Monday, February 19, 2007

Stephen Sondheim's Marvelous Twilight

We may have already seen the last original musical by Stephen Sondheim on Broadway, unless he tweaks "Bounce" into place. But what a wonderful time he's been having. Sondheim's musicals have always taken a turn or two to catch on. The show opens, the critics rave, the show closes and the years later it gets revived to even more acclaim and has a solid run. He probably doesn't need any reassurance that his work will last, but it has to be exciting to see show after show return again and again to Broadway and the West End in interesting, challenging revivals. And what a great two years Sondheim has had. "Sweeney Todd" came to Broadway in an exceptional, bold revival and now it's being turned into a movie. Then came "Company" will a thrilling performance by Raul Esparza. "Sunday in the Park with George" has been brilliantly done in London, swept the Oliviers and is coming to Broadway. And to top it off, an Encores production of "Follies" was so stunning that it seems an inevitable transfer as well. What a run.

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