Elyse Sommer's Blog update:

 

. Elyse's Blog

\December 23rd  update--  about  Kimberly  Akimbo,  Mrs.  Doubtfire,  Flying over  Sunset,  Only Murders  in  this Building. . .

Newest: December 23, 2021

Stephen Sondheim, A Life Well Well Lived--- Elyse Sommer's laest blog ipdst

 Elyse's Blog

November 29, 2021 Update Stephen Sondheim, A Life Well Well Lived Unlike the many theater notables who knew him personally, I never knew Stephen Sondheim. But I knew and loved his groundbreaking contributions to the musical theater. Thanks to his masterful Sweeney Todd and under-appreciated Passion I became attuned to his brilliant mix of tonal and d atonal chords. As a writer i was in awe of his character-building, emoton-triggering, witty lyrics. Since founding CurtainUp I've been fortunate enough to see most of his shows, often freshly staged and cast as proof of his being as timeless and adaptable as Shakespeare's plays. To read them, just go to the "Enhanced by Google" box and type in "Sondheim" and you'll be able to read them. For now, I'm re-posting my review of Meryle Secrest's excellent biography, Stephen Sondheim, a Life — but began it wit her refrain from Sunday In the Park With George which sums up Stephen Sondheim's wonderfully well lived life. I want to move on. I want to explore the light. I want to know how to get through One of the routines of my Berkshire summer is a Thursday drive to Williamstown, alternating between openings at the Williamstown Theatre Festival's two stages in the Adams Memorial Theatre building. The Adams Memorial Main Stage was the magnet drawing sixteen-year-old Stephen Sondheim to enroll at Williams College. It was also the venue for, Phinney's Rainbow, a collegiate spoof on the hit musical Finian's Rainbow, which was given four performances in 1948. A motto adorning the steps of one of the dorms inspired his first original musical Climb High. Anyone reading Meryle Secrest's richly detailed biography will also find that, while there were plenty of stops and starts along the way, these words could also serve as a motto of Sondheim's career: Climb high Climb far Your goal the sky Your aim the star Secrest while not a musical expert, is an expert biographer. Since a biographer is very much a puzzle solver, it's easy to understand her interest in a man with a well-known fascination for puzzles. Her previous subjects include people of diverse artistic background, only one of whom, Leonard Bernstein, was a musician. It was in fact while trying to get a handle on Bernstein's creative lapse, that she first sought out Sondheim. (He told her Bernstein had a bad case of "Important-itis"). As she did in the Bernstein book, Secrest again skillfully traces the evolution of Sondheim's work by carefully chronicling the personal influences that shaped his artistic development. Her interviews with the composer-lyricist are woven through with comments culled from interviews with friends, relatives and colleagues as well as secondary sources. In addition, there are a fair amount of biographer-as-analyst observations. It would have been nice to have more details about her methodology, especially about the dates and circumstances pertaining to her meetings with Sondheim. Instead, she guards the steps taken to piece together the puzzle of what makes her subject tick, as much as Sondheim for all his cooperation seems to have controlled what he wanted in print. In spite of this, Stephen Sondheim: A Life succeeds admirably in drawing a well-rounded and richly embroidered psychological and professional portrait. The emotional deprived silver-spoon childhood -- a mother aptly called Foxy and a father who abandoned the family for another woman -- are not just thrown in for the sake of a tell-all expose flavor, but to show how artists generally and this artist in particular reprocess such painful experiences. This savvy integration of the personal story , Broadway insider anecdotes and the process of writing lyrics and composing makes for a book that should please musical theater buffs as well as the general readers who make biographies one of the best-selling categories of the book business. The personal history isn't all Mommy Dearest and Daddy-Out-to-Lunch. Sondheim was lucky in many of his friendships and family connections -- knight in shining armor in the latter department being Oscar Hammerstein 2nd whose Bucks County retreat provided the young Sondheim with a nurturing home away from his mother's unnourishing nest nearby. This surrogate father also became Sondheim's musical mentor and the four-part program he prescribed for his protege as lessons in the art of writing musicals is one any young aspirant might do well to follow: First take a play that you like and musicalize it. Then take a play that you like but that you feel has flaws and try to improve them, and musicalize it. Then take something that is not a play but that somebody else has written, a novel or a short story, so that you don't have to invent the characters or plot, and musicalize that and make it into a play. And then finally, write an original, your own story, and dramatize that. Sondheim began on Hammerstein's lesson plan during his junior year at Williams, starting with Beggar on Horseback. Part four was the already mentioned Climbing High. Hammerstein saw much to like in this but was disturbed that Sondheim took so much trouble with a character he didn't like. One of his written notes in the margin of the script was "Don't bristle." Ms. Secrest does not dwell unnecessarily on the darkness of her subject's childhood.. Instead she moves through the stages of his life and work at a crisp enough pace to take us through his stints as actor and TV scriptwriter and the genesis of his whole oeuvre of successful and not so successful musicals. (An appendix with a chronological list, main original cast members and performance dates would have enhanced the book's reference value). Having reviewed a revival of A Little Night Music just a few weeks before starting this book, the chapter on this collaboration with Harold Prince and Arthur Laurents (one of several) was particularly enlightening and enjoyable: The way Hermione Gingold fought for the role of Madame Armfeldt, Prince's stated vision for an effect that would be "whipped cream with knives", the reason for the lyrical construction of the big hit song "Send In the Clowns" and the stage disaster that sent all the china crashing and destroyed two costly antique candelabras. While perhaps not as explicit as some tell-all biographies, Ms. Secrest does not skim over Sondheim's homosexuality. In fact, with many memorable photographs generously sprinkled throughout the text, the only thing missing in these 466 pages (including a 15-page index) is a CD with a little Sondheim music -- especially the refrain from Sunday In the Park With George which she uses to sum up her story and Stephen Sondheim's continuing saga: I want to move on. I want to explore the light. I want to know how to get through Through to something new . . .

