Let me simply state that I really like the Stephen Sondheim/David Ives musical/play Right here We Are. It’s as if the genius, generally known as Sondheim was making an attempt to resolve his life. The primary act is cynical and the characters are hypocritical, whereas the second act is about coming to with grips with life’s selections and surrendering to the inevitable.
Micaela Diamond, Amber Grey, Steven Pasquale, Bobby Cannavale, Rachel Bay Jones and Jeremy Shamos Photograph by Emilio Madrid
The music is like taking part in Sondheim jeopardy. His motif’s from different reveals are blended into new songs that make you wish to have a pen and paper to play the sport. I can’t wait till the CD comes out. I’ve been advised that it’s being recorded in January.
The solid and Rachel Bay Jones Photograph by Emilio Madrid
The present is extremely surreal, with life’s journeyIn query. Suppose “The Outer Limits” or “The Twilight Zone,” very Rod Serling.
Jeremy Shamos, Tracie Bennett, Amber Grey Photograph by Emilio Madrid
Based mostly on two Luis Buñuel movies “The Discreet Allure of the Bourgeoisie” (1972) and “The Exterminating Angel” (1962). Act one has Leo Brink (Bobby Cannavale) a entitled tycoon whose opinion is the one one which issues, his spouse Marianne (Rachel Bay Jones) who lives for magnificence and is a bit on the vaped facet, their buddies Paul Zimmer (Jeremy Shamos), a plastic surgeon celebrating his 1,000th nostril job, his spouse, Claudia (Amber Grey), an agent who lives for the celeb of all of it, Raffael Santello Di Santicci (Steven Pasquale), an envoy from Moranda who lives for the variety of notches on his belt and Fritz (Micaela Diamond), Marianne’s youthful sister, who desires a revolution, whereas additionally desirous to dwell the great life, trying to find brunch. It seems Leo, Paul and Raffael run a drug cartel. Because the day goes down the hill Marianne retains asking Leo to “purchase this excellent day for her.”
Amber Grey, Jeremy Shamos, David Hyde Pierce, Bobby Cannavale, Steven Pasquale Photograph by Emilio Madrid
Act two is a bit more darkish. Whereas they lastly discover meals, the implications of their selections retains them trapped in purgatory. Enter a colonel (Francois Battiste) whose mother and father have been killed for $26.15, a soldier (Jin Ha) who has emotions for Fritz on account of his desires and a bishop (David Hyde Pierce) who desires one other job, has a shoe fettish, and performs piano, till there is no such thing as a extra music. This act may be very paying homage to Steambath. I really like the homage to “The World Based on Garp” and the bear.
Jin Ha, Micaela Diamond Photograph by Emilio Madrid
Enjoying butlers and maids and diverse restaurateur’sare the unimaginable Tracie Bennett and Denis O’Hare. Kudos has to exit to the wigs by Robert Pickens and Katie Gell and the neon varied institutions. white field set and costumes by David Zinn.
Jeremy Shamos, Amber Grey, Bobby Cannavale, Denis O’Hare, Rachel Bay Jones, Steven Pasquale, Micaela Diamond Photograph by Emilio Madrid
Joe Mantello’s staging is beautiful, permitting for every of those brilliantly gifted performers to take middle stage. That is true ensemble appearing and I hope when the Drama Desk is giving out awards this wins.
The place many have criticized the shortage of music within the second act, it makes excellent sense. The music stops. The idea very a lot jogs my memory of Davids Cromer’s Our City, when Emily dies and all of a sudden issues are in shade and have smells. It makes full sense that when you might be trapped the music would die.
Natasha Katz’s lighting actually helps the shinny set take form, Tom Gibbons’s sound makes the inside world come to life and Sam Pinkleton’s choreography is simply sufficient to make this transfer seamlessly.
Alexander Gemignani, and Jonathan Tunick, make Sondheim’s music an artwork and I for one recognize the subtlety and musicality. Many could not know that Sondheim was a recreation grasp and on this it’s like he gained the ultimate recreation of “placing it collectively”.
Right here We Are, is clever, witty with a lot to say and in the event you ponder the that means of life you to will stroll away extraordinarily fulfilled.
Right here We Are, The Shed, 545 West thirtieth by January twenty first
Originally posted 2023-12-02 05:03:12.