so beautiful and the music so mesmerizing, that I forgot about my discomfort for most of the show.

Having not seen a production of this before, I don't have anything to compare it to. The costumes could have been nicer, certainly. I could see loose threads hanging from George's shirt sleeves, and I thought that the colors were drab, but now that I know they are all part of a painting, well, I guess it makes sense. The strength of the performances helped me to not dwell on the costumes, though.

Definitely worth seeing, and my husband enjoyed it, too. If I lived closer, I would possibly see it again and sit further back.

Thanks for the parking tip. We used the Sutter Stockton Garage, paid $14. We ate a quick lunch at Cafe La Taza right next door to the Kensington Hotel/San Francisco Playhouse. A very nice day!