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| re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" | |
| Posted by: Dale 11:34 am EST 11/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Thoughts about Sondheim and his legacy, one year later. - Chromolume 12:08 am EST 11/27/22 | |
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| You mean John-David Wilder? I know the answer to that! |
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| re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:37 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" - Dale 11:34 am EST 11/27/22 | |
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| What in the world are you talking about??? WHAT JOHN-DAVID WILDER??? | |
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| re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 02:10 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:53 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" - Chromolume 12:37 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
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| About Sondheim On Sondheim, as we're here - I've done the show with an extremely talented cast in Boston. (Our 4 main actors were already known for their exemplary work in Sondheim shows in the area - we tried, when possible, to assign them the songs they had done in the actual shows.) There are a few things, but only a very few, that elevate this show from anything more than being yet another complication of Sondheim songs shoehorned into a revue. They are: The videos of Sondheim discussing his work, et al. The fantastic new arrangement of "Something's Coming" (hands down the best arrangement in the show, written by the always excellent David Loud). The duet medley of "Losing My Mind" and "Not A Day Goes By." Michael Starobin's exciting new orchestrations (for an 8-piece band), even if sometimes over-busy ones. Oddly, no percussion part in the band. I think it could have used at least some. That's it. Some big miscalculations - the "Overture" (thankfully not recorded on the OBC) which is a haphazard mashup of bits of songs that doesn't really pay off. The inclusion of "The Wedding Is Off" as opposed to "Getting Married Today" (which would have been a much better crowd pleaser). The awful new duet version of "You Could Drive A Person Crazy" which falls embarrassingly flat. A sole very short passage of an early song ("Meet Me At The Donut") seemingly only included so that Sondheim can cut it off self-deprecatingly through video. And the one truly new song, "God," which is not very good (sorry, Steve) and was definitely not an effective Act II opener. Also, the self-deprecating way Do I Hear A Waltz was treated by Sondheim as the title song was being sung, leaving the singer in a rather awkward position that could have been intended as funny, but didn't really seem to be. Otherwise, yes, a nice chance to revisit a number of great songs - but definitely with the feeling that there were too many of them for the revue to accommodate comfortably, and not really put together in a very effective way. IMO, YMMV. But when I did it, I kinda wish we had just done another Sondheim book show instead. |
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| re: "Sondheim on Sondheim" - Remember | |
| Posted by: Genealley 10:39 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: "I've always wondered what happened to everything that didn't make it into Sondheim on Sondheim" - Chromolume 01:53 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
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| I'll never forget Norm Lewis' "Being Alive" and the great Barbara Cook singing "Send In The Clowns". BARBARA COOK SINGING "SEND IN THE CLOWNS"!!! I never knew why that moment didn't get bigger attention. I mean...it was BARBARA COOK SINGING.................... | |
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| re: "Sondheim on Sondheim" - Remember | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 11:06 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
| In reply to: re: "Sondheim on Sondheim" - Remember - Genealley 10:39 pm EST 11/27/22 | |
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| Because it comes very late in the course of a very very long show, with a number of songs that really didn't land as they could have. The show itself didn't do a very good job of showcasing the material. By the time Cook was getting to "Clowns," I suspect a lot of the audience were checking their watches. | |
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