Side by Side by Sondheim
Would it be true to say Stephen Sondheim is one of the most talented, revered and memorable lyricists of our time? I believe so. With works such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, West Side Story, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods and many more to his credit, it is hard to think of his extraordinary talent as anything less than legendary.
Side by Side by Sondheim is a revue style tribute to the music and the man who created some of the most memorable and beloved musical theatre songs ever written. Since 1976 productions have run through the decades around the world, entertaining audiences of devotees and new believers alike.
Director Declan Moore, together with Music Director Ben Fan, have more than held up their side of the bargain with an outstanding presentation currently showing at The Genesian Theatre, now located in Rozelle following their move from the historic church in Kent Street in Sydney’s CBD.
A stellar cast of featured soloists take us on not only a somewhat nostalgic trip down memory lane, but a most informative night of song and dance. The Narrator, played by Barry Nielsen, with a superb balance of charm, hilarity, sincerity and knowledge held the audience in the palm of his hand with fascinating insight into Sondheim’s motivations, passions and intentions.
The show opened with ‘Comedy Tonight’ from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, a personal favourite of mine, and continued with some lesser-known tunes which were just as entertaining, if not necessarily the much loved numbers we were anticipating. With Nielsen’s narration offering tidbits along the way, we were able to fully appreciate the mind and the heart of the man behind the lyrics.
Sondheim liked to write about relationships, especially marriage, with a philosophical outlook on failure; wasn’t afraid to take a real poke at men in particular, and much of the humour in his lyrics supported women who had been dealing with the men in their lives who were behaving in less than acceptable fashion. ‘Getting Married Today’ performed by Sarah Dolan showcased this young lady’s ability to deliver lyrics at machine gun pace, delighting the audience. It wasn’t all in the negative for the men however, and one could ask, tongue firmly planted in one’s cheek, why ‘Can That Boy Foxtrot’ was cut from Follies! This one had the audience in hysterics, with its naughty catchcry.
Sondheim’s work is highly emotional, provocative, and intelligently created to challenge the listening audience with moral dilemmas and opportunities for personal reflection. Performers are required to sing some of the most complex and sophisticated lyrics written with intricate music, while also delivering sincere characterisations, often while dancing! The triple threat is on display at all times and our featured soloists, Elizabeth MacGregor, Sarah Dolan, Kimberly Yuzon and Martin Hong gave it all they’ve got throughout the 2-hour production. Director Moore offered each soloist their opportunity to shine and for me the standout items were Martin Hong’s ‘Losing My Mind’; Kimberley Yuzon’s ‘Send in the Clowns’; Elizabeth MacGregor’s ‘Barcelona’ and Sarah Dolan’s ‘Little Lamb’.
The glue holding the show together is provided by the wonderful musicianship of pianist Lindsay Partridge, visible on stage throughout, focussed and perfection personified. The set is simple, portraying a stepped Broadway style stage with the obligatory rope lighting (Michael Schell and Cian Byrne) used to dazzling effect and a tinsel curtain for added glam. A nice touch was the projections (Matilda Dwyer) of Sondheim at the rear of the set, taking us through a photographic study of the man’s life, seeing him in his youth right through to more mature years. A red and black colour scheme via costumes (Catherine MacKinnon) created a somewhat nostalgic mood, well suited to a wonderful night’s entertainment, which ended with a sensational medley of just about every great Sondheim song you could think of!
There is ample opportunity to catch Side by Side by Sondheim at the Genesian Theatre and I strongly suggest you do. The pub around the corner offers a great feed in a cosy setting as an added delight.
Annette Snars
Bookings: https://genesiantheatre.com.au/events/side-by-side-by-sondheim
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