Somewhere, looking at us from the theater greats complex, Sundem must have been smiling last night. It felt like pure heaven just to be in the audience as some of the greatest interpreters of his work performed some of the biggest numbers in the history of musical theater. Although the standard was astonishingly high across the board (and board), this glorious celebration seemed like one for the girls as an Olympic group of Broadway and West End women showed that talent and class truly are timeless.
I couldn’t save my poor hand as I started to clap as soon as Julia Mackenzie appeared on stage after Cameron Mackintosh had introduced the night and sped along. At 81, she didn’t have a major single but later showed impeccable timing, opening Broadway hilariously before Peters, Bonham Carter, Friedman, Langford and a group of girls crashed the party.
Peters, of course, had the lion’s share of songs, throwing that flaming man as she made her way through a worrisome dead end and you gotta get the gimmick, along with Langford and Anna Jane Casey. The Broadway legend also flourished in its trademark transformation into a pure pity that kids would listen and lose my mind.
Nobody does devastating despair quite as quietly as Mrs. Judy, of course, and the cheers began as soon as she appeared in the shadows on stage. She, now a brand, rendition of Send In The Clowns is a thing of pure, distressing beauty.
Maria Friedman and Michael Ball were an absolute shout-out to Sweeney Todd Medley and Imelda Staunton, of course, bringing back their gypsy triumph with everything that comes with flowers.
What I wasn’t expecting was Damien Lewis’ hilarious hilarity – or rich voice. He was a silky werewolf predator with Peters in Hello Little Girl in The Woods, and he was a rave in Everybody Must Have Maid, with Julian Ovenden, Rob Brydon and the adorable Sian Phillips.
Nearly three hours, without celebration, the evening was a dizzying, almost dreamlike swirl of song after song, with no one slowing down to the applause.
Sondheim’s skill in shaping every emotion on a show was astounding. Haydn Gwynne starred in The Ladies’ Lunch Who Raw As She Brings Janie D home with The Boy From…
Petula Clark Brought Eight Decades Of Theatrical Craft To I’m Still Here While Paul Presents a Poignant, Gender-Transformed Pointed Image Can I Leave You?
Mass skits and big choral numbers like Sunday In The Park with George’s Sunday, West Side Story’s Tonight or Being Alive have also featured some of the West End’s current superstars, with the likes of Rob Houchen, Christine Allado, Rosalie Craig and Bradley Jaden. Glorious shape.
There have also been moments when the next generation shines with students from the Royal Academy Musical Theater and Mountview excel at West Side Story classes and closing in on the night.
Stephen Sondheim’s old friends were not just a celebration, but an affirmation of everything that came before and the exceptional legacy that will carry on for generations to come.
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