Side by Side by Sondheim

Synopsis

A selection of songs by Sondheim and others.

Our Review:

3 May 2007

A tribute show to Stephen Sondheim seems a little less necessary than it was back in 1976, when Cameron Mackintosh scored his first real West End success with this simple “songs and stools” show, hosted by the acerbic Ned Sherrin and starring Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan.

In those days, Sondheim had already enjoyed success in London with Company and A Little Night Music but he was not a fixture. There was something messianic and daring about Side, which reprised both those shows in many numbers but also introduced songs from then unknown musicals like Follies, Pacific Overtures and Anyone Can Whistle. Sherrin, you felt, wanted to argue a case. The Sondheim bandwagon had not yet got rolling.

In a way, this highly enjoyable revival at The Venue, with a variable compere (Christopher Cazenove, urbane yet slightly unsure of himself, precedes an unholy consecutive trinity of [Barry Cr...

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Latest User Review

Michael - 30 May 2007:

I really can not praise this performance enough I thought it was excellent. In the absence of Josie Walker her understudy took to the stage (Sarah J Bourne) and although she had no rehersal time she did a very good job with material that is indeed very differcult to get your tongue round. The show was narrated at the performance I saw by Angela Rippon who was excellent and very funny a great fit in between musical Numbers. Alasdair Harvey's voice was very strong full bodied and a joy to listen to , I am leaving the best til last now but I have to say Abbie Osmon was my favourite performer great singing voice and absolutely stunning I couldn't take my eyes off her for a second I have never known Sondheim to be so damn sexy. Wow you must catch this show before it ends you may kick yourself if you don't. ...

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