SUNDAY at City Center performance thoughts/reviews- Page 8

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 7:46am

I saw the original twice at Playwrights Horizons and twice on Broadway. I don't remember the order of their arrival, but "Finishing the Hat" and two songs in the second act that give the show its almost-other-worldly depth and elegance arrived as the show was opening at Playwrights and then on Broadway. (I think "Finishing the Hat" was put in the day before I saw it at Playwrights, and "Lesson #8" and "Move On" were added after that. (I may have the arrival of the songs in the wrong order.)

We knew it was a life-changing, game-changing show from the beginning (even without those songs) and no one minded that the songs were arriving after we saw the early performances because it was a living example of Sondheim's genius. We just felt lucky to be experiencing it.

And, remember, there was no Internet then. We shared the daily updates of the show's progress by telephone, talking, and gossip in town square.

Bernadette's performance was like a gift from the gods. After the show won its Pulitzer, I was fond of saying that they should have shared the Pulitzer with her, because her performance lifted the show to immeasurable heights.

Mandy's George had a Gallic arrogance that Jake lacks, so that may be what you're wondering about a "stronger sexuality." But, oddly, I always thought that arrogance, combined with Mandy's mannered was of phrasing and his "divo" attitude were too assertive for the introspective self-absorbed George. (Don't get me wrong--he was thrilling.)

So, yeah, I kinda like Jake better.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 8:33am

Great read, PJ. I can't begin to imagine how special it was to witness the progression of the original production. 

SmoothLover, Mandy's performance is preserved on film for eternity. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 8:34am

Great read, PJ. I can't begin to imagine how special it was to witness the progression of the original production. 

SmoothLover, Mandy's performance is preserved on film for eternity.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 9:20am

BroadwayConcierge said: "I would absolutely love a full-blown, gorgeous Broadway revival, though were it to happen, I'd hope they keep Sarna Lapine's direction away from it."

Indeed. You're being generous by calling that "direction" !

[Kad]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 9:49am

Patinkin's Seurat always seemed, to me, very deliberate in the way he would distance himself from others. Gyllenhaal's Seuret seemed to just be unaware that what he was doing was alienating until after the fact.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 11:18am

That was SO astutely said, Kad. I couldn't agree more. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 11:35am

Thanks to PJ and the other astute posters who have increased my understanding of this show, which I saw last night for the first time. I thought Gyllenhaal and Ashford were marvelous and very moving. Jake's singing was more than up to par. I tried to find something wrong with it but was unable to. Altogether a wonderful night at the theater!

[smidge]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 12:46pm

Agreed. Last night was my first performance of Sunday and it was gorgeous.  My thanks, also, to the many posters for their insight and comparisons with previous performances. Annaleigh can, of course, play up any humor in the piece. But she can also find the depth of her characters. And Jake continues to challenge himself and comes out on top. His career choices are proving to be admirable. 

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 12:57pm

Back in 1984, when SUNDAY was being introduced at Playwrights, I moved heaven and earth to get in to one of the performances. I had a tiny relationship with Steve (I was a charter member of the NYC Gay Men's Chorus, and he had not only worked with us twice, a master class in itself, but had given us leave to do all and any of his work at no charge), and wrote to him, begging for a ticket. He put me on a waiting list, but it didn't happen (and as we all now know, there was only one act at Playwrights), but PH gave its members the first preview at the Booth for free. The show was uneven ("Children and Art" had yet to be added), but when Mandy sang "Finishing the Hat," I think I died. Hearing it again this week, so masterfully sung by Jake, was yet another revelation. The whole production was amazing; I cried without stop during the final scene on the island.

I think we can agree that if Jake were willing to do the show, it could open on Broadway very quickly, and actually pay back its investors. And now that BURN THIS has been postponed (don't much like the play anyway), perhaps this could happen...

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:20pm

PalJoey said: "Bernadette's performance was like a gift from the gods. After the show won its Pulitzer, I was fond of saying that they should have shared the Pulitzer with her, because her performance lifted the show to immeasurable heights."

It's clear (and very understandable after this glowing review) that you liked Bernadette better than Annaleigh, but but now I'm curious since you seem to be an expert of this text, how did you like Annaleigh's interpretation?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 4:12pm

 

I adored Annaleigh. I was simply describing how Bernadette's performance burst onto the scene back then.

One of the (many) things I loved about Annaleigh's performance was the way she took Marie's South Carolina upbringing to heart! And the way she said she had been a Floradora girl. 

I try not to rate actors as "better" or worse than other actors in roles. If I like their performances, then each performance has its own virtues. If I don't like them, it's because the negatives outweighed the virtues. I think Bernadette was nothing short of genius in the beginning and middle of her career. Lately (as I've said a million times), she cries too much and slows down tempi self-indulgently, as I felt she did in both Follies and Night Music. 

