A charming and elegant evening at the Walter Kerr Theatre. I'd never heard anything about the show before i saw it - so i was a blank slate ready to be impressed by Mr. Sondheim and this cast. And impressed I was. Catherine Zeta Jones was magnificent. I won't say her rendition of
Send in the Clowns was the best i'd ever heard, but it was solid and heartfelt. A great actress she is, no matter what the medium. Angela Lansbury is a gem and it's a pleasure to see her no matter what the medium. Although she did just get off a run of
Blythe Spirit where she owned the entire stage from end to end - this show is a bit different. She plays the aging matriarch in a wheel chair the entire evening - so dare i say - she could do this one for quite a long time - 8 shows every week!
I did some reading about prior productions of this show - and if i believe what i read - this production was quite elegant - unlike the prior incarnations. Brought to mind another Sondheim show,
Company, also an elegant reincarnation a few years past.
I won't say the show itself is a draw. It's a bit old fashioned and predictable. The main draw is Angela and Catherine - for sure. Aaron Lazar and Erin Davie certainly add to the evening with their charmed performances. Sondheim's
Every Day a Little Death seen live on stage was a treat.
Not sure this one will last beyond Angela's go at it. Maybe someone can replace Catherine Zeta Jones, but nobody can replace Angela.
I did some reading about prior productions of this show - and if i believe what i read - this production was quite elegant - unlike the prior incarnations. Brought to mind another Sondheim show, Company, also an elegant reincarnation a few years past.