Stephen Sondheim Old Friends - Sondheim / TV / Gielgud

Was in tonight for the penultimate time. Almost a full house, it was electric. By the end I felt like I was at Glastonbury. The cast are well and truly having fun with it now in their numbers. But at the bows wow, they were taking it all in. The first show I’ve been at where when they do the whole ”do you want one more song !!??” shtick we started cheering ”ONE MORE SONG ONE MORE SONG PLEASE” Bernadette was cracking up at us. Oh I will miss this special special show 💔

Ps. Clare cracked during Not A Day Goes By… again 🥲

I also seen this again tonight for what will probably be the last time, I had an amazing night in row B of the stalls - it was incredible to be so close!

Bernadette was in really good voice tonight compared to the last time I saw it, the fact that she's still doing so well with this many shows is really to be applauded in my opinion. I also noticed Clare's vocal crack, it was pretty almighty and I think it may be a psychological thing with her now as she hits the same note perfectly in the very next line. She's absolutely brilliant and a highlight of the show, so I hope she doesn't put herself down about it!

Random, but does anyone know who the man in the front row was that Lea was ecstatic about? He was an older man sitting right in front of me who definitely looked like he could've been a family member. She noticed him during the bows and got emotional, it was a really lovely and human moment.

I just got back and I'm gushing!

I am speechless (in a good way!). Completely without speech!

I first saw this on Thursday evening. What an amazing cast! Bernadette had possibly a cold, she coughed a little but how capable she was of turning that fragility into an aspect of her performance. I was totally charmed by her! Bonnie Langford, Christine Allado, Clare Burt were all wonderful--and how I adoreJoanna Riding! Gavin Lee is also a favourite of mine. Lea Salonga is such a strong performer. I loved every single moment she was on stage. Plenty of roles await her. I do hope she will be given opportunities to perform them.
I went back on Saturday for the matinee. Originally I was planning to see Pacific Overtures but as it was the last day of my London trip (and I had already booked Guys and Dolls for my evening slot) I decided I had to treat myself to a second visit to Old Friends. And how right I was. I had a better seat (row J thanks to TodayTix) and Bernadette was stunning. I could see every single detail of her performances and my admiration has now grown even stronger.
How privileged I consider myself for having seen this twice. How envious I am of anyone who has seen it more than twice!
Happy New Year, by the way!

Crimbo she was in Paris. Her step daughter got married.

Would love to catch this again and was considering trying rush tix for closing night as it would be a special vibe
What are my chances, would I be better to just rush a regular show?

So, as mentioned, I caught this yesterday.

Wow! What a show. I was so happy, tapping my foot and grinning from ear-to-ear.

I saw the original one-off concert at the Sondheim theatre honoring the great man himself at the news of his passing.

(As far as I’m aware) the full cast was on. The orchestra felt full and rich.

It took a couple of songs, possibly from I’m Not Getting Married to Into The Woods for the audience to really get into it.
I Know Things Now and Hello, Little Girl were well received, however Agony didn’t get the laughs that it normally does.

As the show progressed the audience rapture became even more enthusiastic till at the end there were standing ovations.

I overheard both Janie Dee and Claire Burt at the stage door comment on how great the audience were.

Bernadette Peters- I (finally) have seen her in something!

I did see her about 25 years ago perform a concert at the Sydney Opera House- which she still claims to be a career highlight for her- and have since seen her perform a concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

For someone her age, she has an amazing body! Under her dress you could see her right knee was strapped, but she was out there doing her thing.

Loosing My Mind and Send In The Clowns- such poignancy and heartfelt- wiping tears away from her eyes.

Lea Salonga- I have never seen her in anything. Of course, I am aware of her and (yes, I know she was in Miss Saigon) however, when I first came to London in the early 90’s she had already left the show.

What a voice! Loving You, the whole Sweeney Todd sequence and Roses’ Turn- bloody hell! She made it look effortless!

I must admit I don’t know Claire Burt but The Ladies Who Lunch was well delivered. As was The Little Things You Do Together.
Bonnie Langford- I do know her and she’s so dynamic!

Let’s not forget Joanna Riding- Sensational in Not Getting Married and You’ve Gotta Get A Gimmick!

By nature, I’m not a crier however the whole Sunday sequence, got to me a little. It’s my favourite musical.

Although I was in the stalls, I was dead centre in Row R so the overhang of the balcony blocked both the projection of the painting and each of the characters within it.

As she was in the original Broadway production and created the role of Dot, I couldn’t help but wonder what Bernadette Peters must have been thinking.

Similarly, when each actor came on stage at the end and looked up at the projections of Sondheim. Given that she knew him personally and professionally, it must have been difficult!

As correctly stated by apubleed, the whole cast crossed arms and sang Auld Lang Syne" at the curtain call.

At a certain point they projected the names of all of Sondheim’s show, including shows that weren’t touched upon on the show, bringing to the forefront the gravitas of Sondheim’s body of work.

I actually (genuinely) felt so fortunate to be sitting in a theatre, on the other side of the world from where I come from, seeing both Ms Peters and Ms Salonga and the cream of the UK’s musical theatre world celebrating the works of a man who has given the world so much, and for me personally so much insight into musical theatre – it was an emotional rollercoaster and a ‘pinch me’ moment in my life that I will not forget in a long time!

Also caught this afternoon's performance, and was well worth the admission to see Bernadette live. What an amazing performer. The rest of the cast were great as well. The Sweeney Todd section as a highlight - even with a slightly familiar looking section of 1830s Paris stepping in as London!

This happened at both performances I saw (28 and 30 December). I wonder whether Bernadette will be doing the final dance again this week.  

I'm going to have to go for the 3rd time soon. Every time I go a new song grabs me.

Yes and I noticed the last time I went that when she joined Lea for children will listen she came on through the wings as opposed to the steps. Probably to put less pressure on her knee

Oh how I wish I could see this one more time I think the memory of this show will stay with me for a very very long time.