Audra McDonald: The Return

"The Glamorous Life" is an extraordinary Sondheim number in which a small child lies to herself. She is lying about her mother. She wishes her mother were around--but it's too painful to admit this, so she instead glorifies her mother's theatrical profession. (Audra McDonald has explained that she likes this song because it's kind of a horror story; it's what she sometimes imagines that her own daughter thinks about her.)

Sandwiches only--

But she eats what she wants when she wants!

Sometimes, it's lonely--

But she meets many handsome gallants!

The little girl contrasts her own lonely life with her mother's adventures. When she approaches something like honesty, she interrupts herself. ("BUT she eats what she wants when she wants!")

Sometime this summer--

Meaning SOON--

She'll come traveling to me!

Sometime this summer--

Maybe JUNE--

I'm the new place she'll see!

The girl has received a vague letter from her mother, and she interprets it in the most palatable way. June is nearer than August. It's this kind of detail that makes Sondheim special. Also, there's something deliberately chilling about this: "I'm the new place she'll see!"

This is also the number that rhymes "applause" with "Shaw's."

Eventually, the girl just runs out of steam, leaving everyone deeply, beautifully uncomfortable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3HYCahNx7U

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