![\"Bernadette](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4593-\u2013-Bernadette-Peters-and-Lea-Salonga-in-Stephen-Sondheim\u2019s-Old-Friends.-\u00a9-Matthew-Murphy.--e1739998027523.jpg\")
<\/a>Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. Photo by Matthew Murphy.<\/p><\/div>\n
But the basics are that the musical is a talent-fest of incredible singers in a high-class revue featuring a few dozen Stephen Sondheim songs, and it\u2019s headed by two of the most popular Broadway performers in history\u2014Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. That\u2019s all you need to know.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always thought that I was not<\/em> a Sondheim fan, but this presentation\u00a0taught me that I am, indeed, just that. I\u2019m far from an expert on his work, (although I could<\/em> run the category on Jeopardy<\/em>, not as assuredly as I can \u201cBeauty Queens,\u201d but close,) but I knew, and loved, just about every song on opening night. [Note: I\u2019ll tell you about my uber-fun audience experience in my upcoming Celeb Sightings<\/em> column.]<\/p>\n Old Friends<\/em> is the epitome of Broadway. It was all thought up, put together, and produced by British showman extraordinaire, Sir Cameron Mackintosh. And perhaps lost in all of this excellence is the fact that Sir Matthew Bourne, my favorite creative person ever, did the direction and gorgeous staging! Since it’s not one of his amazing ballets, I had not heard his name in connection to the project. Even though someone else did the actual small bit of choreography, the cast must have absolutely adored<\/em> getting to work with Matthew.<\/p>\n The ladies of the cast. Photo by Matthew Murphy.<\/p><\/div>\n Everything about this production\u00a0is delightful. It moves seamlessly from one number to another. In my opinion, Sir Mackintosh chose the perfect assortment of songs, both serious, (such as Losing my Mind<\/em>,) and humorous, (like Everybody Ought to Have<\/em> a Maid<\/em>,)and in the right order. The audience got excited just hearing the opening notes, (or in the case of Sweeney Todd<\/em>, seeing the costumes,) of each one. (There should be an audience contest to see who can name the show that each song is from!)<\/p>\n Old Friends<\/em> reminded me of just how prolific Mr. Sondheim was. For many of the songs, I had forgotten that he is the one who wrote the lyrics or music or both. Mr. X always says that West Side Story<\/em> is the best musical\u00a0ever. Even though I\u2019ve seen the movie version at least a dozen times, I actually forgot that Sondheim was even involved<\/em> until I saw this show last week. His lyrics are as good as his music, which is part of what he’s known for.<\/p>\n West Side Story. Photo by Matthew Murphy.<\/p><\/div>\n Proving as popular as Sondheim\u2019s works are the two stars of this one, Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. They received thunderous applause just for walking out onto the stage at the beginning. And the night got more exciting from there.<\/p>\n Just hearing Bernadette Peters sing Send in the Clowns<\/em> is worth the price of admission alone. I was sitting too far back to see if she was crying this time, (as she often does because she\u2019s so invested in what she\u2019s doing,) but it sounded like she was. (As we were walking into the theatre, my friend and I met two of the musicians she knew, and I asked them if Bernadette cries as she sings in this show. And they replied that they don\u2019t know if she does, because they don\u2019t see her face, but that they<\/em> cry from her performance! An artist cannot receive higher praise from their musicians!) She\u2019s just one of those people who was born to entertain others. I wonder what it would feel like to be so beloved by so many.<\/p>\n The revelation for me was Lea Salonga; I had no idea that she sings so gorgeously! She blew us all away with every note.<\/p>\n The rest of the cast gives us their all, as well. Each one shines.<\/p>\n Beth Leavel. Photo by Matthew Murphy.<\/p><\/div>\n I was thrilled to see Tony winner, (for The Drowsy Chaperone<\/em>, one of my three favorite musicals of all time,) Beth Leavel, in person again. Her rendition of The<\/em>\u00a0Ladies Who Lunch<\/em> brought down the house! The applause was deafening, as it also was for Bonnie Langford\u2019s I\u2019m Still Here<\/em>.<\/p>\n Let’s face it\u2014as I\u2019m sure we all<\/em> do, I’ve wondered how some actors have gotten the job, but definitely not anyone in this<\/em> show! They\u2019re all perfection. And they’re all so in shape<\/em>! My young friend Nina, (with whom I was celebrating Galentine\u2019s Day, which Old Friends<\/em> made a very happy one,) pointed-out how great they all look. Ms. Peters will turn seventy-seven next week, and we all should be so lucky to have her arms!<\/p>\n One aspect of the production\u00a0that really warmed my heart was seeing actors who usually audition against<\/em> each other getting to work together<\/em> for once. They must have had a blast doing it.<\/p>\n The curtain call on Opening Night, as is the one of the second act curtain at the top of this review. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The visuals throughout are beautiful, as are the costumes, and the orchestra pulls it all together with not just their music but also by being seen all night because they are positioned on a platform at the top back of the stage. (And Nina was impressed that they\u2019re led by a female Music Director, the stunningly-monikered Annbritt duChateau.)<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve spent a few minutes reading this review, you have even less time to get tickets to see this show! So do yourselves a favor and order them right now.<\/p>\n Stephen Sondheim\u2019s Old Friends running through March 9, 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Ahmanson Theatre 135 N. Grand Avenue<\/strong>
\n 213-972-4400 www.centertheatregroup.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n