Stephen Sondheim RIP

[QueenOfGoths]

He was an absolute genius of theatre producing some of the most beautiful, moving, amazing shows and music.

RIP and I'm off to listen to some "Follies"

 

[Saffy]

He was the best. I'm going to listen to a selection today too.

RIP

 

[SpookyFrank]

 

[killer b]

Its an incredible body of work - some of the very greatest songs of the 20th Century. Grateful for all of it.

Love this clip of Adam Driver singing Being Alive, which is probably my favourite of his (but there's a lot of competition)

 

[Lord Camomile]

Very sad news, but 91 is a "good innings" as they say, and he gave so much to so many over those years

Just in case anyone's missed it, there's also a general appreciation thread that's been running for a while and I think has some good videos 'n' stuff

 

[existentialist]

The key of D flat will never be the same again.

 

[han]

RIP Sondheim. A hugely important and influential composer in the genre of musical theatre.

I first discovered him in my late teens when i saw the original Broadway stage production of Into The Woods with Bernadette Peters as The Witch, on TV. I was blown away, and watched the VHS I'd recorded of it over and over again until I knew the whole thing off by heart pretty much. After that, I went to see any and every production of it I could find.

More recently, Company, which I think is an absolute tour de force, was on at The Gielgud Theatre and jesus, I have never seen anything like it before or since.

The Stephen Sondheim Society cabaret events at the Phoenix Theatre in London have showcased his work for many years and I know he'll be sorely missed by that crowd. He even came along to a few events.

What a great man.

 

[existentialist]

I sang in an amateur production of "Company". Probably the hardest thing, in terms of stage singing, that I've ever done: I went through a period in the early stages of absolutely LOATHING it...but as it came together, the quality and craftsmanship of Sondheim's writing shone through, and the end result was very satisfying. Apart, possibly, from my execrable Southern US accent .

And as a result of that, I developed a new and abiding respect for Sondheim.

 

[han]

His melodies can be challenging can't they! Lots of discordant harmony and key changes as well.

 

[redsquirrel]

Perhaps not what he'll be remembered for but I recently just watched a film he scripted with Anthony Perkins that is worth checking out

The Last of Sheila - a smart, funny, well thought mystery/thriller penned by Anthony Perkins and Steven Sondheim and with a top cast (James Mason, James Coburn, Ian McShane, Dyan Cannon). Plot is that millionaire movie producerJames Coburn's wife Shelia was killed in a hit and run accident, a year later he brings together his friends (who may or may not be involved in the hit and run) on his yacht for a series of games where people's secret's will be revealed. Only some sister turns start to take place.

Considering the cast and the writers I'm surprised this is not better know. The major flaw it does have is it's very disturbing view of the secrets we have a shoplifter, a homosexual, an ex-con and a child molester! To any modern audience one of those things is definitely not like the others. But apart from that (big) flaw this is a clever film and well worth watching.

 

[Sue]

More recently, Company, which I think is an absolute tour de force, was on at The Gielgud Theatre and jesus, I have never seen anything like it before or since.

The gender swap one? I thought it was great.

As was Follies at the National. (I'm a complete Imelda Staunton theatre fan girl and she was immense. As she also was in Gypsy.)

 

[Reno]

I have to admit, I became a fan because of the Tim Burton Sweeney Todd (which I believe Sondheim himself liked). I'd never paid much attention to his music before and wasn't much into musical theatre, but I loved the score and the fact that it was a full on horror story. After that I tried to see as much Sondheim on stage as possible and London offers plenty of opportunity for that. My favourite was a lesser known show of his, Passion which I saw at the Donmar Warehouse. One of my last London trips I planned around Follies at the National Theatre. Unfortunately in Germany where I live now, Sondheim rarely gets produced and when, then usually in Opera houses where I can't afford the tickets.

 

[Santino]

Perhaps not what he'll be remembered for but I recently just watched a film he scripted with Anthony Perkins that is worth checking out

I've seen it. It's... clever but distinctly odd.

The play (and film) Sleuth is also partly inspired by Sondheim.

 

[scifisam]

A Little Night Music was one of the first non-panto theatre shows I ever saw at the theatre, with Judi Dench as the main character. Send in the Clowns almost made me cry. Beautiful theatre that happens to include great music.

 

[petee]

...

 

[krtek a houby]

Forgotten he'd written some songs for Dick Tracy. Beautiful looking film, that.

 

[Reno]

The gender swap one? I thought it was great.

As was Follies at the National. (I'm a complete Imelda Staunton theatre fan girl and she was immense. As she also was in Gypsy.)

 

[existentialist]

The gender swap one? I thought it was great.

As was Follies at the National. (I'm a complete Imelda Staunton theatre fan girl and she was immense. As she also was in Gypsy.)

"Company" is about a single bloke with friends. An interesting variety of friends. When we did it, I played Peter, a married but closet gay man, who gets to hit on Robert (straight man).

In the production I was in, Robert was played by a gay man. So we had an interesting sexuality reversal going on...rehearsals were amusing at times

(I got that part on the strength of my Southern US accent being less shit than anyone else's )

 

[Sue]

"Company" is about a single bloke with friends. An interesting variety of friends.

Yes, I know. But in the West End production I'm talking about, 'Bobby' was a woman which changed this up.

 

[existentialist]

Yes, I know. But in the West End production I'm talking about, 'Bobby' was a woman which changed this up.

Oh!

 

[han]

The gender swap one? I thought it was great.

As was Follies at the National. (I'm a complete Imelda Staunton theatre fan girl and she was immense. As she also was in Gypsy.)

Yes, the gender swap one!

Imelda Staunton was amazing in Follies and Gypsy wasn't she!

 

[JimW]

ETA Not true apparently, story was about Captain Beefheart

 

[belboid]

The 1980 London version of Sweeney Todd, with Sheila Hancock!, was the first musical I ever saw. I must admit I can't remember much about it (I was 13) other than that the barners chair was amazing and quite scary just by itself.

I dont really like a lot of his other stuff, but there's no doubt he completely changed the way musicals were seen and produced. And for that, I thank him.