"This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade."
"This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade."
"This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade."#1
Posted: 6/19/10 at 12:45am
This is by any standard a major revival, one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.
No, this is not about anything on Broadway. It is about the Arden Theatre Company's production of Sunday in the Park With George in philadelphia. I had previously made a thread about this production, but after tonight's experience I felt the urge create a new one.
Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal wrote a HUGE rave for this production. And that is where the title of this thread came from. Here is some more from his review.
Not only is this production sensitively staged and imaginatively designed, but it's the best-sung Sondheim revival to come along in years—and it makes use of Michael Starobin's ear-caressingly iridescent original 1984 orchestrations, which are among the finest ever to be created for a Broadway show.
Mr. Nolen and his colleagues get everything right that the Roundabout Theatre Company's overpraised 2008 Broadway revival, with its scrappy five-piece band and self-consciously ingenious digital animation, got wrong.
Here are some random thoughts of mine.
I saw the 2008 revival, and I am on the fence with comparing them. I think studio 54 swallowed up that production. The Arden is so incredibly intimate, and it made for such a great personal experience. I think I may have enjoyed it slightly more than the revival. It borrows many ideas from that revival, but brings them to new heights. The set is actually more plain, but most of the projections are more impressive. The actual chromolume sequence was incredible, much more inventive than what the revival did.
The staging was mostly traditional, but there were some nice things in "We Do Not Belong Together" and "Move On" that I had never seen done before. The performances were overall very good. Coon as George has a powerful voice, it almost resembled Patinkin's voice at times. Fraelich as Dot grew on me as the show progressed. She portrays a softer less earthy Dot, which ultimately worked. Her wig was a problem, it was pretty hideous, and made her look too old. Her Marie was absolute perfection. She was heartbreaking.
The original orchestrations sounded wonderful live. It's amazing that a small theatre company in Philly was able to produce the original orchestrations, but the Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway did not. Such a shame.
I HIGHLY recommend this production. Everyone should experience it. This was the best act 1 of the show that I've seen before. Everything was top notch! Try to see it if you can.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704312104575298500532410056.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_6
http://www.ardentheatre.org/2010/sunday.html
Updated On: 6/19/10 at 12:45 AM
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#2
Posted: 6/19/10 at 1:11am
SUNDAY is my favorite musical of all time, and had I known earlier, I definitely would have gone down to see this.
But I do disagree with Teachout...I don't think the Roundabout revival got ANYTHING wrong. I thought it was brilliant and perfect in every way.
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#2
Posted: 6/19/10 at 1:25amIt's playing until July 4th! You should really try to see it. It's easily on par with the 2008 revival, if not slightly better. I do prefer Evans and Russell from the revival though.
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#3
Posted: 6/19/10 at 1:31amI'm booked through 7/4!
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#4
Posted: 6/19/10 at 1:32amDamn!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#5
Posted: 6/19/10 at 3:25am
Saw this on Thursday night... I'm definitely not one of those "SONDHEIM IS GOD" people on here, but SUNDAY is not only my favourite Sondheim piece but one of my favourite theatrical pieces, so I had to see it!
I thought the design was almost better, only lacking in the beginning with the flipping of the book was slightly tacky. I agree, the Chromule sequence was so incredible! So much better than Broadway.
I wasn't too big of a fan of the Dot/Marie. She was fine, but nothing to write home about. Coon rose above the occassion, but I still wasn't in full fledge support of his. I also adored Daniel Evans & Jenna Russell's performances so much.
What surprised me the most was the dialogue & comedic parts of it... there were parts on Broadway that got big laughs, and got no laughs here. There were parts that got no laughs on Broadway, and got no laughs here. One of the lines that used to give me chills was Yvonne/Jule's wife's "... I rather fancied him." line but nothing here, among others.
There was only one major complaint, however: They don't mention Marie's death?? They just "take her back to the hotel" in the wheelchair and then George is in France... no mention of her death. Bizarre!
I would definitely recommend this production to anyone... this is one of those show's I think everyone should see! And at just $40...why wouldn't you. Come to Philly to see this over one of those not that good musicals in NY!
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#6
Posted: 6/19/10 at 8:59amOdd. They definitely mentioned her death last night.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#7
Posted: 6/19/10 at 1:21pm
Yeah I figured they must have flubbed a few lines, because the person I went with asked why Marie wasn't in France with George, and they just "took her back to the hotel."
Interesting but still worthy enough to see the show!
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#8
Posted: 6/19/10 at 9:23pm
Not to be a downer, but I was not as taken as others were by the Arden production. Although it is well sung and it is great to hear the original orchestrations, the acting is not as strong as it could be IMO, and the book scenes didn't go over that well for me. Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and the rest of the cast were pretty amazing in the Roundabout production, and I missed their performances.
The Chromolume was very cool, though.
Marie's death was mentioned at the performance I attended, so I'm guessing there were line flubs on Thursday.
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#9
Posted: 6/19/10 at 9:31pm
The acting was serviceable. Nothing extraordinary. But production wise, it was just absolutely exceptional, and in some ways better than the 2008 revival.
I have never enjoyed act 1 of the show more than I did at the Arden. Act 2 was very good, but I did prefer how the 2008 revival used 1980s styled costumes and hair styles which made it clear what decade the act was set in.
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#10
Posted: 6/19/10 at 11:19pm
The revival did it right, just that my only complain is that it was transfered to Broadway which ends up having failure in receptions, since the whole direction is not for Broadway audience. It's strictly for English audience (same as this year's ALNM). It's better that they found a theatre that is the same size with Wyndhams in West End, but to me, that production should always be a Menier show, because the direction is for black box (well, to be honest, and in my humble opinion, EVERY Sondheim's show is a black box show).
Updated On: 6/19/10 at 11:19 PM
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#11
Posted: 6/20/10 at 5:27am
PauloFanClem: that's a very interesting comment. But on this site, being new, you probably don't realise you've just walked into a minefield.
Am I correct in thinking you are neither American nor English?
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#12
Posted: 6/20/10 at 1:04pm
"Am I correct in thinking you are neither American nor English?"
You are correct. I'm from Hong Kong (once British colony), a person who LOVE minimalism, but also ADORE spectacles.
Well, I'm not saying every Sondheim's show has to be done in black box. You can do it as spectacular as you like, but you cannot pan a Sondheim production just because it was done in a black box way (and to be honest, all these transfers from England were under Sondheim's desire, since he liked the British approach to his works, which are text-focused).
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#13
Posted: 6/21/10 at 3:24pmOoh, will try to see this this weekend. Thanks for the heads up. Is there a discount code floating around anywhere? (I know they're cheap already, but everybody loves discounts!)
'This is one of the strongest Sondheim productions of the past decade.'#14
Posted: 7/1/10 at 4:58pm
Just found a discount code for SUNDAY's final weekend.
Tickets are half-price with code PFUN when you call the box office at 215.922.1122 for these performances
Sat 7/3 at 2pm and 8pm
Sun 7/4 at 2pm
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