Reader Reviews
Sunday In the Park With George (Wyndham's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I love that 'Julia' on the 29th of May (below) says "I've tried my level best to understand the appeal of his work, but in my opinion he's the thinking person's Lloyd Webber". I just love that "but". Yes, Julia, that says a lot. For those who want a stimulating, deeply thought-provoking, emotionally charged (I didn't just weep, I wailed!) experience, then this is for you. For those who don't want to have to do anything as strenuous as 'think' then go see Phantom. - 81.77.218.8) | 22 Aug 06 |
| I saw this twice at the Menier and loved it and was worried it would not survive the transfer - well, it has actually got even better ! It is astonishing that, 9 months after my first visit, it seemed as fresh as an opening night. This faultless production shows that this show really is a musical theatre masterpiece. - 86.144.154.201) | 17 Aug 06 |
| I saw this last night having got tickets for £25.00 from tkts. I have never seen a Sondheim show so it was all new to me. I can see why he is a love or hate composer as this to me isnt the standard style of musical. There were a few people who left in the interval. It was intriguing and im glad I saw it as I my view its always good to expand your tastes. People often comment that ALWs music is repetetive, well I found the music in this to be the same, not that its a bad thing. Musically it was an odd piece, no song really sticks in your head, yet at the end of the first act I felt moved and involved in the story - I cared about the people on stage. Jenna Russell I thought was EXCELLENT, funny, touching and beautiful voice nd great acting. Never got to see her in Guys and Dolls so was my first time seeign her on stage. The show was funnier than I expected as well. Daniel Evans was very good also, as was the entire company, all great voices. But for me the star of the show is the set - breathtakingly brilliant and affective. It suits the Wyndhams perfectly and worked well within the context fo the show. The second act however I spent much of the time wondering what was the point as nothing really happened. I did clock watch a couple of times, but the last 15-20 mins did bring it all together. Its a unique piece and im stll not 100% sure my overall opinion of it but im still thinking about it now so it definately had an effect on me. It hasnt made me a sondheim fan but i do want to see more of his work. Overall I really enjoyed it, I found it a thought provoking and moving piece. Very different to anything that is out there at the moment and deserves its place in the West End. Id like to see Company in the West End as that is the only bit of sondheim ive heard music from! - 86.139.166.6) | 30 Jul 06 |
| A strong revival that takes delightful advantage of technology while treating Sondheim's exquisite score with appropriate respect. Evans and Russell are fine, though they lack the quirky charisma of role originators Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. - 71.130.57.216) | 21 Jul 06 |
| This show has to rank as one of the 3 worst things I have ever seen on stage. Whilst the production is good, although a little cramped on the small stage, the so called singing is diabolical. The piece is reliant on the performance of the two leads-the rest get little to do but unfortunately the two leads shout their way through the piece rather than sing and even worse mikes are on throughout even during speech-surely our actors can project speech into a theatre without being amplified? - 158.143.197.168) | 20 Jul 06 |
| I was lucky enough to see this production at the Menier Chocolate Factory. I loved the intimacy it had there and was worried that its transfer to the much larger proscenium style of Wyndhams would swallow it up. I needn't have worried. It looks and sounds fabulous and it felt like watching the show through the frame of one of Seurat's paintings. This is a masterpiece of modern musical theatre and probably Sondheim's best. This production has it all, great orchestrations, sumptuous costumes, amazing visual effects, a fantastic ensemble and stunning leading performances. Daniel Evans is the heart beat of the piece. He commands the stage and delivers an outstanding performance. Anna Jane Casey was a hard act to follow but Jenna Russell injects Dot with more fun and an even bigger heart. There is not a weak link in this production. Gay Soper and Lisa Sadovy shine amongst a wonderful cast of ensemble players. There is a risk that this show can lose energy and run out of steam in the second act. None of that in this production. Putting it Together is a real joy. Jenna's rendition of Move On is the musical highlight of the whole evening - emotionally packed, brilliant I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of the great musical productions!! - 86.134.163.89) | 16 Jul 06 |
