Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
January 9, 2023 1:43 PM Subscribe
In May of 2022, Cameron Macintosh produced Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends [2h17m, skip to 5m50], a one-off tribute concert to the departed theater composer that included most of UK theater royalty: Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Haydn Gwynne, Bonnie Langford, Damien Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Siân Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier.
I honestly had no idea Rob Brydon or Damien Lewis sang on stage before seeing this. The winsome numbers were nicely winsome, Bernadette was in pretty good voice for being 74 years old, although I fear it looks like she's had some work done. Dench's Send In The Clowns is really heartbreaking if you give yourself over to it. Michael Ball singing Loving You was amazing!
I could go on. It's a long show, and worth the watch. I hadn't seen this before, but apparently this is the first time it's been posted on YouTube? I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
posted by hippybear at 7:56 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
I could go on. It's a long show, and worth the watch. I hadn't seen this before, but apparently this is the first time it's been posted on YouTube? I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
posted by hippybear at 7:56 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
I hadn't seen this before, but apparently this is the first time it's been posted on YouTube?
It just premiered on the BBC a couple of weeks ago.
posted by Optamystic at 7:23 AM on January 10, 2023
It just premiered on the BBC a couple of weeks ago.
posted by Optamystic at 7:23 AM on January 10, 2023
Damien Lewis surprised the heck out of me. Dude's got pipes and knows how to chew scenery. (The bit with the cherry was inspired.)
Dame Judi is just so infinitely much more beautiful than Bernadette Plastic. I'm sorry, but it's so.
posted by humbug at 6:20 PM on January 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dame Judi is just so infinitely much more beautiful than Bernadette Plastic. I'm sorry, but it's so.
posted by humbug at 6:20 PM on January 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
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I thought I'd seen all the Sondheim tributes, but I had not seen this one.
Just a brief skim shows there are some wonderful performances here, of so many of his wonderful songs.
Thank you so much for posting this, hippybear - I can't wait to watch it all attentively!
posted by kristi at 2:09 PM on January 9, 2023