In Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Ahmanson Theatre, a stirring tribute to the late iconic American composer is presented by a bevy of talented performers, including an incredible Bernadette Peters.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 02-15-2025
It is so wonderful when a live tribute to a Broadway icon lives up to its intentions. Devised by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Matthew Bourne, Sondheim’s Old Friends allows a talented ensemble of performers to offer a delightful buffet of Sondheim’s greatest hits from his legendary musicals. Indeed, the performances are first-rate from beginning to end, and the Center Theatre Group’s new production is a pleasure to behold.
However, please do not reduce the nature of the show to actors singing one song after another without the pageantry of the original shows. With brilliant scenic design by Matt Kinley and dynamic costume design by Jill Parker, the transitions from one classic production to another are flawless.
Moreover, Stephen Mear’s choreography, combined with the musical staging by director Matthew Bourne, allows the cast to enhance the shifts in tone and concept. After all, it is not easy to switch from the melancholy mood of “Send in the Clowns” to the dark foreboding of “The Ballad of Sweeny Todd” without quite a bit of inventive forethought.
After a remarkable career in the theatre, at ninety-one years of age, Stephen Sondheim died of cardiovascular disease at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on November 21, 2021, during the waning days of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Although Broadway and West End theatres had reopened since the end of the quarantines, the crowds remained sparse, and masks were still being worn. Indeed, it was hard for everyone to come together and pay a proper tribute to such a legendary figure in the annals of modern musical theatre.
In response, British theatrical impresario Cameron Mackintosh, known as the world’s most prolific producer of musicals, came up with the idea of Sondheim’s Old Friends. Having put on revues of Sondheim’s musical numbers in the past, he gathered an ensemble of many of the finest performers in musical theatre, including Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Kevin Earley, Joanna Riding, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, and Jeremy Secomb. The result of the collaboration is nothing less than a triumph.
A few of the many highlights include Bernadette Peters’ moving rendition of “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music, Lea Salonga’s emotional “Somewhere” from West Side Story, a powerhouse “I’m Still Here” from Follies by Bonnie Langford, and a hilarious, yet poignant “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” from Gypsy by Bernadette Peters, Joanna Riding, and Beth Leavel. Indeed, a dozen other songs could have been included in this list. Loaded with fabulous numbers, the musical revue is not to be missed. Playing through March 9 at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, tickets are still available.
Finally, in the age of AI (artificial intelligence) and 3D holograms, when human beings are being omitted from entertainment futures, Sondheim’s Old Friends is a perfect example of what technology will never be able to replace. Live theatre with real human beings performing on stage will always be a pleasure to experience firsthand.
With playful humor and emotional resonance, Stephen Sondheim’s work reflects the best human creative pursuits through playful humor and emotional resonance. Indeed, the emotions of the performers on stage were palpable and shared by the audience. Empathy between human beings, remembrances of those we love, and celebrating our achievements should never be discounted. Please do not miss this ultimate musical banquet celebrating a legend of musical theatre.
Photos by Matthew Murphy Courtesy of the Center Theatre Group