The Humans — Stephen Karam's innovative adaptation of his splendid play .

 

. Elyse's Blog

Newest: November 29, 2021

Latest Features About Onscreen and Live Theater

The Humans — Stephen Karam's innovative adaptation of his splendid play .

By Elyse Sommer

Elyse Sommers blog uodate features 66-year-old play's triumpant Broadway debut

 Elyse's Blog

November 22, 2021 Update LaChanze and Chuck Cooper In looking back on this season of Broadway reopening its doors, we might well tag it Broadway's Never-Before -Season — never before have audiences been required to wear masks throughout a performance. . . never before did theaters rely on those able to get to Broadway by foot, car, bus or train rather than for tourists from abroad . . .never before did so many prestigious venues book plays usually seen only Off-Broadway. And never before were so many of these works by Black playwrights..

Passing — the book and the new movie reviewed by Elyse Sommer, editor and founder of http://www.curtainup.com

 

Latest Features About Onscreen and Live Theater

Passing — the book and the new movie

By Elyse Sommer

Elyse Sommer's theater-centric Blog- update

Elyse's Blog

November 5, 2021 Update — Solo plays with multiple actors to narrate . . . the continuing popularity of trios of sisters, brothers and succeeding generations of one family as plot- driving characters

-- 
Elyse Sommer
Editor/Publisher

The Time has Come to Diversify Broadway's Diversity

 
Newest: October 9, 2021

Latest Features About Onscreen and Live Theater

The Time has Come to Diversify Broadway's Diversity

By Elyse Sommer

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Diana

— he film of this Broadway mus[cal about the reigning

Lots of new in Elyse's October 9, 2021 Blog update

 

October 9, 2021 Update— more about Judy Kaye's double star turn in Diana. . . why Six, another famous royal tragedy manages to be a fresh and entertaining musical while Diana is not. . . To Kill a Mockingbird is more relevant than ever. . . my latest suggestions for onscreen outings. . .

