A LIFE IN THE THEATER: AN ONSTAGE CONVERSATION WITH STEPHEN SONDHEIM AND FRANK RICH at Seattle's Benaroya Hall

Last night a Seattle audience at Benaroya Hall was given a rare treat.  A glimpse into the world of one of the most acclaimed and respected Broadway composers of all time, Stephen Sondheim.  Sondheim, accompanied by interviewer, New York Times Columnist and former New York Times Theater reviewer Frank Rich, simply sat in the middle of the huge Benaroya Hall stage and completely riveted the crowd for 2 hours with anecdotes from Sondheim's over 50 years in professional musical theater.  It was just as if two old friends were sitting around dishing about the past and we were allowed to eavesdrop. 

The evening started with the two legends being introduced by 5^th Avenue Theatre Producing Artistic Director, David Armstrong and Seattle Men's Chorus Artistic Director Dennis Coleman.  Quite a daunting task considering the people being introduced but they handled it with grace and ease.  But you could also see they were as thrilled as we were for the men about to grace us.  And, of course, when they finally did come out, the crowd leapt to it's feet and gave them a standing ovation before they uttered a single word.  At which Sondheim remarked, "Well now the rest will be an anti climax."  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

There are certain people who (as the saying goes) could go on stage and read from the phone book and the audience would eat it up.  Sondheim is definitely no exception.  And not just due to the fact that he is able to mine fascinating stories from the last 50 years, working with the likes of Ethel Merman, Jerome Robbins and Zero Mostel, but also that Sondheim has the wit and timing of a consummate actor.  He was as much of a joy to watch as it is to watch his shows.  And Frank Rich kept the evening moving right on track asking poignant, engaging questions (including a few from the audience).  But the majority of the evening was Sondheim telling wonderful anecdote after wonderful anecdote about things some of us could only dream.  

There was his meeting with Ingmar Bergman regarding Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" which is based on Bergman's film "Smiles of a Summer Night" at which Bergman completely threw Sondheim by commenting on actress Hermione Gingold (who was in the original cast) stating, "She tends to f**k the audience."  Or Gingold's own audition for the show where before leaving she mentioned of the character she was auditioning for, Madame Armfeldt, "She's 74.  Well I'm 74.  And at the end of the play when she collapses her wig falls off."  At which point she removed her own wig to reveal a completely bald head and said, "Thank you very much gentlemen" and strode off stage.  Or my personal favorite where Sondheim commented on something he learned from working with Jerome Robbins where if when you are writing a song for a musical, don't just write the song and expect to hand it off to the director to stage.  When writing it you must know how it could be staged in order for the song to be able to tell a story.  The director can choose to go a different way but at least the framework is there.  Something, in my opinion, many contemporary musical composers could take a lesson from. 

And so many more enthralling tales.  Followed of course, by yet another standing ovation.  And deservedly so.  It's not everyday you get to see a legend in person, let alone a legend normally known for being behind the scenes so when you do, you're like a kid in a candy store.  For those of you that saw it with me, you know what I mean.  And for those of you who missed it, my sympathies. 

For more information on upcoming lectures and events at Benaroya Hall, visit them online at www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya.