Sondheim's Six Ladies In Red

September 12, 2021 10:01 AM

Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Bernadette Peters, and Elaine Stritch all take the stage and take a turn singing some Sondheim. Thirty minutes of diva delight, with David Hyde Pierce to introduce them.
posted by hippybear (14 comments total)

[CHECKS DVR] Yep, we still have that recording.
posted by fedward at 10:30 AM on September 12, 2021

We no longer, however, have the cast-as-chamber-ensemble COMPANY, which I guess disappeared with a bad hard drive.
posted by fedward at 10:54 AM on September 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

the cast-as-chamber-ensemble COMPANY

You'll find that linked in this post.
posted by hippybear at 11:03 AM on September 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

Sheesh, why am I crying?
posted by djeo at 11:04 AM on September 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

Totally worth getting the DVD. Too many great people to list. I wish this could be a limited run theatrical show. It’s a great primer on theater and Sondheim shows.
posted by Freecola at 11:32 AM on September 12, 2021

You'll find that linked in this post.

I'll personally find it suggested to my by the YouTube app on our smart TV, because my wife is like a heart-eyes emoji for Raul Esparza and I think we've watched that "Being Alive" a couple times a year.
posted by fedward at 11:44 AM on September 12, 2021

This is just so much genius. And obviously a magnificent master class in the idea that the acting inside a song is just as important as the notes you're hitting. Also Marin Mazzie went too soon. Even Elaine Stritch went too soon.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:34 PM on September 12, 2021 [3 favorites]

Sheesh, why am I crying?

Same. The loving respect they give each other.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:22 PM on September 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

That is the absolutely definitive "I'm Still Here." I will hear no other.
posted by humbug at 2:18 PM on September 12, 2021 [6 favorites]

That brought me so much joy. Thanks for sharing it, hippybear!
posted by ourobouros at 5:06 PM on September 12, 2021

That is the absolutely definitive "I'm Still Here." I will hear no other.

Yeah, I came in to express my awe at Elaine Stritch's performance.
posted by Gelatin at 9:33 AM on September 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

This is delightful. And I really expected Barbra Streisand to be in the audience, which shows what I know.
Patti LuPone was my favorite in "Ladies Who Lunch." But with such talent, it's hard to chose.
Does Bernadette Peters have a magic portrait hung somewhere, because I remember her on "The Carol Burnett Show" and she hasn't aged a bit.
posted by TrishaU at 6:33 PM on September 13, 2021 [2 favorites]

Does Bernadette Peters have a magic portrait hung somewhere, because I remember her on "The Carol Burnett Show" yt and she hasn't aged a bit.

That was 11 years ago at Sondheim's 80th. He turned 91 this year, and last year Bernadette contributed this to a Covid Concert for his 90th... Still hasn't aged.
posted by hippybear at 7:17 PM on September 13, 2021 [3 favorites]

"I met a big financier
... And I'm here."

Just. There is nothing to improve in Elaine's sly delivery. It's perfect. It's a whole entire story in two short, practically sprechstimme, lines of song. Awe-inspiring (and, of course, hilarious).

And may I, at her age, be able to let a song build like that against a whole-azz orchestra (which is underplaying, yeah, but really not by much).

The woman is absolutely riveting. I can't. She's so brilliant.
posted by humbug at 7:10 AM on September 14, 2021 [5 favorites]