Elyse Sommer's LATEST STREAMING REVIEW -- Diana , the musical

 

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS

Diana

— he film of this Broadway mus[cal about the reigning monarch's famous former daughter-in-law comes to Netflix before opening at the Longacre Theatre.

Are World Premieres For New Plays Pandemic Stopgaps Or a New Normal

 

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS

Are World Premieres For New Plays Pandemic Stopgaps Or a New Normal

— If Primary Stages weren't still closed, BadAss GalBoss Power Hour (Mandatory Meeting) might have premiered as a live production. . . but for the New Normal Rep the virtual world premiere of F.I. R.E. confirms their commitment to using the pandemic as an opportunity to make plays staged especially for the screen provide satisfying theatrical experiences and reach larger audiences.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the movie

 verybody's Talking About Jamie, — the film adaptation of the British hit musical

Elyse's Blog update -- Includes review of Angela's Ashes: The Musical

 Elyse's Blog— An in-person finale of Richard Nelson's Rhinebeck Panorama. . . the Atlantic Theater comes back to live performances with a new play, The Last of the Love Letters, and Gingold Theatrical Group with a Shaw crowd pleaserMrs. Warren's Profession. . . .An on-screen treat, Angela's Ashes: the Musical.

September 14, 2021 Update — An in-person finale of Richard Nelson's Rhinebeck Panorama. . . the Atlantic Theater comes back to live performamces with a new play, The Last of the Love Letters, and Gingold Theatrical Group with a Shaw crowd pleaserMrs. Warren's Profession. . . .An on-screen treat, Angela's Ashes: the Musical. It would be boorish not to be pleased by all the publicity showered on Waitress and Hadestown, the first musicals to come back to Broadway. Senator Chuck Schumer's attendance at the Waitress opening and the fact that Sara Bareilles —the show's creator and composer — will be starring through October 17th has no doubt contributed to healthy ticket sales. Sadly, Nick Cordero who played a major role in the Broadway production I reviewed was a COVID victim. (Read my review here ) Here's hoping, that Hadestown, which I reviewed off-Broadway in 2016, and on Broadway in 2021 (Broadway Review Off-Broadway Review).will also continue to thrive. While Broadway is indeed essential for the city's economic well-beng, Off-Broadway theaters are where so many shows begin life. These always adventurous theaters too have suffered enormous losses and need attention and support to keep the city's cultural heart beating. Like the big Broadway houses, these small venues are returning to live performances with strict safety protocol in place. Some, especially the Irish Rep Theater have actually used the lockdown to win new fans from far away with previously presented plays inventively filmed for the screen. Though they are opening the doors of their 140-seat theater again, their screened plays are still available to rent inexpensively OnDemand. The Rep is tthe perfect host tor the New York screen debut of the Pat Moylan poroduction of the musical adaptation of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize winning memoir Angela's Ashes. My comments on seeng the film's opening performance comfortably seated at my dining table will follow my comments on Off-Broadway plays that are or will soon be offering plays for audiences to see in person. . All offer a chance to go back to the theater in a less populated settting. What Happened?— The Michaels Abroad by Richard Nelson. When the Michaels last shared a meal and conversation around a table in Rhinebeck, the family matriarch Rose, a distinguished choreogrspher, was dying of cancer. In the concluding play she's been dead for six months, not from the cancer but COVID and the Michaels family has been cleared to fly to France for a conference of her work. The table around which they are gathered is the home of Rose's wife Kate in France. As usual, the two hours are more about character than plot. The table talk includes some dancing, but above all, these characters are all living through the same present as all who are watching. Maryann Plunkett and her husband Jay O. Sanders, who've been in every play , including the Zoom trilogy, are on board for the finale. Their presence in the last of these basically under-dramatized plays may have some of their many fans conquer their Delta Variant nervousness. For ticket information, go to https://www.huntertheaterproject.org/ The Last of the Love Letters If CurtainUp were still in old "cover every new show coming to town" mode, I'd certainly check out the world premiere of The Last of the Love Letters at the Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater