[Andy]

Saw Good Thing Going - Simply Sondheim last night at the Cadogan hall and it was amazing. Not usually too keen on 'best of' type performances, but Daniel Evans and Maria Friedman are on top form. Catch Daniel before he heads off to broadway to revive SITPWG

Anyone else go?

[Trev]

The highs were very high but the lows were cringingly bad - I am still wincing at the awful encore of Send In the Clowns, having boasted of how other composers resort to cheap sacharine emotions how could they?

[Tintin]

A terrific concert. I did find Graham Bickley a bit wooden at times. He has a great voice, but seemed rather uncomfortable up against the others who were really great. Maybe it is because they have had more experience of being in Sondheim shows. I loved hearing the music played by such a fine orchestra and the young chorus was a revelation.

I could have done without the song that Sondheim wrote early in his career, that seems more like a poor version of a Jerome Kern one. With so many other remarkable ones that had been discarded over the years, the choice could have been better. But that is a minor quibble when there were so many treasures around.

[theatrefan]

I loved the evening. Maria was fantstic and so was Daniel. Sondheim's music is difficult, but Graham managed well I thought. His I Love Fosca was an eyeopener. As a MB fan, that song should be his, but I thought Graham made it his own. My quibble was with the chorus, who reminded me of the school choir who had been told "and don't forget to smile!" They obviously didn't "get" Sondheim,as cheesey grins are singularly inappropriate in a lot of his songs! I enjoyed the fun with Simon Green as narrator, enveloped in an unnecessary smoke machine, and showered by Maria during "The Worst Pies In London"

[StephenG]

I saw this show on Tuesday, and really enjoyed it. Clearly Maria Friedman stole the show for me.

I went with a few friends, one of whom knew very little Sondheim music, and he enjoyed the show as well. And his favourite - the "early in his career" song (Sorry, don't have the programme on me) sung by Maria Friedman.

Yes, Graham and Mary sung well but didn't perform to the same standard as Maria and Daniel. But they did have their moments - for Graham it was the song from Passion (as stated by the above poster) and for Mary it was Broadway Baby.

And what an orchestra! Most of the time they sounded great. Though typical to orchestras, they always looked bored.

My one gripe was that the narration was written to include snipes at other composers. The tone of "Sondheim is superior" didn't work well for me. I'm not trying to start an argument about which composers or lyricists are better, but I just think it's unprofessional to take that approach. The whole rant against "I Want" songs seemed unnecessary and snide.

But that aside - a fun evening!

[achilles]

I saw this show on Tuesday, and really enjoyed it. Clearly Maria Friedman stole the show for me.

I went with a few friends, one of whom knew very little Sondheim music, and he enjoyed the show as well. And his favourite - the "early in his career" song (Sorry, don't have the programme on me) sung by Maria Friedman.

Yes, Graham and Mary sung well but didn't perform to the same standard as Maria and Daniel. But they did have their moments - for Graham it was the song from Passion (as stated by the above poster) and for Mary it was Broadway Baby.

And what an orchestra! Most of the time they sounded great. Though typical to orchestras, they always looked bored.

My one gripe was that the narration was written to include snipes at other composers. The tone of "Sondheim is superior" didn't work well for me. I'm not trying to start an argument about which composers or lyricists are better, but I just think it's unprofessional to take that approach. The whole rant against "I Want" songs seemed unnecessary and snide.

But that aside - a fun evening!

Did Simon Green get to sing, or just narrate. He is hugely experienced with Sondheim, and is doing more and more directing. and of course, he has charm in spades.

[brian]

I saw this show on Tuesday, and really enjoyed it. Clearly Maria Friedman stole the show for me.

I went with a few friends, one of whom knew very little Sondheim music, and he enjoyed the show as well. And his favourite - the "early in his career" song (Sorry, don't have the programme on me) sung by Maria Friedman.

Yes, Graham and Mary sung well but didn't perform to the same standard as Maria and Daniel. But they did have their moments - for Graham it was the song from Passion (as stated by the above poster) and for Mary it was Broadway Baby.

And what an orchestra! Most of the time they sounded great. Though typical to orchestras, they always looked bored.

My one gripe was that the narration was written to include snipes at other composers. The tone of "Sondheim is superior" didn't work well for me. I'm not trying to start an argument about which composers or lyricists are better, but I just think it's unprofessional to take that approach. The whole rant against "I Want" songs seemed unnecessary and snide.

But that aside - a fun evening!

[brian]

I am going on Saturday night and really looking forward to it - especially having read all the positive reviews on this site. What is parking like around the Cadogan Hall? Anyone know?

[brian]

I am going on Saturday night and really looking forward to it - especially having read all the positive reviews on this site. What is parking like around the Cadogan Hall? Anyone know?

It was terrific. Surely this cannot be a one-off. It could run and run somewhere at sometime like 'Side by Side'. Whilst I realise that Daniel and Maria will have forthcoming commitments this should not stand in the way of promoting this particular show. I also thought the youthful chorus were excellent and would like to hear more of them. They certainly communicated well on Saturday night and their 'sound' and 'arrangements' were excellent.

[Palatio]

I missed it unfortunately and so annoyed with myself for doing so. Is this one of the concerts that will be aired on the radio?