Old Friends

[foxy]

This afternoon I saw Old Friends with a terrific cast led by Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. Lots of great Sondheim music was given mostly fully staged productions. Bernadette did an emotional Send In The Clowns and Lea Salonga was hysterical singing The Worst Pies In London. 23 songs in all. 
in 1997 I sat next to Sondheim at a performance of Three Days Of Rain. I barely remember the play as I desperately wanted to say something to him. But I was too intimidated. I should have just said “thank you” 

[MaybeMaybeNot]

I saw Old Friends in L.A. A fantastic night of theatre.

[shinj518]

Yeah, I thoroughly loved this show and went to see it 7 times while it was in L.A. 

Lea was such an incredible Mrs. Lovett and also a great Rose. Would love to see her in a production of Gypsy and Sweeney Todd some day. 

Bernadette's performances were fantastic and varied a lot more from show to show than the others. I wish she had sung the whole bit of that solo in Sunday though, instead of just that one line. And also wish she sang a little more of Children Will Listen. I wanted more Bernie.

I had chills every time they performed Sunday and loved Broadway Baby and You Gotta Get A Gimmick so much. Bernadette, Beth, and Joanne were hilarious. Plus Joannes performance of Not Getting Married Today was also fantastic and I have no idea how anyone moves their mouth that fast. And Gavin doing Could I Leave You was fun as well! 

Highly recommend this show for Sondheim fans!

[kyleham]

An amazing show. Total snub by the Tony's. For any Sondheim fans this is a must see.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I finally saw it last week.  Some great performances.

Lea has a well-trained instrument, but I've never found her all that exciting...  Until seeing her do Lovett here.  

She slummed it perfectly.  I wish she'd do more character roles like this.  Clearly, she can handle them.

Peters was uncomfortable to watch.  I worried she wasn't going to make it through some of her songs.  She looks great, but the voice just isn't there anymore.

Love Bonnie Langford.  She and Beth Leavel are the kinds of performers who always knock it out of the park.  They have greasepaint in their veins.

I'm also a big fan of Joanna Riding.  She too makes very difficult material look effortless.  If you haven't seen her do 'Losing My Mind' from Follies, it's my favorite interpretation of the song.  

 

[MaybeMaybeNot]

On 5/31/2025 at 2:31 PM, BenjaminNicholas said:

I finally saw it last week.  Some great performances.

Lea has a well-trained instrument, but I've never found her all that exciting...  Until seeing her do Lovett here.  

She slummed it perfectly.  I wish she'd do more character roles like this.  Clearly, she can handle them.

Peters was uncomfortable to watch.  I worried she wasn't going to make it through some of her songs.  She looks great, but the voice just isn't there anymore.

Love Bonnie Langford.  She and Beth Leavel are the kinds of performers who always knock it out of the park.  They have greasepaint in their veins.

I'm also a big fan of Joanna Riding.  She too makes very difficult material look effortless.  If you haven't seen her do 'Losing My Mind' from Follies, it's my favorite interpretation of the song.  

 

I suspect Salonga has been typecast for much of her career. I remember her once saying they wouldn't see her for Princess Amneris. I don't think someone returns to Broadway in shows like Allegiance and a revised Flower Drum Song because you are passionate about the work.  Hopefully this will open doors for her.