IT WAS SUPPOSED TO start at 8 o’clock. When it didn’t, the comments scroll on Broadway.com’s YouTube channel went wild. “It’s a hoax!” “There’s not really going to be a concert.” (Or words to that effect.)
Around 8:35, the “Follies” prelude began, with Stephen Schwartz at the piano. Then Raúl Esparza, the host, came on camera but had no audio. Then the screen went black.
The special finally started around 9. And the front page of the Arts section of The New York Times on Tuesday was devoted to Ben Brantley’s review, with that coveted Critic’s Choice check mark and a four-color collage of celebrity frame grabs. Brantley described the show as a tribute that “began catastrophically and blossomed into something beautiful.”
Press Nights had some thoughts too. Or at least we focused on some additional details.
TAKE ME TO THE WORLD:
A SONDHEIM 90th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
LIVE-STREAMED SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020
DIRECTED BY PAUL WONTOREK
BROADWAY.COM
1. ALMOST INTO THE WOODS
Some of the loveliest work was done a cappella. That’s Mandy Patinkin in what we are guessing is the backyard of his country house singing “Lesson 8” from “Sunday in the Park With George.” Later, Bernadette Peters, sitting indoors, did “No One Is Alone” from “Into the Woods,” also without musical accompaniment.
Photo: Broadway.com
2. IT TAKES THREE.
If you couldn’t bring Elaine Stritch (1925-2014) back to life to do “The Ladies Who Lunch,” the barked-out, world-weary bittersweet anthem from “Company” that she introduced in the original 1970 Broadway production — well, then, double or triple up. Christine Baranski (top right) started the number. Meryl Streep (top left), using a martini shaker as a castanet, joined in. And then just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Audra McDonald made it a trio. Look into their eyes, and you’ll see what they know.
Photo: Broadway.com
3. LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU
In addition to being the host, Raúl Esparza (who played Bobby in the musical-instruments revival of “Company”) performed the title song. “Take Me to the World” is from “Evening Primrose,” a 1966 television musical that takes place in a department store after hours. It reminds a lot of people of a “Twilight Zone” episode about mannequins.
Photos: Broadway.com (top), Pressnights.com (above)
4. SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE
The duets really worked. Among them, “Move On” (from “Sunday in the Park With George”) made powerful by Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. So did the quartet — reprising “Someone in a Tree” from “Pacific Overtures.” The number practically felt staged, which — in the theater world — is a good thing. Clockwise from top left, Ann Harada, Kelvin Moon Loh, Austen Ku and Thom Sesma.
Photo: Broadway.com
5. CHILDREN WILL LISTEN
There were a number of special appearances by performers’ sons, daughters and pets. Shown here, Harper and Gideon, the 8-year-old twins of Neil Patrick Harris, who performed a very spooky rendition of “The Witch’s Rap” (the tale of a woman’s cravings for salad greens) from “Into the Woods.”
Photo: Broadway.com
6. CAN THAT BOY FOXTROT!
How could Randy Rainbow, political parody star of the century so far, not be part of this evening? He honored the guest of honor by wearing black tie, accessorizing with what looked a bit like a Victorian nightcap. But since he was sanding in front of a beach-and-ocean screen, maybe it was a period swimming cap instead. Rainbow sang “By the Sea” from “Sweeney Todd” in a version that Peter Marks of The Washington Post called “scrumptiously embellished.” Rainbow ended his performance with the words “Happy birthday, Mr. Sondheim. I’m available.”
Photo: Pressnights.com
7. PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Many of us consider “Getting Married Today” from “Company” Sondheim’s trickiest, most tongue-twisting number. But then many of us never saw the 1966 revue “The Mad Show.” Linda Lavin was in it, and she made that “Company” ditty sound like child’s play by giving a superbly understated performance of “The Boy From …,” a parody of “The Girl From Ipanema,” from that revue. Music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Saint Stephen.
Photo: Pressnights.com
8. OPENING DOORS
Oh, lots of the biggest hits were part of the show. Josh Groban (in top photo) poured out his heart in “Children Will Listen.” Donna Murphy sang “Send In the Clowns.” Maria Friedman got to do “Broadway Baby.” But some of the most intriguing moments were from numbers many of us didn’t know. Sutton Foster sang “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” from “Anyone Can Whistle.” Elizabeth Staley offered “The Miller’s Son” from “A Little Night Music.” Brian Stokes Mitchell (photo above) did “The Flag Song,” a musical number that was cut from “Assassins.” Mitchell has never appeared in a Sondheim Broadway musical, but his wife was in “Follies” once.
Photo: Pressnights.com
9. BACK TO THE PALACE
Looking at famous people’s homes was fun. Bookshelves, pianos, all those framed and matted pictures up on the wall. We particularly liked Chip Zien’s above-the-piano art, Kelli O’Hara’s tabletop of photos and Neil Patrick Harris’s baronial background. And we’re pretty sure Sutton Foster was singing in front of her shower curtain, Very sad about Meryl Streep, though. Her “Ladies Who Lunch” background suggested that no one is immune to one ghastly truism: When you move to California, your bookcases never have any books in them.
Photo: Pressnights.com
