Critics have shared their thoughts on Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, Cameron Mackintosh's tribute concert to late musical theatre trailblazer Stephen Sondheim. Presented at Londoon's Sondheim Theatre, the May 3 event was simultaneously screened live at the Prince Edward Theatre.
The sold-out concert featured Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Haydn Gwynne, Bonnie Langford, Damien Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Julian Ovendon, Bernadette Peters, Sian Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier.
They were also joined by Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Holly-Anne Hull, Ashley Campbell, Anna-Jane Casey, Desmonda Cathabel, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Ian McLarnon, Jeremy Secomb, Jordan Shaw, and Matthew White.
Read the reviews here.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman staged the gala with choreography by Stephen Mear and a 25-piece orchestra conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo. Musical supervision was by Stephen Brooker with musical arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe, set design by Matt Kinley, projection designs by George Reeve, lighting by Warren Letton, and sound by Mick Potter.
All profits from the evening at both the Sondheim and Prince Edward Theatres go to the Stephen Sondheim Foundation, supporting playwrights, composers, and lyricists in the early stages of their careers and sustaining other aspects of the musical theatre craft and arts education.