| Side By Side By Sondheim | |
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| Poster for the original Broadway production | |
|---|---|
| Music | Stephen Sondheim Leonard Bernstein Mary Rodgers Richard Rodgers Jule Styne |
| Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim |
| Book | Revue |
| Productions | 1976 West End 1977 Broadway 1978 U.S. tour 2007 West End revival |
Side by Side by Sondheim is a musical revue featuring the songs of prolific Broadway and film composer Stephen Sondheim. Its title is derived from a tune in Company.
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History
The musical had its origins when David Kernan was asked by Cleo Laine and her husband John Dankworth to put together a revue as a benefit for a theatre they owned in Wavendon. Kernan contacted director Ned Sherrin and suggested that they do a revue of Sondheim material. The producer Cameron Mackintosh saw the benefit revue, which featured Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie, Kernan, and Ned Sherrin as the narrator, and agreed to produce it.[1]
Synopsis
The musical is in the form of a revue, with various sections tied together by being from a particular Sondheim musical, or having a common theme, and all of it tied together by the Narrator. He explains what show the songs are from, and in some cases provides background on why a song was written. He also notes for the audience Sondheim themes. As the cast enters they sing "Comedy Tonight", and then "Love Is in the Air". The Narrator explains that the later song was the original opener for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum but was dropped in favor of the more explicit lyrics of "Comedy Tonight". The Narrator notes that a theme that Sondheim has explored in many of his works is marriage, which introduces the next set of songs. Next are the unknown songs, one cut and one from a television program ("I Remember"). The medley from Company follows, and Act 1 closes with Follies, with the Narrator pointing out the different musical styles Sondheim has used in these songs, such as Vaudeville ("Buddy's Blues"). The female trio sing "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" as the Act ends.
Songs
Songs included have varied from production to production; following is the song list from the original Broadway production
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Productions
The revue had its premiere on May 4, 1976 at London's Mermaid Theatre, where it ran for 59 performances. It subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre and then the Garrick for a grand total of 806 performances. Ned Sherrin directed, but Sondheim also worked with the cast and made many suggestions.[1]
Hal Prince produced the Broadway version, and persuaded Actors' Equity Association to allow the original British cast to transfer with the show. The production, again directed by Sherrin, opened on April 18, 1977 at the Music Box Theatre, and later transferred to the now-demolished Morosco Theatre. Between the two venues, it ran for a total 384 performances and 6 previews. It is one of the few shows to have the distinction of its entire cast being nominated for Tony Awards (Best Featured Actor in a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical). A subsequent 1978 U. S. national tour starred Martin, Larry Kert, Barbara Heuman, and Hermione Gingold as the Narrator. Numerous international productions have been mounted ever since.
A London West End revival opened at the Venue Theatre on May 1, 2007, and closed June 23, 2007, after 62 performances and 4 previews. The cast included Abbie Osman, Alasdair Harvey and Josie Walker, with rotating narrators. The musical was directed by Hannah Chissick with musical staging by Adam Cooper. [2]
Because of its small cast and simple production requirements, the show is a popular choice for summer stock and community theatre productions.
References
- ^ a b Information from the Sondheim.com website
- ^ Playbill News: London's Side by Side by Sondheim Revival Closes June 23
External links
- Side By Side By Sondheim at the Internet Broadway Database
- Side By Side By Sondheim on The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide
- Side By Side by Sondheim information at MTI Shows
- sondheim.com Side-By-Side
- Theatre.com review of 2007 London revival
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