Review: CELEBRATING SONDHEIM, Chichester Festival Theatre

Photo credit: Richard Gibbons

On 1 November 2020, a socially distanced audience shuffled into Chichester Festival Theatre, having had their temperatures taken and masks on ready to celebrate the legend that is Stephen Sondheim, aware that this would be the last performance before Lockdown 2.0.

Now as we sit in Lockdown 3.0, Chichester Festival Theatre has kindly dusted off the performance and is streaming it for 4 days to coincide with Sondheim’s 91st Birthday.

Chichester’s Artistic Director Daniel Evans dons his performer hat to read us ‘Invocations and Instructions to the Audience’ from The Frogs, which hilariously and ironically tells the spectators: “Please don’t cough, it tends to put the actors off”. 

Joining Evans on stage is Clive Rowe, Hannah Waddingham, Gabrielle Brooks and Jenna Russell, all of whom have had illustrious theatre careers and in Jenna Russell’s case, the concert reunites her with Evans whom she played opposite in Sunday in the Park with George in the West End and on Broadway.

With a huge back catalogue, we hear Sondheim’s most famous works here, although we are limited to only one song from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; ‘Not While I’m Around’ sung by the soulful Clive Rowe. 

Hannah Waddingham sings ‘Sooner or Later’ from Dick Tracy and Gabrielle Brooks performs ‘Everybody Says Don’t’ from Anyone Can Whistle, before Evans and Russell reunite for ‘Prelude’ from Sunday in the Park with George. Following this, we enter the Company section, of which the highlight is ‘Getting Married Today’; an ensemble piece with Russell stealing the show as she tackles the paced section with ease. Possibly the hardest part to sing in Sondheim’s repertoire without missing a note. 

We follow this up with an Into The Woods section, which Hannah Waddingham wows in. Not only in her beautiful midnight blue dress which is apt for the piece, but with her vocals during ‘Last Midnight’. She is also divine in ‘Send in the Clowns’ from A Little Night Music, which is one of Sondheim’s most recognisable songs. She manages to make it originally hers and acts it superbly. 

We also hear songs from Merrily We Roll Along, Follies, Anyone Can Whistle and further hits from Sunday in the Park with George in what is a delightful evening to celebrate of one of the world’s greatest composers. It is impossible to discuss all of the songs as they are universally excellent and musical treasures in one way or another. 

The five stars bring the show to an end with ‘Sunday’ from Sunday in the Park with George, in what is a beautiful blend of vocal and harmony. 

A fitting tribute with a sterling cast and exceptional songs.

****’ Four and a half stars

Reviewed by Emma Littler

Celebrating Sondheim streams online until 25 March 2021 here.