You’d swear you
know these songs by Stephen Sondheim but you don’t quite remember what show
they come from. That’s because they were cut from famous shows and most likely,
you don’t know them… or you heard them once on WERS…or someone in a cabaret
show dug them up. Diehard fans already know them, of course, but for the rest
of us, thank heaven New Repertory Theatre is mounting the Sondheim revue, MARRY
ME A LITTLE (through Jan. 27th). The charming, little retrospective
celebrates work from unproduced musicals, songs written for television
productions and music excised for various reasons from hits like COMPANY, A
LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and FOLLIES.
The clever revue
created by Craig Lucas and Norman Rene was originally intended for two singers
but director/choreographer Ilyse Robbins at New Rep opens it up for four
singers in various combinations and it works swimmingly. If you like all things
Sondheim, this is a must. And the New Rep singers make it much more than a
music history lesson.
What was
supposed to be Sondheim’s very first musical offers the marvelous lyric, “If
it’s Saturday night and you’re single…and you’ve resisted the urge to mingle,”
[then you’ll be spending] SATURDAY NIGHT ALONE. Aimee Doherty and Brad Daniel
Peloquin sit alone in their respective apartments beautifully mirroring each’s
lament. What marks almost all of Sondheim’s songs is that they’re quite funny
and poignant at the same time. TWO FAIRY TALES (originally in NIGHT MUSIC)
allow Erica Spyres and Phil Tayler to voice opposing, delightfully amusing
dreams of perfection.
As you’re
hearing UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN about a gal named Harriet from New Rochelle, you’re thinking it should be
Lucy and Jessie and you’re right. It’s an early version of the FOLLIES song,
delivered in the same rhythm, with some hilarious rhymes, which Doherty nails
deliciously. She masters the sardonic like it’s mother’s milk, in fact,
bringing home the bite with just the right inflection and spot on articulation,
so that you don’t miss a syllable.
Wait ‘til you
hear HAPPILY EVER AFTER (in Hell!) or the lush melodies and gorgeous
accompaniments from music director David McGrory and Todd C. Gordon (at two pianos)
and Spyres on violin! It’s a wealth of material and a gem of a production.
