Putting It Together

Sparkling performances make this production as enjoyable as a fresh cocktail for Stephen Sondheim fans.
The composer lyricist was asked to write a new revue in the early 90s, because  his first revue Side By Side by Sondheim was penned a little early in his career (1976).

One of the first cast members was Julie Andrews in the role played here by Caroline O’Connor.

There is a loose theme to the work - set at a soirée in a stylish New York Upper East Side apartment. An older couple reflect on the trials of long-term marriage whilst a younger couple face different challenges.

The fifth performer is an observer - Bert Labonte. He opened the revue with witty instructions to the audience about how to behave (including ‘not to fart’) from the musical The Frogs.

This was the only note of vulgarity in an otherwise glamorous looking and sounding show.

Draped in white curtains, with a large chandelier and a balcony of musical notes the stage had just enough New York style.  The dominant feature was two white grand pianos. The reduced score of three players, including percussion by Guy Simpson, was scrumptious. It allowed for every syllable to be perfectly audible.

In the first act one of the highlights was the song ‘Lovely’ from A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  Stefanie Caccamo’s beautiful lyric voice shone - neatly juxtaposed with a quirky percussive interpretation of the same song by the older characters.

No NYC fashionable apartment would be complete without a maid, which was a cue for a fun camp rendition of that song from Forum.

The revue was dominated by eight songs from Merrily We Roll Along, which recently won Tony Awards for its Broadway revival. 

There are also songs from Sondheim’s lesser known and an abandoned musical. 

They squeeze out better known blockbuster tunes (for instance I would have enjoyed hearing “Send In The Clowns”).

In the second act highlights included Caroline O’Connor in “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company, Michael Cormick in “The Road You Didn’t Take” from Follies and Nigel Huckle in “Marry Me A Little” from Company. 

Sondheim’s famously brilliant lyrics and musical characterization are beautifully showcased.

David Spicer

Photographer: Daniel Boud