Stephen Sondheim Old Friends - Sondheim / TV / Gielgud

Wow, patronising much!

Don't be so sensitive! You'll be fine! You're learning, so keep going!  

Knowing Patti’s personality is what made her Joanne in Company so iconic. She was playing herself.

As for Bernadette’s personality - she does come across as a bit…odd. Barely anything publicly is known about her. Decades ago she asked if she would write a book and she said she wouldn’t. And she has said she doesn’t want people to know about her personal life and often refuses to answer questions. People that have worked with her always describe her as so sweet but I have heard she can also be a bit aloof and reserved. The only revealing thing I’ve ever heard said about her is a podcast from Richard jay alexander who described her as a ‘complex’ person and that she was quite anxious about performing some people at her carniege hall concert because she wanted to play the part one day. I suspect there is or was a bit more under the surface than visible with Bernadette. Plus she went through the tragedy of losing her husband in a helicopter crash etc.

There’s definitely a lot under the surface me thinks.., but she is so media trained at this point I don’t think I’ve ever heard her be critical of anything or anyone lol. There’s this interview where she gets asked about all the ‘hoopla’ aka the critics that were picking on her during her gypsy run and if she was relieved when it was all over. To which she just shrugged and said “it’s interesting what goes on right now in the world, but that’s part of it I suppose”. I was like GIRL. GIVE US SOMETHING.

But her mystique makes her more captivating, I guess.

I also heard from rumours on the street that she’s engaged 👀

This woman is no longer with us, but the best performance of "I'm Still Here" was performed by Polly Bergen in the 2001 revival of Follies. You can find Polly's version on YouTube.

From that revival, Judith Ivey and Blythe Tanner are still here, and could certainly grace a Broadway production of Old Friends.

They're such great actors, and so much of Sondheim is in the lyric. I think they would be an asset to a Broadway production of Old Friends. I would also hope that Len Cariou and George Hearn, though aged, would be part of a NYC production. Of course the more youthful cast of the current production of Merrily would be assets as well, and that show will have closed by the time Old Friends hits Broadway.

Does Bernadette, Lea and the rest of the cast perform all of the shows, including matinees?

Have any of them been off at all?

thanks!

Thanks for your reply. Has Jo Riding missed any shows? I LOVE her....

I wonder if Bernadette’s attendance puts pressure on the cast to be there. It would be a bit awkward if a 75 year old can star in the show (and she is working hard on stage not having an easy time) and never miss a performance while much younger and presumably fitter cast members can’t.

Saw this again this afternoon and loved it once again.

Bernadette brought her A game this afternoon her rendition of "Send in the clowns" was much better than my first visit and I could feel the emotion.

Lea I fall in love with every time she sings! "Loving you" and "Somewhere" were phenomenal again and please get her to be Mrs Lovett in a revival of Sweeney Todd!

There was no Jason again on my repeat visit so had Damian singing "Buddy's Blues" he smashed it once again!

Clare Burt, Janie Dee and Joanna Riding were all fabulous in their numbers, there was no Christine Allado this afternoon.

I know Gavin is like marmite for some people but I think he brings fun and presence to the numbers he does and he does play camp well!

Bonnie was awesome performing "I'm Still Here" this afternoon she made it her own.

I really like this revue and wondering if I can fit in another trip!

And random fact for Today's visit: Nicole Scherzinger was in the audience; so she is obviously a fan as I believe she has seen the show before as well!