Sondheim Celebration Part I

June 21 - 23, 2002

It was a perfect weekend. We left NJ about noon and got down to DC around4pm. My buddy John drove - always nice not to have to drive. Checked intoa Marriott (my buddy Pete gets a huge discount). Had a drink at the barand headed to the District Chop House where we had a truly great steakdinner.

Went over to the Kennedy Center to see Christine Baranski andBrian Stokes Mitchell starring in Sweeney Todd. We had first row centerorchestra seats. The show was amazing! It was dark, funny, gripping andthrilling. I knew some of the story but not all. The end was just totalgruesome Grand Guignol. Stokes Mitchell was fiercely effective. His voiceis amazing. And Baranski was fun and over-the-top. All the supportingplayers were perfect. I loved it. Hit the Watergate Hotel after the showfor a drink or two in the bar.

Saturday, we walked around DC a bit - the Smithsonian Castle, the Mall,Washington Monument, etc. Grabbed sandwiches and ate them on the backterrace of the Kennedy Center overlooking the Potomac.

Saw the matinee ofSunday in the Park with George. I was not looking forward to it. I havethe original cast recording of it and Patinkin and Bernadette Peters justturn me off when I listen to it. What a surprise! It was a fantasticshow. Raul Esparza was George and was quite good. Melissa Ericco was Dotand she was phenomenal - gorgeous, beautiful voice and terrific actress.It was a beautiful production and the themes and story were so effecting.You could feel the whole audience get swept up in the emotion of it. Itgot a thunderous standing ovation (let's face it - hundreds of Sondheimfans in the house). It was another thrilling show. Back to the Watergatefor some drinks & conversation with other audience members. Ran intoRebecca Luker (star of recent Broadway revivals of Showboat, Sound of Musicand Music Man) and had a great conversation with her. She's playing Clarain Passion starting in mid July. She told us to look her up when we comeback down. Wonderfully gracious woman. Went to Dupont Circle and ate in aterrific Italian bistro.

Checked out early Sunday and parked over in Foggy Bottom. Went to asumptuous brunch at the Terrace Restaurant on the roof of the KennedyCenter. Had a great, gluttonous brunch with window seats looking out atthe Jefferson, Lincoln & Washington Monuments. Then walked it off with awalk around the outside terrace looking over all of downtown DC andGeorgetown.

Saw the matinee of Company. It was very well done. I guess the show is slightly dated and the original cast recording is so ingrainedin my head. But it was another terrific show (just not as revelatory asthe other two). Lynn Redgrave did well trying to fill the shoes of ElaineStritch. John Barrowman was a handsome, charming Bobby with a beautifulvoice. The rest of the cast was uniformly excellent. Alice Ripley stolethe show and stopped it cold with Getting Married Today - hystericalperfection. The audience exploded when she finished. It was a fun showdone by total pros. And it had a clever and very effective set - curtainopened to NY skyscrapers on their sides so you felt as if you were lookingdown from (or up at) high-rise buildings. Rear projections provided eitherpassing cars or sky depending on the scene. Met most of the castafterward. Got a picture with Barrowman who is incredibly handsome.

Left the Center, changed in the street, hopped in the car and headed back to NJ. Listened to and sang Sondheim the whole way home. It was just the bestdamned weekend.