Over the years, I have had plenty of good nights at the Hollywood Bowl. I mean,
who quibbles with this venue? You're outside. You're enjoying good music and maybe even a glass of rose. So what if you're listening to John Williams and the Indiana Jones theme for the 40th time? Or listening to a rock group who last had a hit record when Lyndon and Lady Bird were in the White House.
Yep, there are always good nights at the Hollywood Bowl. But last Sunday was a great one. Perhaps the best evening I've had there since their staging of "A Chorus Line" in 2016. And it was nothing more simple than six Broadway stars singing one Stephen Sondheim song after another. This was a tribute to the late and legendary Broadway genius and quite understated as the performers simply came onto the stage as soloists or in pairs and did their work. There was no patter in between or historical dates and times like "and then Stephen wrote." The name of the song and the corresponding musical were shown on the screen and then magic ensued. Indeed, the only time you were reminded this was a Sondheim tribute was at the end. After the cast concluded the night with the haunting "Sunday" from "Sunday in the Park with George," Sondheim's photo simply appeared on the Bowl screens.
He would likely have appreciated how understated it all was. Because it was all about his music and nothing else.
The cast was superb, including several of whom I have seen before. They each deserve name mention here. The legendary Patti LuPone. Norm Lewis. The always welcome Sutton Foster. Skylar Astin. Sierra Boggess. And Brian Stokes Mitchell who I actually remember from several Manhattan parties I went to....gasp...thirty years ago. All were marvelous and nothing short of.
There were moments you expected like LuPone and Mitchell doing "A Little Priest" from "Sweeney Todd." And Patti again essaying "The Ladies Who Lunch" from "Company" which I got to see her do on Broadway last year. But some welcome twists came when Mitchell did all the voices in "Getting Married Today" from "Company" to hilarious results. And whoever had the idea of mashing today "Losing My Mind" from "Follies" and "Not A Day Goes By" from "Merrily We Roll Along" is a genius. On this one, Sutton and Sierra were mesmerizing.
But why should I have all the fun? Within twenty four hours, lots of the evening could already be found on YouTube.
And here's the aforementioned Foster and Boggess with that terrific blending of songs from two different musicals!
I've already re-watched most of the concert. That's how much I liked it.
No, I mean, loved it.
Hello, Hollywood Bowl, you really raised the bar on yourselves now.
Dinner last night: Italian sub from Jersey Mike's.
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