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Post by capybara on Oct 21, 2024 13:46:24 GMT
Is there a programme?
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Post by david on Oct 21, 2024 14:28:36 GMT
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Post by jotmai on Oct 21, 2024 14:33:01 GMT
Programs are available for £8 -- but you may want to come a little early if you want one. The line to buy was long and very slow. The song list is pretty much the same as on the cast album, as listed here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sondheim_on_Sondheim The program doesn't say who will be singing each song. The ones I remember: The Wedding Is Off (Georgina/Josephina), Franklin Shepard Inc (Jak), Good Thing Going (Georgina), Epiphany (Clive), Happiness (Scarlett/Jack), Losing My Mind/Not a Day Goes By (Scarlett/Jenna), Opening Doors (Jak/Jenna/Lucca), Being Alive (mainly Jak), Ah But Underneath (Josephina), Finishing the Hat (Jack), Beautiful (Jack/Jenna), Send in the Clowns (Josephina). Agree with people who said there was not enough Jack Wolfe!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 21, 2024 15:52:30 GMT
Thats quite a lot. Is there much to read in it?
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Post by david on Oct 21, 2024 15:55:31 GMT
Not really, just the usual stuff - cast bio’s / creative team / orchestra line up and song listing. There are a few rehearsal photos as well.It’s pretty thin A4 thing.
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Post by Deal J on Oct 21, 2024 16:24:22 GMT
Well this was a delight! I had the biggest smile on my face for the duration. Massive thanks to the woman sat next to me who gave me a tissue after Sunday. Fantastic performances throughout, and a lovely surprise having Ah, but Underneath as a big dance number.
As the lovely gentleman who I spoke to at the interval said, it was a great evening of entertainment and education. The videos of Sondheim describing his working process and the development of most of his shows are genuinely fascinating. Still giggling when I remember of his Ethel Merman anecdote.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 21, 2024 22:18:08 GMT
Some changes and cuts ... i missed the megamix-act 1 finale and the Send in the clowns medley. Could of done without with Do i hear a waltz and Smile.
The orchestra sounded great. I loved Saturday Night, Passion, Sunday & Road Show.
A mixed bag but generally a good evening.
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Post by harlow on Oct 21, 2024 22:23:04 GMT
Interesting to see Fra Fee in the audience who had originally been in the cast.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 21, 2024 22:34:24 GMT
Good spot. I also clocked jon robbins and reece shearsmith but you beat me as FF was connected to the peice
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Post by harlow on Oct 21, 2024 22:35:51 GMT
Oh I thought I saw Reece! Nice to have that confirmed.
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Post by ladidah on Oct 22, 2024 7:38:33 GMT
Was Jack Wolfe's mic turned up? I could barely hear him on Sunday
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 22, 2024 7:47:38 GMT
Still giggling when I remember of his Ethel Merman anecdote. I wasn't there so don't know, but I'm assuming the Ethel Merman anecdote is the one about her swearing in the rehearsals of Gypsy and the woman with the swear jar?
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 22, 2024 7:49:21 GMT
For those interested, there lots of pics on Twitter regarding this (I think) from WhatsOnStage.
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Post by argon on Oct 22, 2024 7:52:08 GMT
Did anyone else find it slightly amusing while watching the projection footage of Sondheim discussing Sweeney Todd, that he said it he saw a staged play production OUTSIDE London at Stratford East.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 22, 2024 7:58:58 GMT
Still giggling when I remember of his Ethel Merman anecdote. I wasn't there so don't know, but I'm assuming the Ethel Merman anecdote is the one about her swearing in the rehearsals of Gypsy and the woman with the swear jar? Yup, that's the one. Its a great story.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 22, 2024 8:00:12 GMT
Was Jack Wolfe's mic turned up? I could barely hear him on Sunday I could hear most of what was sung from all the performers.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 22, 2024 9:08:52 GMT
I could hear most of what was sung from all the performers. What a low bar we've reached for concerts!
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Post by harlow on Oct 22, 2024 10:34:20 GMT
Was Jack Wolfe's mic turned up? I could barely hear him on Sunday It definitely sounded like it still needed to be turned up on Monday, which was a real shame as it was hard to pick him out in group songs. He's got power in his voice so it definitely was the mic. (I might have turned the mic down on one of the others personally, by that's my personal taste...)
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Oct 22, 2024 11:39:53 GMT
I was in row 4 stalls for Sondheim on Sunday and had no sound issues whatsoever. Last night with my son it was Benjamin Button from the front row and again we could both hear every word clear as a bell.
Both shows have criticism of sound quality here. Now I've always thought that being at or near the front gives a better visual experience than further back or at the sides but it's never occurred to me that the same applies to the sound too.
This may be a silly question but is it the case that at the front one hears directly what's coming out of the performers' mouths and instruments whereas further back it's what has gone through their mics and the tech, hence a difference ?
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Post by capybara on Oct 23, 2024 10:54:24 GMT
The arduous journey from south of the river to the Alexandra Palace’s restored theatre was certainly worth it. This astounding company carried on where Old Friends left off when it closed earlier this year and, for just two evenings, brought the magic of Stephen Sondheim alive once again.
Sondheim on Sondheim is an extra special production because, as well as Alex Parker’s wonderful 13-piece orchestra and eight brilliant musical theatre actors, the great man himself features as the narrator, offering up anecdotes and an insight into his sacred compositions.
The staging was exquisite. Despite the uneven surface, projecting Sondheim on to the faded brick work behind the stage only added to the sense of atmosphere, while the Alexandra Palace Theatre’s shabby chic surroundings gave several numbers a haunting quality - as others have said, let’s see Follies in that space one day please!
But this sparkling revue really was about the cast who made it so special. Each and every one of them. Josefina Gabrielle was stunning, with the highlights proving to be the contrasting Smile Girls (cut from Gypsy) and Send In The Clowns. Jak Malone dazzled (audibly and visually!) and gave a wonderful Franklin Shepherd, Inc.
Georgina Onuorah was vocally outstanding as ever, while Scarlett Strallen, Jack Wolfe, Lucca Chadwick-Patel and Clive Rowe were equally as impressive. But Jenna Russell deserves a special mention for reprising her Not a Day Goes By at the start of Act Two, mashed up with Strallen’s Losing My Mind. Stunning.
I only wish I could relive it all over again. Sondheim’s music endures like nothing else and the desire to see it performed over and over again by new and different voices never seems to wane. I hope we get a big Sondheim musical in London again very soon.
Five stars.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 25, 2024 10:13:46 GMT
Over this week ive listened to the cast recording and thought about this concert quite a bit.
I really dont like the venue as its just too big, for me sondheim needs an imitate setting to work. Last year, the version staged at the Bridewell was incredible.
Some of the arrangements arent for me especially You could drive a person crazy. Also the set list is never going to please everyone but, no Pacific Overtures.
Ending on a positive, Josefina Gabrielle was incredible, the strongest by a mile. One of the best renditions of Clowns Ive heard.
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