Stephen Sondheim Old Friends - Sondheim / TV / Gielgud

What a night!!!!! I’ve decided. Bonnie’s I’m Still Here is MY definitive version. Will elaborate later lol

No speeches at all which was surprising ! I would’ve liked some.They just did Old Frienda x2 and the second time was to let us join in and sing along.

Oh and the whole thing was filmed!! I wonder what they want to do with it! I’m glad because I need to rewatch some of those performances foreverrrr

There were loads I thought!

It was filmed but the setup looked very much archival not for professional release sadly.

Nooooooooo. But what’s the point of filming if it’s never gonna be seen 🥹 well I guess it could be seen but just not by us 🤣

Thoroughly enjoyed the final performance last night. Bernadette floored me with Losing My Mind, such a fully committed and deeply moving performance. A total masterclass in acting through song. She was leagues better in every one of her numbers than when I saw the show previously in early previews.

Still didn't really get Lea's Everything's Coming Up Roses though. It was loud and impressively belted but had no depth for me. Her Loving You is a much better showcase of her talents.

Bonnie is soooo hammy but you just can't help but feed off how much she absolutely adores being on the stage. I think it just about works for I'm Still Here.

Janie Dee and Joanna Riding though... chef's kiss.

She's a showbiz legend, love her! She did indeed rock that crowd. What a trooper!

Glad that everyone enjoyed the final performance. I couldn't make that one, but I did make both Friday evening and the Saturday matinee, and both were phenomenal.

I was a bit skeptical at the start about how well this would find an audience, but this ended up being occasion theatre, and I know people were paying a lot of money for their tickets (the person next to me on Friday said as much, I answered diplomatically, of course). I was on Rush both performances, but it took me to the second release on Saturday to get a ticket. Dress Circle Row C both times, excellent view both times (in fact, I was in seats next to each other), the leg room is good there, the audiences better behaved than most theatres, plus always fun to see several actors in prime seats (although the only one I could immediately name was Giles Terera).

There were changes on the Saturday matinee, but I was hoping someone else would point them out as I just don't know the production quite well enough. Various different costumes. Endless enthusiasm. Now, I know that Bernadette Peters might not sound exactly the same as she did in her prime, but she was having a lot of fun. I felt she was singing Send In The Clowns looking right at me, and I really felt the emotion. I did expect some mid-show standing ovations, but no one wanted to start them. Thankfully, people stayed standing at the end, so we didn't have to sit down and stand up again four times like on Friday (which I don't mind in the Stalls, but I never feel as steady in the higher tiers).

This is a cast who all gel perfectly together. I'll also reiterate what I've said before, which is Marley Fenton is going to be a future star. Glad to see the hints that this may return, I can see it easily slotting into a free theatre for a future season.

I wonder if Broadway will do a similar show? I mean Sondheim was one of their own, right?

I know it's a show that has been referenced to and reported on in articles on BroadwayWorld.com

Was lucky enough to be there on the last night for my third time. It felt like such a special night, brilliant atmosphere, and glad I was able to go again as my previous visit was a Saturday matinee with not a full audience at all and felt a bit flat, not the fault of the performers. This was the complete opposite and the cast got the appreciation they deserve. I was part of the mid show standing O’s but just for Lea’s roses. Felt like I had to, she’s always the big draw for me. Imelda’s version is engrained in my head but the power of her vocal always floors me. Broadway Baby and Janie Dee and Joanna Riding’s solos are still my favourites though. Bernadette’s comic timing was excellent and vocally she was so much better than when I first saw her a couple of months ago.

I was quite disappointed they didn’t do speeches at the end, or at least hand out some flowers or something. The final bows were great though and everyone was pretty emotional. I do wish they filmed it, I could watch it again and again. I know there’s the previous concert version and with some of the same cast so that’s consolation. I have to say, I don’t think I appreciated Sondheim enough before, having only seen clips from concerts and just one or two of his shows, but the genius and relatability of the lyrics in so many of his songs I can see so much more now I’ve got a bit older.

We were sat on the same row as Julia McKenzie, she was on the end seat so I presumed she might might get up with Cameron at the end for bows. Anne Reid was in a box loving it, and we saw James Nesbitt outside the theatre too.

I saw sunset the night before for the second time so really felt like I’ve had my fill of great theatre for a while (and need let my bank balance recover!)

Agreed. I'm grateful for the gala recording but would have killed for this cast instead. And obviously not quite the same but they played Lea's Roses on Michael Ball's radio show a couple of months back. So at least we have something?