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On Broadway

 Sondheim hated intermissions; he felt they sucked energy out of the evening. "Follies," "Passion," and "Assassins" all have (at least) versions that unfold without an intermission.


When Sondheim did use an intermission, he tended to use the Hammerstein template. Get to the curtain with a loud crash: "Climb Every Mountain." Start Act II with something sort of disposable, for the people who are still in the restroom (the von Trapp children gather to rehearse a less-than-urgent reprise of the title song).

Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" concludes Act One with a major twist; the two leads commit to a life of cannibalism. The song is witty and canonical--but, curiously, it left Sondheim himself somewhat disappointed. He wanted a bigger bang. In any case, the Act Two opener--"God, That's Good"--beautifully describes a day in the murder house/pie shop (and it's free of substantial emotional moments, again as a tip of the hat to the audience members who are still outside, smoking a cigarette).

"Sunday in the Park" does have the choral fireworks that Sondheim desired. "Sunday," in which George's painting takes its final shape, ranks among the major "staged miracles" in Broadway history. And the start of Act Two--in which characters complain about being trapped on a canvas--is a nice way of lightening the mood.

I especially love Sondheim's choices in "Merrily." Act One ends with its own triumphant version of "Climb Every Mountain" (I prefer Sondheim's choice of words). Then, Act Two opens with a show-within-the-show. A character is performing on a stage--but, of course, her observations are relevant to the "actual" story we are following, the story of Franklin Shepard.

He's only a boy....
Why do I think he loves me?
Maybe he loves what I can do for him--
Maybe he thinks that I'll come through for him--
Maybe the moon is cheese...

But then maybe, maybe...
Something real is happening here...

The major characters in "Merrily" love each other--and don't. They are continuously involved in a tug-of-war. One makes an expedient, selfish choice, and the others have to decide if forgiveness is the right route to take. (When should one pull the plug?)

This is frosting on a cake; if you miss the solo, it's OK. You can piece together what is occurring in the show. But: What a thrill, if you're in your seat when the lights go back down.
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