at 3336 West 20th Street. It's a limited run engagement that began August 26th and will end September 26th. Playwright Ngozi Anyanwu also performs and Patricia McGregor directs Playwright and player Ngozi Anyanwu is joined on stage by Daniel J. Watts and Xavier Scott Evans, the former listed as "You No.2" and the latter as "Person." They contemplate the thing they love most and whether to stick it out or to leave it behind. To stay. Or to go. That is the question. Sounds like a challenging choice. Next up at the Atlantic is an intriguing new musical based on David Lindsay-Abaire's Kimberly Akimbo, with book and lyrics by Lindsay-Abaire, music by Jeanine Tesory. Directed by Jessica Stone and starring the golden voiced Victoria Clark as Kimberly, this sounds like a show with legs to take it to Broadway. Still, there's nothing like seing it in a more intimate space . That opportunity will be from November 5 to December 26, 2021. Mrs. Warren's Profession Just once every year Gingold Theatrical Group departs from its modus operandi of play readings to put on a fully staged play at Theater Row. And they're doing so now with a revival of Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession. The play has had its share of outstanding thespians portray the main characters. Director David Staller too has assembled a fine cast. Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba stars as Mrs. Warren. She's supported by Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Nicole King, Alvin Keith and Raphael Nash Thompson. The limited engagement runs from October 12th to November 20th. To read the half dozen other productions of this play reviewed at CurtainUp, see Playwrights Album chapter on Shaw here. Angela's Ashes: The Musical enjoyed a number of widely praised live productions in Ireland. Now the filmed version is making its New York debut. Having that debut hosted by the Irish Rep is an apt choice given their own history with Frank McCourt. They successfully produced McCourt's revue The Irish and How they Got That Way, and revived it after his death in 2009. Like the Rep's archive of past live productions innovatively filmed for screen viewing, Angela's Ashes: The Musical is also smartly filmed, making the Rep the premiere's perfect host. However, unless things change, the Pat Moylan film will be available only for its short run, unlike the ones produced by the Rep that can still be accessed OnDemand. To cut to the chase. . . Can the source book really work as a musical? After all, anyone who's read McCourt's memoir about his difficult Irish childhood, or seen the film adaptation that's still available at Amazon Prime, may find it hard to imagine young Frank and his impoverished family members singing an dancing. I'll admit that I had my doubts. But that was before attending the first performance courtesy of the laptop on my dinng room table. Thanks to Thom Southerland innovative direction and Jacinta Whyte and Eoin Cannon superb acting and singing as Angela and Frank, Paul Hurt's book and Adam Howel's music and lyrics, McCourt's story does indeed come to vivid life as a musical drama. Hurt's book remain true to McCourt's recollecions of his unhaooy Irish childhood in Limerick, the town to which his family returned after failing to survive their first journey to America. That was when Frank, the oldest, was just 5-years-old. The years of extreme poverty resulting from his father's drunkenness and failure to supprt the family was exacerbated by the Limirick citizenry treatment — often, mistreatment. No wonder, the dream that took more than a dozen years to realize that Frank's mantra was to go to America. Eoin Cannon deftly jumps back and forth between Frank as the show's adult narrator, and Frank as an active member of his large, troubled family. I usually don't like to see adult actors playing children, but Cannon won me over here. Jacinta Whyte inhabits the role of a woman whose love match results in too many children and incredible hardship. Her powerful vocals add some of the best solos and duets to the show. While Cannon and Whyte are thhe show's stars, The ensemble too does finw work portraying the Limerick citizenry, many of whom add to the pain of the McCourts' return to Ireland. Best of all, this musical adaptation brings some light into the memoir's darkness. The heartbreaking moments are still there, but so are some rousing dance numbers and funny moments. Not to be overlooked in the musical's assets is Francis O’Connor's clever stage design with its use of a moving staircase, suspended window frames and a balcony. For ticket details go to https://irishrep.org/tickets/

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Spike Lee's Film of the premiere production of Pass Over.h.

