Revival Plans for Iconic Musicals "Les Misérables" and "Phantom of the Opera", along with the Broadway Production of Sondheim's Show Unveiled
The Broadway Spectacle: Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Unveiled
Stephen Sondheim, the legendary theatre composer, had a penchant for puzzles, but none as challenging as the one he left for his longtime collaborator, Cameron Mackintosh, after his passing in 2021.
During the pandemic, Sondheim and Mackintosh contemplated a revue of Sondheim's songs. They jotted down a list of tunes they wanted to include. However, upon Sondheim's demise, the responsibility to materialize this vision fell on Mackintosh.
"I wanted to focus on the music," Mackintosh recalls, "to make it personal, but we didn't quite get that far."
In the wake of Sondheim's death, Mackintosh constructed the framework for Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, which graced Broadway and showcased Tony award-winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.
The definitive playlist features some of Sondheim's most iconic tunes, such as "The Ladies Who Lunch," "I'm Still Here," "Send in the Clowns," "Losing My Mind," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and "Children Will Listen."
The revue is a nod to their shared history, with elements sourced from their joint projects like Les Misérables - a reminder of their professional camaraderie.
The production subtly mirrors Sondheim's preference for intricate storytelling, with the songs organized in a way that requires audiences to piece together the context, much like a puzzle. Yet, there's no concrete evidence connecting this production to any specific unfinished Sondheim project.
Critics argue that the show's tone is somewhat conservative, opting for nostalgic reminiscence over innovative experimentation - a choice that could reflect Mackintosh's aim to honor Sondheim's existing catalog rather than expand upon incomplete ideas.
In essence, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends was conceived during pandemic deliberations, finalized posthumously as a tribute, and relies on audience familiarity to "solve" the lack of narration and achieve harmony with the composer's intricate style.
- Despite Mackintosh's aim to focus on Sondheim's music and make it personal, the tone of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends turned out to be somewhat conservative, preferring nostalgic reminiscence over innovative experimentation.
- The revue, which showcased on Broadway and featured Tony award-winners, subtly mirrors Sondheim's preference for intricate storytelling, requiring audiences to piece together the context much like a puzzle.
- In the wake of Sondheim's death, Mackintosh not only constructs the framework for Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends but also decides to engage in projects beyond theatre, expanding his ventures into movies-and-tv entertainment industry.
