How to Go
What: “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Where: Middletown Lyric Theatre, 1530 Central Ave., Middletown
When: Sept. 19-27; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Cost: $15
Tickets: Call (513) 425-7140 or visit www.middletownlyric.org
Middletown Lyric Theatre salutes the incredibly distinctive music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim with the charming musical revue “Side by Side by Sondheim” beginning Friday.
Nominated for five 1977 Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Side by Side” covers nearly 20 years (1957-1976) of Sondheim’s groundbreaking career, particularly highlighting his early collaborations with Leonard Bernstein (“West Side Story”), Jule Styne (“Gypsy”) and Richard Rodgers (“Do I Hear a Waltz?”). In addition to such familiar gems as “A Boy Like That/I Have a Love,” “If Momma Was Married” and “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” the revue features an assortment of flavorfully sophisticated tunes from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “A Little Night Music,” “Company,” “Follies,” and “Pacific Overtures” as well as the lesser known “Anyone Can Whistle,” “Evening Primrose” and “The Seven Percent Solution.”
“As a lyricist in particular, Sondheim is one of the few remaining smart writers,” said director/managing artistic director Charley Shafor. “He really makes his audiences think and listen. Most of the shows he’s written will make an audience go another step. For instance, his musical ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ is about the painter Georges Seurat, but, by and large, if you weren’t familiar with Seurat’s painting that inspired the musical you wouldn’t know much about Seurat. As so, ‘Sunday’ makes you want to learn more about Seurat. Sondheim’s musicals are not merely entertainment but an education.”
Due to its revue format, accented by engaging continuity by Ned Sherrin, “Side by Side” takes every song out of the context it was written, a huge challenge in the Sondheim universe considering his songs are intricately woven to their original intent. However, Shafor, a professional actor who appeared in multiple Sondheim productions outside Ohio, says he found a way to add atmosphere and a sense of relationship to the proceedings in order to give the songs a more personable flair.
“Trying to understand certain Sondheim songs if you aren’t aware of the shows they’re from can be very difficult,” Shafor said. “And it has been a challenge for me and the cast. But I’m not one to stage a revue in simple terms with just a curtain and microphone so I’ve created a few scenes with furniture and props that will hopefully help the audience along. Some songs such as ‘Send in the Clowns’ will be sung straightforward because they’re strong all by themselves, but others, from shows like ‘Gypsy’ and ‘West Side Story,’ have been designed to create a moment.”
The cast includes Robin Baker, Julia Abanto-Bethune, Tonda Hoefler, Melodie LaNicca, Alicia Moore, Kevin Stout, and Beth Vestring. Abanto-Bethune also serves as musical director. The cast will be accompanied by pianists Jay Mills and Mary Ellen Clinard.
“I hope the audience enjoys and grasps Sondheim’s evolution,” Shafor added. “I hope this revue will help audiences know there is more to him than just ‘Into the Woods’ or the lyrics to ‘West Side Story.’ He has done so many other great works that many people haven’t had the opportunity to see. ‘Pretty Lady’ from ‘Pacific Overtures’ is a beautiful, harmonic song that you may not get to hear otherwise since many Sondheim shows represented in this revue are not done very much anymore. If you’re new to Sondheim, ‘Side by Side’ is a perfect example of why people like him.”
About the Author