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS Spike Lee's Film of the premiere production of Pass Over — Antoinette Nwandu's Godot -inspired play in which Vladimir and Estragon morph into Africn-American Moses and Kitch.

George M. Cohan Tonight! An Abridged Performance on Screen -Free at the Irish Rep

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS George M. Cohan Tonight! An Abridged Performance on Screen Free to view until August 29th only

LATEST STREAMING REVIEW Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists a documentary that's a tribute to two superstsrs of another era that's also a eulogy to print newspapers.. . .

LATEST STREAMING REVIEW Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists a documentary that's a tribute to two superstsrs of another era that's also a eulogy to print newspapers.. . .

Elyse's New Blog:More challenges for live theater's comeback. . . diverse scripts and casts easier to achieve than diverse audiences.. . .a weird over-the top zombie spoof with an ensemble of award-winning stage actors.

 

Elyse's Blog Newest: August 6, 2021 — More challenges for live theater's comeback. . . diverse scripts and casts easier to achieve than diverse audiences.. . .a weird over-the top zombie spoof with an ensemble of award-winning stage actors.

Elyse Sommers blog updste- Lots of Screening and Live Theater News.

 

Elyse's Blog Newest: July 18, 2021 — Lots of Screening and Live Theater News.

 

Elyse's Blog Newest: June 7, 2021 — Details about Shakespeare in the Park's return. . . more full capacity Broadway shows planned for September and October. . . more onscreen theater news. . .

Review Oslo, the Movie by Elyse Sommerf

 Oslo, the Movie
—Adaptation of the hit play with fine new cast and lots of cinematic tricks. . .

To stream or not to stream -- essay with reviews of Uncle Vanya, Atlantic Crossing, Amy Tan

 

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
To Stream or Not to Stream-— It''s not whether to stream or not but how to accept it as part of the theatrical landscape. For your streaming consideration here: Uncle Vanya. . .Atlantic Crossing. . .Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir. .

Little Gem —a virtual production that lives up to its title. . .

 

Elyse's blog Newest: April 27, 2021

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
Little Gem —a virtual production that lives up to its title. . .

The Line
— the oh so timely and moving documentary back for another lmited run to June 21, 2021

John Cullum: An Accidental Star reviewed by Elyse Sommer

  Elyse's blog Newest: April 8, 2021&

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
John Cullum: An Accidental Star|
— Another legend still going strong. . . until April 23rd only.

Twyla Moves reviewed by Elyse Sommer for curtainup.com

 

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
Twyla Moves
— A dance icon undeterred by the pandemic's confining stage

Eltse simmers revew of Shtsel Season 3

 

Elyse's blog Newest: March 30, 2021—Season 3 of Shtisel

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
Shtisel Season 3
— Worth the wait. . .

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New streamed version Of The Lst Five Years

 
Newest:
The The Last Five Years
— Jason Robert Brown's sung-through 2-hander until March 28th only. . .

The Investigation — Another Danish series starring two of Borgen's main character

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
The Investigation
— Another Danish series starring two of Borgen's main characters. . .

Newest: The Cazalet Chronicles dash; The kind of novels nobody writes or reads any mor

 ATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
The Cazalet Chronicles
dash; The kind of novels nobody writes or reads any more — but well worth spending time with now. . .

The Dig - a fictionalixed history drama starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
The Dig
- a fictionalixed history drama starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes

Radium Girls & Bad Education| - two movies based on long ago scandalous l events

 

LATEST STREAMING REVIEWS
Newest:
Radium Girls & Bad Education| - two movies based on long ago scandalous l events

. Elyse's Blog during week when life turned into a reality horror show

 

Elyse's blog - Comments & news of current and upcoming streaming events-- January 16, 2021 Update — during a week when our already surreal lives take a climactic turn into an unprecedented reality horror show