Sunday In The Park With George: My Faveorite Sondheim Show

 

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The work of Stephen Sondheim still is alive in the theater and will be for years to come. His work transcends decades as certified classics, inspiring generations, and always stepping outside the norms of conventional musical theater. He showed his range truly in the fact that when it came to discussing his work, there were no definitive favorites among musical lovers. From Company and West Side Story to Sweeny Todd and even the big resurgence of Merrily We Roll Along, everyone has their favorite Sondheim show. For me, it's Sunday In The Park With Geroge, this story of making art, art itself, and love is a powerful story spanning two different periods, following George Serot as he makes the work he is most famous for, and then his fictional grandson also named Geroge, one hundred years later trying to navigate the ever-changing art world. Both have their critics and challenges, finding what art means to them and how to make truly creative art, this show speaks volumes to me, from the first time I heard it to every time I have listened to it since, the messages and music of this show resonate with me on a deep level.

From the very beginning, you see the struggles of making art, not from the perspective of our artist, but rather from the outside world and even those affected by his art. Later diving into his thought process from every angle, from making a dog to something as simple as finishing a hat. The lyrics show inner conflict in the past, that even transcends time and into the present. As the latter Geroge struggles with as he says "Putting It Together". The audience sees that no matter when artists still have the same hurdles just in different ways, and they connect seamlessly in a perfect manner. 

The music of this show has many forms, from loud songs and upbeat ones that come with the frantic nature of wanting to get your ideas out in the world and collaborate, or even deal with critics. The music swells and grows, going at various paces from song to song, making room for sweeping ballads, to beautiful group numbers. There are so many stand-out songs in this show for me from start to finish, both fast and slow, much like the great painting all of them coming together to make something truly beautiful.

All of this culminates into an amazing song before intermission simply titled "Sunday" As the cast comes together to form the iconic painting, the song swells into a beautiful ballad. All the cast is singing about is the park itself, and describing it as it forms into the art piece, but it is done in such a beautiful way that it forms into a song that leaves me speechless every single time I hear it. It is so serene and calm yet so powerful, truly speaking volumes far beyond the subject matter. My second favorite song that comes right behind it is almost triple the length of "Sunday" and is called "Putting It Together" It introduces our act two lead, the world he lives in, his relatable struggles, and so much more in the course of just one song. This one is loud and uses the ensemble just as well to set the mood and works incredibly well, setting the stage and pulling the audience into a story that is similar yet different all at the same time.

This show balances its songs so well, giving the audience songs that are beautiful, calm, loud, and crazy. Showing how the world of art comes with criticism and can be hectic in nature, while also coming together in quiet moments, making something beautiful when we shut out the world around us but for a moment. 

I have not seen this show performed live, but I do hope to someday. I merely go off of the albums released of it over the years. To me that speaks volumes of this shows quality if the music can move me even without seeing the context of where the songs are placed, getting the pieces of the story from the music and the words in it. This show is simply a masterpiece to me, it is always moving me, inspiring me, and is something I listen to over and over, whether it is one song or the whole album. Give it a listen it just may move you too.