Sunday in the Park with George stage version on DVD

Do you think Georges Seurat was OCD? What about Stephen Sondheim? How about Mandy Patinkin? I say meds are needed all around.

Fortunately, everyone is at the height of their powers in the creation and performance of Sunday in the Park with George, filmed from the stage musical in 1985. Sondheim, Patinkin, Peters, Lapine and even Seurat combine in some kind of alchemy to produce one of the greatest musicals of all time--beloved by many.

Movement and stillness are important components of this production, and I assume director and book writer James Lapine is due the thanks for so carefully choreographing this aspect of the show. Light also plays an important part of the show, and the physical aspects of the production are exceptionally good and really help build the drama (not to mention the painting) in the first act.

I was surprised by my reaction to Act Two. I have never seen this show on stage, but had heard the cast album many times. I was prepared to think less highly of the second act than I did of the first act. Judging just by the music, it feels, at times, a little preachy on issues that have been dealt with more subtly in the first act. On the contrary, I found the second act very emotionally moving. I had a good cry during it, actually. Perhaps it was because of the family connection that Marie dotes on, or the love of a grandparent exhibited by second act George, but it was very moving. I was moved. Now I have to move on.

Sunday in the Park with George
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book and stage direction by James Lapine
Original broadway cast filmed on stage in 1986
Cast: Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Charles Kimbrough, Brent Spiner, Barbara Bryne

Into the Woods Broadway Production on DVD

I suppose I couldn't avoid him for long, but I have to confess a love/hate relationship with Stephen Sondheim. I find his musicals smart and insightful, and good explorations of interesting themes. And I like his music, but I can't sing it worth beans.

Into the Woods is one of my favorites of Sondheim's works. I like how it uses childhood fairy-tales to explore very adult themes of risk/reward for "straying from the path", personal responsibility, sense of community, and parenting. It also marks the second appearance in my year for Bernadette Peters, now in the prime of her career and warranting applause from the audience at her first entrance (even though she is done up in the old witch make-up and costume).

I find Joanna Gleason a wonderful singing actress. I was more familiar with her television experience (West Wing) and saw her in a brief role in the Sex and the City movie, which is out right now. I'm going to need check out more of her musical background. I believe she was in a musical based on the Nick and Nora Charles stories--perhaps with Barry Bostwick.

I saw Woods live maybe a decade ago at the Marriot Lincolnshire Theater outside of Chicago. It was done in the round, or maybe 3/4 round. The proscenium version of this production seems very 2-dimensional, especially at the beginning when the three fairytales each have their own small proscenium. It's better when the storyline goes into the woods--perhaps part of the point.

Into the Woods
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book and Direction by James Lapine
Taping of performance by original Broadway cast in 1990
Cast: Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Barbara Byrne, Robert Westenberg