PUTTING IT TOGETHER by Stephen Sondheim. Chichester.

Chichester

PUTTING IT TOGETHER
by Stephen Sondheim

Minerva Theatre To 29 September 2001
Runs 2hr One interval

TICKETS 01243 781312
Review Timothy Ramsden 19 September

Overall, a satisfying survey of the master word and songsmith; a few glitches but several glories too.Two hours of New York cool and chic is undercut by a cruel irony since Sondheim’s world is illustrated by a programme cover featuring the World Trade Center twin tours, smashed mid-run by terrorists. With a statement of respect to the victims, the show goes on to display Sondheim’s wit and sparkle, an expression of New York’s mass fluorescence.

The smart-set cocktail party setting is convenient but not important; a musical frame’s provided by Sondheim’s backward-scrolling story of music-theatre people Merrily We Roll Along. Into this are sandwiched some thirty numbers. Some are wrested from their contexts with amended lyrics, including the title number, from Sunday in the Park with George. Everybody Ought to Have A Maid suffers outside the flimsy world Roman comedy world of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and its recasting with an apron-stringed male and female employer stamps heavy-handedly on the fun – unless you happen to fall for the phallic cleaning appurtenances.

Yet It’s Hot Up Here takes well to a crowded party setting in place of the painted characters of Sunday in the Park. Generally, the dislocations point up how organic the songs are to their stories.

A five-strong cast relish the wit and spot-on character hits in song after song by Sondheim. If there’s one problem it’s that so many brilliant lines and clever snap-finishes make for a rich mix. But why complain about musicals exercising your intelligence?

Edward Hall’s sleek production tactfully limits the big production moments (a pity he couldn’t get Ben Ormerod to limit the follow-spot glare off the shiny floor of Francis O’ Connor’s elegant set). Among the cast there’s especially fine work in Simon Green’s sophisticated delivery and from the bright-voiced Julie-Alanah Brighten; her material girl’s More followed by his turbo-charged Buddy’s Blues provide an outstanding mini-sequence.

The Interloper: Simon Green
The Wife: Linda Thorson
The Husband: David Rintoul
The Younger Woman: Julie-Alanah Brighten
The Younger Man: Matt Rawle

Director: Edward Hall
Designer: Francis O' Connor
Lighting: Ben Ormerod
Choreographer: Stephen Mear
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick

2001-09-23 13:00:09