Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Signature Theatre’s aptly titled SIMPLY SONDHEIM lets the master’s songs speak for themselves

• By drediman
• February 4, 2021
• No Comments

Last night, I capped off my evening curling up with Simply Sondheim, Signature Theatre’s wonderfully performed revue of Stephen Sondheim songs. The virtual production launches Signature’s 5-show digital season, which includes an eclectic lineup of on-demand offerings in the coming months. The Tony-winning Arlington, VA-based company – not to be confused with the identically-named New York company – has had an extremely long and fruitful affiliation with the legendary musical theater composer. Indeed, nary a season has gone by without a Sondheim musical on the docket. It’s not surprising, therefore, that Signature chose to celebrate its 25th anniversary (in 2015) by creating and mounting a short run of this smartly-curated revue. Thankfully, with the streaming of Simply Sondheim, many more musical theater fans can now enjoy this excellent revue, which can confidently take its place alongside the more satisfying Sondheim tributes out there.

Conceived by Eric Schaeffer and David Loud, Simply Sondheim hones in on the notions of love and longing, in all their complexities and nuanced shadings. As such, the indestructible songs of Company, Follies, and A Little Night Music take the driver’s seat. Even the insistently sober Passion, which has historically been under-appreciated in these types of compilations, is ravishingly represented. This means that Simply Sondheim only minimally dabbles in the more idiosyncratic riches of such show as Pacific Overtures, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Assassins. Which is just fine – the more focused agenda means that the show’s thoughtfully constructed set pieces are able to more thoroughly and organically explore their themes. A lot has changed since 2015, but it’s a testament to Sondheim’s genius that many of his compositions have taken on new significance during the pandemic, particularly those that acknowledge the current fragility of our collective mental state (the gorgeous pairing “Losing My Mind” with “Not a Day Goes By” comes to mind).

Although the evening – tightly directed and choreographed by Matthew Gardiner – is headlined by the accomplished, attractive quartet of Norm Lewis, Solea Pfeiffer, Conrad Ricamora, and Emily Skinner, Simply Sondheim also heavily relies on some of Signature’s favorite go-to performers (including Awa Sal Secka, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Bobby Smith, and Donna Migliaccio). Together, these uniformly talented performers consistently deliver both the classics and lesser-known gems with warmth and loving care. Despite the attention to detail, their performances largely stay out of the songs’ way and hence live up to the show’s aptly-given title (just witness Norm Lewis’s powerfully direct rendition of “Being Alive”). Indeed, the company’s refreshingly straightforward way with the songs allows the dramatic potency and specificity of Sondheim’s writing to lead the way. Although many of the songs have been re-arranged, they retain most of Jonathan Tunick’s definitive original orchestrations, which sound thrilling in the hands of conductor Jon Kalbfleisch and his 16-piece orchestra.

Lastly, just like Feinstein’s/54 Below’s recently on-demand streaming of Sondheim Unplugged, Simply Sondheim has been exquisitely captured on film. The simultaneously dynamic and intimate footage heightens the theatricality of the experience, bringing the excitement of live musical theater and cabaret straight to your home. Additionally, editor James Gardiner has smartly eliminated awkward moments of silence (where audience applause should be) by keeping the transitions between numbers swift and seamless.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

SIMPLY SONDHEIM
Theater / Musical Revue / On-Demand Streaming
Signature Theatre
1 hour, 50 minutes (with one intermission)
Through March 26