Sondheim on Sondheim

Who wouldn’t want to spend an evening with Stephen Sondheim? I know I would, and fortunately, myself and other fans get just that opportunity at Sondheim on Sondheim the revue honoring the legendary composer at Studio 54. While a revue of Sondheim works is no concept - Side by Side by Sondheim, anyone? Or would you prefer Putting It Together ? – this one actually is different in that it includes the man himself. Conceived and directed by James Lapine, a longtime collaborator of Sondheim, the show intersperses video interviews with the composer in between the songs, as he discusses his life and his work.The ensemble, which is made up of Barbara Cook, Leslie Kritzer, Norm Lewis, Erin Mackey, Euan Morton, Matthew Scott, Vanessa Williams and Tom Wopat, features Sondheim veterans as well as promising newcomers. Cook has been performing the composer’s work for many years, and Williams played the Witch in Into the Woods. Their comfort with the material is evident, especially when Williams performs a risque striptease to “Ah, But Underneath” and the two collaborate on an especially moving duet on a melody of “Losing My Mind” and “Not a Day Goes By." Stage veteran Tom Wopat delivers an intense performance of “Epiphany” from Sweeney Todd and Norm Lewis, another experienced Broadway actor, is especially memorable in “Being Alive” from Company. Kritzer is especially sharp in “Now You Know” and Scott impresses as Franklin Shepard from Merrily We Roll Along. Morton also lends well to that show, performing as the jilted friend Charlie, and Mackey presents a wistful and humorous rendition of “Do I Hear A Waltz?”Peter Flaherty's video design and Beowulf Borritt's abstract set, which consists of various boxes and staircases that resemble a board game, lend themselves easily to the abstract format of the show. At times, the combination of video and songs feels a bit heavy-handed, such as when Sondheim discusses how he is drawn to writing about neurotic people, and then Wopat and Cook promptly perform a duet of “You Could Drive a Person Crazy.” But learning about his writing process is nothing short of fascinating, and hearing performances of songs that had been cut from shows before their openings is pure candy to any audience member with an interest in the history of theater. “The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened" is performed as a heterosexual and a homosexual love ballad from Bounce, the original attempt at the revised and recently performed Road Show. Another interesting change is that several of the songs are performed in different styles than their original recordings, including a bouncy group rendition of “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story.Sondheim celebrated his 80th birthday in March, and New York has been flooded by tributes to the man and his work. Thankfully, this show focuses on the man, and the stories about his sad, lonely childhood are especially moving and add more depth to his work (if that is possible). But it does not fall into after-school special category, greatly due to the wry, self-depricating attitude Sondheim seems to have about his accomplishments. The second act opens with a song titled “God” which is about none other than himself. While over-sharing seems to be instinctual in our society flooded with Facebook updates and tearful confessions on reality television shows, Sondheim on Sondheim maintains a respectful distance and avoids overkill. And the result is intriguing, interesting and amusing. One would hope Sondheim would approve.