But I will never stop believing that the beauty of her performance as Dot helped Sondheim and Lapine win their Pulitzer.

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 4:18pm

That's a terrific philosophy to have. I only ask because I trust your opinion and hold it in a very high regard, and it's very reassuring that you adored her as well. 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 5:44pm

Yes. Mr. Joey knows of what he speaks. Bernadette Peters - - - I adored her in the beginning of her career, then she left and took Hollywood by storm - - - to then return to the Main Stem for her glorious second act of her legendary career. I believe her first show upon returning was Lloyd Webber's "Song and Dance" (but I may be wrong). She was glorious in "Sunday in the Park with George" and took her rightful place among the legendary divas of musical theater.

Updated On: 10/27/16 at 05:44 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 7:51pm

Jake finishes the hat.

 

https://youtu.be/jgKcVdzWGFE

 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 7:59pm

 

Michael Cerveris finished the hat once upon a time.

 

https://youtu.be/2kTUKXlmfM4

 

[Steve C.]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 8:27pm

I saw Sunday and Comet yesterday and I'm still on an almost sensory overload of awe, adrenaline, tears of joy...happiness...

"Sunday" was a total joy, an experience that will be talked about and remembered for a long long time. I have always liked Annaleigh Ashford but her singing and acting was so incredible, funny, moving, dramatic, so touchingly transforming. Even though she used the book at times she knew what she was doing, so powerful, and a loving vibrant performance. I imagine that when Bernadette Peters saw her on Monday, it must have warmed her heart, that this work has a new life again, vibrant and young; she must be very happy for Annaleigh. It's almost a "Children and Art" circle of life performance. I was in tears.

I thought everyone else was top notch. Phylicia Rashad was stunning. Jake was very good. I little wobbly at times but he recovered nicely. He was "howlingly" funny with the dog part of "Day Off". I admire his dedication and support of theater and the arts. City Center really hit the heights with this production. They even had the theater panels in the lobby appropriately designed for "Sunday". This was and should be the talk of the town.

The glitterati was there. I saw several people that I recognized but don't know their names. I did see Ryan Reynolds and significant other, Matthew Broderick, Matt Roush, Harvey Weinstein (is he still the devil?) I feel so lucky to have seen this production. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/28/16 at 10:16am

Kind of unrelated but entirely unrelated at the same time. The Art Inst. thinks Georgey boy has Cubs fever too. :)

 

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 10/28/16 at 10:36am

Move On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaHI1_UUTUg

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 10/29/16 at 3:50am

It amuses me, in this thread, that so many are amazed that Gyllenhaal can sing.  Many film and TV actors can sing, it's simply part of an actor's training.  Did it surprise everyone to learn that Streep could sing, or Sarandon, Amy Adams, Kristin Bell, Kate Hudson, James Cordon, Minnie Driver, Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kate Winslet, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr, Kerry Washington, Anna Kendrick, Gwenyth Paltrow, Zooey Deschanel and many, many others?  It's just part of what you often (not always) learn to do when you go into a career in the performing arts.  

[indytallguy]

Posted: 10/29/16 at 8:02am

I wonder if the amazement is a bit more that he could sing George than just he can sing. It requires an actor who has some theatrical and vocal range to do the songs justice.

Updated On: 10/29/16 at 08:02 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/29/16 at 11:31am

Exactly. We knew he could sing last summer but now he proved he could handle one of Sondheim's most difficult scores. That's what is impressive.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 9:38pm

Jake Gyllenhaal proved he could carry a tune in LSOH last year but I had high doubts as to whether he was capable of singing SUNDAY's score.  

Gyllenhaal exceeded all my expectations.  Gyllenhaal not only can sing - he sings very well.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 9:51pm

They may be friends but now I know why I saw and sat near Ryan Reynolds at "Sunday". They started showing ads for a "big" Memorial Day movie they are both starring in. It looks like a space epic with monsters.

I doubt if Jake will sing or have a duet with "Deadpool"   

[carayip]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 2:02am

Steve C. said: "They may be friends but now I know why I saw and sat near Ryan Reynolds at "Sunday". They started showing ads for a "big" Memorial Day movie they are both starring in. It looks like a space epic with monsters.

I doubt if Jake will sing or have a duet with "Deadpool"   

 

"

I don't think Jake did this concert in order to promote his movies.

[PepperedShepherd]

Posted: 11/1/16 at 11:54am

Another rave from the Guardian (UK):

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/oct/27/sunday-in-the-park-with-george-review-jake-gyllenhall-sondheim

"Look, Jake Gyllenhaal has made a hat. Where there occasionally has been a hat. His is a very fine hat. He ought to make more of them."

Yes, please!