| I suppose you are either a Sondheim fanatic or he leaves you cold. Unfortunately, for me this show is an empty intellectual exercise with no heart. The first half is impressive but it is not a good sign that the main 'star' is the design by David Farley and Timothy Bird. The second half is a complete waste of time. There are some good performances, particularly from Jenna Russell and Gay Soper, but this is really for Sondheim devotees only. - 62.6.139.13) | 05 Jul 06 |
| a fantastic production-moving witty and everything most musicals aren,t. see it - 81.86.106.82) | 28 Jun 06 |
| Brilliant! A work of art about a work of art which shows how art works... and it works, artfully. Worth seeing several times for the sake of grasping all dimensions. - 87.112.89.103) | 28 Jun 06 |
| Stunning. The classiest evening I have spent at a musical in a very long time. Daniel Evans is truly magnificent. Loved Jenna Russell as Dot but was not so keen on her as Marie. Wonderful supporting cast and terrific design. Wholeheartedly recommend. - 195.93.21.73) | 27 Jun 06 |
| Beautiful. Breathtakingingly so. Daniel Evans is fantastic. A great theatrical experience. I'm looking forward to going again. - 84.12.174.16) | 17 Jun 06 |
| Sondheim is truly a Classical composer of great distinction. When I was very young I listened to classical music with some difficulty but I persevered because it didn't come easy. But after time I began to appreciate the nuances of the works and a love affair developed which has lasted a lifetime. I have read the two reveiwers here who didn't get it. Well I would say to them persevere because it is worth it. I fell in love with Sondheim's music and lyrics over twenty five years ago and, as with a peice by Beethoven or Brahms it only gets better with listening. This production of Sunday in The Park is a masterpice in all respects and I found myself moved to tears by his fabulous score and the singing - in particular of Daniel Evans and Jemma Russell. But the rendition of Sunday on that gorgeous set at the close of the first act was nothing less than sublime - it blew me away. - 195.93.21.73) | 14 Jun 06 |
| Just brilliant. I had heard so much about this show and must confess I am a Sondheim virgin so was slightly worried about what to expect, but my god this production knocked me off my feet. There is something indefinable about the music in this show that just moved me to tears, it is unlike anything else I have heard or seen. The projections are stunning especially the 'new' park in act 2 when the lamps light up as night falls - all these tiny touches mark out the quality and care put into this production. The cast is superb, I loved the connection made between Jenna Russell and Daniel Evans, at certain points they were both in tears singing when I saw the show. It's just lovely, you have to see it. A truly amazing night. - 212.158.246.173) | 01 Jun 06 |
| Have just seen a matinee performance 31 May. I saw the production at the National all those years ago and thought it OK. Also the DVD of the first Broadway production but this one is truely magnificent in my opinion. I thought every member of the cast was superb. No exceptions at all.But must give extra special mention to Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell who were Brilliant. I also liked the staging. The projections really add to the clarity of the story and never ever seem gimicky. A truely wonderful afternoon at the theatre. Thank you Mr. Sondheim et al. - 82.45.194.104) | 31 May 06 |
| Brilliant. I lovrd it even more for a second time - 134.225.188.99) | 30 May 06 |
| I simply cannot understand how Sondheim has managed to acquire such a cult following. I've tried my level best to understand the appeal of his work, but in my opinion he's the thinking person's Lloyd Webber. - 84.66.199.82) | 29 May 06 |
| Wonderful in the truest sense of the word. Didn't think Sam Buntrock's inspirational production could get better than it was at the Menier Chocolate Factiry, but in fact it has. It looks gorgeous on a pros arch stage, and Daniel Evans' mannered, moving George has grown considerably (the supporting cast were, and still are, perfection). Best of all is Jenna Russell who is just about definitve as Dot/Marie: funny, warm, vulnerable, adorable and with an exquisite voice, she is this glorious show's heartbeat. Sondheim's enthralling score and Lapine's fascinating script combine to make one of the most unusual, intelligent and magical musicals ever written, and here it gleams like the work of art it truly is. Go go go. - 195.82.123.181) | 26 May 06 |
| Unexpectedly moving, beautiful, , great set and use of technical wizadry, witty rhymes . Jenna Russell is superb - 80.3.128.8) | 25 May 06 |
| Stephen Sondheim mentioned in his conversation on Sunday, that both he and James Lapine were worried about the transfer of SITPWG to the Wyndham’s from the much smaller Chocolate Factory, however, he felt that the transfer had been successful. I would heartily agree and in a sense I feel that it has gained some more perspective. Literally in the sense that the stage is deeper than at the Chocolate Factory and it gives the staging some added depth; and that the distance that one gains in the new theatre, allows the audience to appreciate the visuals and more of the interaction onstage as whole, rather than being on top of the actors, as we were previously. You perhaps lose the incredible intimacy but I think the plus side far outweighs losing that. And don’t get me wrong, the Wyndham’s could hardly be described as a barn. The performances are still strong and very fresh – Gay Soper is a formidable Old Lady – ramrod backed and three-county voiced – she dominates the Nurse and George. However, it’s in a scene that she says nothing that she’s at her strongest, as she looks on bereft as Dot takes her granddaughter away, unable to formulate her words or connect with George, her face crumples. It’s a tiny scene, sincerely played and extremely moving. Soper returns in the second act as Blair Daniels, and is delightfully opinionated. Lisa Sadovy and Simon Green are wonderfully haute bourgeois as Yvonne and Jules and their No Life is an accomplished double-act of snide comments. Alasdair Harvey as the Boatman brings an extra dimension to the roughness of the character, playing him as a Scot cutting across the RP of his social superiors. One of the features of the use of different regional UK accents is that it emphasizes Seurat’s achievement that he has pulled together, not only the disparate characters in the piece but a wide range of social classes, and it also gives much more colour to the singing than the usual homogenous sound of RP. The first act is really up to a cracking pace now and I felt that the few nips and tucks have been made – the Mr and Mrs scenes are either shorter or played a lot quicker - have helped and there are none of the longeurs that I, at least, experienced in the original Broadway production. Jenna Russell is a fitting replacement as Dot – bright, sparky and intelligent. And I really found her Marie, so very moving; I wanted to see more of that character! She sings well and I was bowled over by her. Daniel Evans, as George, has really grown on me – his characterization slightly irritated me before, but I think that was mainly because he wasn’t Phillip Quast, whose portrayal of George was brilliant. Evans is a different George, quite unable to understand why he’s not understood – as opposed to Quast’s interpretation, which was a bit closer to, not really bothered too much if he’s understood or not.. I would urge you to see this in the new setting – I think that some of the visual clues and echoes that tie together the first and second act are more obvious when there’s a little distance between and having the barrier of the pit orchestra, also helps. I’ll certainly be going again, I love that park. - 195.173.57.160) | 24 May 06 |
| Saw this at Meunier;I find this show so moving every time I see it.Production excellent...Daniel Evans totally convincing.I think this a sublime peice of theatre.Thank you Mr Sondheim!! - 88.108.63.130) | 23 May 06 |
| Think the previous reviewer should stick to less challenging fare...this show is so gorgeous. Jenna Russell even better than Anna Jane Casey! - 86.136.128.60) | 22 May 06 |
| After all the hype, we were extremely disappointed. The words tedious, contrived and boring spring to mind. Plot? Enough to fill a half-hour sitcom. Musical variety? Enough for a 4-track CD. Keep awake factor? Not present. - 81.159.114.68) | 22 May 06 |
| what about a sunday in the park with Pearl Marsland? A witty artist... Une image parfaite de l'impressionnisme! - 82.227.142.141) | 21 May 06 |
| perfect and beautiful. - 86.136.129.70) | 15 May 06 |
| I love seurat.....it's all about the dots - 86.138.1.202) | 14 May 06 |
