Review: Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

Review of the evening performance on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City. Starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, with Jacob Dickey, Kevin Earley, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Kyle Selig, Maria Wirries and Daniel Yearwood. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Conceived by Cameron Mackintosh. Scenic Design by Matt Kinley. Costume design by Jill Parker. Lighting design by Warren Letton. Sound design by Mick Potter. Projection design by George Reeve. Choreography by Stephen Mear. Artistic consultant Julia McKenzie. Direction and musical staging by Matthew Bourne. 2 hours 45 minutes including one intermission.

By now, I'm sure many of his most ardent fans have already made their way to Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends. If you are one and you haven't, what are you waiting for? The self-described "Great Big Broadway Show" delivers in all the ways that matter; it's a greatest hits review, beautifully played and gorgeously sung. Have a friend who doesn't get why you love Sondheim's works? This may be the perfect show to introduce them to the best of the canon.

One of the many things that make this so winning is that it doesn't fall into the trap that many of such shows do: it doesn't try to connect the songs with any through-line. Save for a brief spoken introduction from our hostesses, there is no talking. Just song after gorgeous song.  And so rich is the material, even taken by themselves, no real context is necessary. A good portion of the numbers are simply interpreted versus being staged in any way. Each number speaks for itself. The choreography (by Stephen Mear) and the well-focused, often clever direction/musical staging by Matthew Bourne keep things moving briskly and with due reverence.

Still, there are several groups of numbers that are semi-staged. Matt Kinley's concert stage setting has some clever surprises, and designer Jill Parker's use of costume pieces (a red hood here, a bridal veil there) augment her stylish formal wear outfits. The whole piece is elevated by Warren Letton's pretty lighting and George Reeve's touching projections. 

You couldn't ask for a better band than The Sondheim Orchestra, a gifted ensemble with a huge, full sound under the careful guidance of Annbrit duChateau. Their gifts are particularly brilliant with their overture from Merrily We Roll Along, and their thrilling scoring of the West Side Story and Sweeney Todd suites of songs.

Of course, the success of any professional gathering of this type of revue surely rests on the shoulders of the casting - and this one is a tour de force from top to bottom, most with several Sondheim credits. Anyone worried that there isn't a new generation of his interpreters, need look no further than the youthful ensemble here. Standouts include Kyle Selig (a terrific Tony), Maria Wirries (gorgeous soprano) and Jasmine Forsberg (versatile character actress). Jacob Dickey fairly oozes suave charm and sex appeal in roles as varied as the Wolf, Judge Turpin, and George. 

Then there is the singular pleasure of seeing several actors known primarily for their West End credits, including the comic beauty of both Joanna Riding (a riot in the tongue twister number that is "Getting Married Today") and Bonnie Langford ( an impish delight in "I'm Still Here). Gavin Lee returns to Broadway tapping his way into our hearts with his rapid fire style that calls to mind Dick Van Dyke, and Jason Pennycooke is a devilish burst of energy each time he takes the stage, and Jeremy Secomb makes a chilling Sweeney Todd. One hopes that these British treasures will be back sooner rather than later.

Three Tony-winning ladies, though, make the entire evening worth it. Beth Leavel gives Elaine and Patti a run for their money with her droll take on "The Little Things You Do Together," and a blistering "Ladies Who Lunch." The first lady of Sondheim, Bernadette Peters, delivers with a poignant "Send In the Clowns" and a bittersweet "Sunday." While her voice is starting to show its age, her interpretation of "Losing My Mind" remains the gold standard, and her comic chops are razor sharp as evidenced by her hilarious take on Tessie Tura ("Gotta Get a Gimmick") and Little Red ("I Know Things Now/Bounce"). For my money, though, the star of the evening was Lea Salonga, who surprised me each time she took center stage. A solid, belty "Everything's Coming Up Roses," a rangy comic turn in both "The Worst Pies in London" and  "A Little Priest," and a deep, rich "Loving You," are but three of several brilliant moments she creates. Someone please get this woman a big vehicle for her take Broadway by storm all over again!

The double meaning of the show's title really sums up what this experience encompasses: the friends of Mr. Sondheim have gathered to pay tribute to the man's genius by singing the songs that for both composer and adoring audiences are indeed old friends. It is a perfect evening of musical theater heaven.

And, as always, thank you, Mr. Sondheim.

📸: M. Murphy