Stephen Sondheim, Sally Field...and Me - What We All Might Have in Common

I told you that I had never blogged before and that is the truth.  What I didn’t realize is the effect it would have on me.  Why am I doing this?  I’ve been asking myself that since Wednesday.   My sister read the blog and told me I was “brave”.  I guess I didn’t think about it like that, until then.  I really got a kick out of writing it and have been really excited about doing it again.  However, I learned something about myself in the process.  I thought I didn’t care what people thought about me, but now I’m ready to openly admit that it isn’t the case.  I wanted people to read what I had written and worse than that, I wanted them to like it.  Please get those images of Sally Field out of your head.  

Recently while researching Jason Robert Brown, the creator of a local production, “The Last Five Years” as well as “13”, for the Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre newsletter, I learned that Stephen Sondheim was a huge influence in his life.  I read about an interaction between the two that I found on Wikipedia, so it may be fictitious, where Mr. Sondheim asked Mr. Brown how he liked his most current show.  Mr. Brown had not really liked it and made the terrible mistake of being honest about how he felt.  Normally I would never say “honest” and “terrible mistake” in the same sentence, but when talking to an artist about his work, honesty can be disastrous.  After this uncomfortable interaction, Stephen Sondheim was quoted as saying:  

“Once a creation has been put into the world, you have only one responsibility to its creator: Be supportive…. If you come to my show and you see me afterwards, say only this: "I loved it"… If you can't say that… Just go home… At that moment, after I have unveiled some part of my soul…that is the most vulnerable moment in any artist's life…You must tell me "I loved it." That moment must be respected.”  

When I first read this, I thought what a colossal blowhard he must be.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Sondheim, but I just didn’t understand.  After writing my first blog, I sent the link to someone I knew and waited to hear what they had to say.  The response:  crickets.  When I finally had the courage to ask if they read it, they had, and said it was good.  Now I understand and I respect Mr. Sondheim a little bit more.

Here are some suggestions for some really fun local theater this weekend:  Diablo Theatre Company’s production of The Wizard of Oz is showing through October 1 and CenterREP’s Smokey Joe’s Café is on stage through October 9, both at the Lesher in Walnut Creek.  In Pleasanton, at TVRT’s Studio Theatre is a show called, The Last Five Years.  It is a musical about something common, relationships, but tells the story in an uncommon way.  One character’s story is told from beginning to end and the other’s is told backwards – both at the same time.  The Director/Vocal Director, Min Kahng explains a little about how he created this intriguing production:  

“The unconventional structure of the show gave me a sort of "theatrical puzzle" to solve.  To help, we read through the entire show in its correct chronology.  There are some moments where one of the actors needs to be alone on-stage yet still ‘interacting’ with the other character.  We ran these scenes with both actors to help us find the emotional believability needed for the solo actor to carry the scene through when the other was not present.  Even little details like an upgrade to a smart-phone after Jamie becomes more successful, were mapped out.  My hope is that our work on this show truly helps create the reality of each scene, because unlike other musicals which emphasize larger-than-life personalities, this piece is much more introspective and cerebral.  We want you to feel like you've really gotten to know Jamie, Cathy and "Jamie-and-Cathy" by the end of the show.”  

Finally, as any good mom must do, I have to mention the show my son is in, “Oliver!” at the Sunnyvale Community Theater now through October 9. 

Please support your friends in local theater by seeing one or all of these shows!  Ticket information can be found on their websites.   Aside from theater being great fun, it is a wonderful way to stay cool during a heat wave.  Next time, some little known secrets about where to find reduced or even free admission to some local events!