BWW Reviews: Signature Celebrates 25 Years with SIMPLY SONDHEIM

Putting it Together, Side by Side by Sondheim, Merry Me a Little, and most recently Sondheim on Sondheim. What do all of these revues have in common? They celebrate the contributions of the incomparable Stephen Sondheim to musical theatre throughout the years. With so many revues, this begs the question of whether there is room or a need for yet another one. With Simply Sondheim, Signature Theatre makes a strong case for an affirmative answer to that question.

Conceived by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer and skillfully directed by Matthew Gardiner, Simply Sondheim celebrates Signature Theatre's longtime association with this musical theatre great. The world premiere revue features over 30 selections, many of which are not commonly sung in cabarets or featured in most revues. Among the more enticing and unique selections for Sondheim aficionados are "Goodbye for Now" (Reds), "Country House" (inserted into a revival of Follies), and "Who Could Be Blue?/Little White House (cut from Follies). The revue also features selections from Sondheim's most recent show, Road Show, as a bit of a teaser for what Signature audiences will see next season (Road Show, formerly known as Bounce, premiered in Washington, DC and Signature's production next year will be the first one in our area since then). New arrangements and pairings of better known songs like "Losing My Mind" and "Not a Day Goes By" (from Follies and Merrily We Roll Along, respectively) as well as unique presentations of lesser done numbers like "Someone in a Tree" (from Pacific Overtures) also make Signature's latest Sondheim offering unique.

While I did wish the Encores-style production provided opportunities to highlight why these particular songs were chosen to celebrate Signature's 25 years of tackling Sondheim shows, it fundamentally gets the job done of drawing focus to what makes Sondheim so great - his intricate lyrics, unique rhythms, and interesting and sometimes unexpected melodies.

A marvelous 16-piece onstage orchestra, conducted by Jon Kalbfleisch, is probably one of the production's strongest assets. It plays Jonathan Tunick's stellar orchestrations quite impeccably and with enough energy to keep it interesting. Tunick, of course, is no stranger to Sondheim's music (and to Signature for that matter) and it's always a treat to hear what he's created. Strong moments abound throughout, including a very cohesive overture.

While the orchestra is certainly a standout feature, the six vocalists also prove mostly worthy of the material they've been provided. They join forces on several numbers - most memorable the Act Two opener "Something Just Broke" (from Assassins) and "The Hills of Tomorrow" (from Merrily We Roll Along) - and achieve a satisfying blend.

Longtime Signature performers Bobby Smith and Donna Migliaccio prove to be a winning combination as a bickering married couple in "Country House" and also shine individually in other numbers. Certainly, "The Ladies Who Lunch" (from Company) and "The Worst Pies in London" (from Sweeney Todd) are not lost gems from the Sondheim songbook, but Ms. Migliaccio's renditions of both of these familiar tunes are some of the highlights of this production. She resists any temptation to go too over-the-top as some other performers are prone to do, and instead gives a masterclass on how to sing the songs well - with diction that's as clear as a bell - but still capture Joanne's acerbic personality and Ms. Lovett's wit. When one contrasts these performances with her lovely, tender take on a well-arranged "Loving You" (from Passion), it's quite easy to see what a versatile performer she really is. Bobby, likewise, has a standout moment with "The Right Girl" (from Follies). His smooth vocals and movement make it a pure delight.

Other highlights include Paul Scanlan's "Finishing the Hat" (from Sunday in the Park with George) and Kellee Knighten Hough's "Losing My Mind" and "Another Hundred People (from Company). Scanlan, now a regular feature in many a musical in our area, continues to impress here as a strong singer-actor. His "Finishing the Hat" is well sung but still high on emotional depth and not one lyric is thrown away. Hough controlled, strong, and crystal clear vocals make both of her very different solos quite memorable. Like Scanlan, her rendition of "Losing My Mind" captured the character's angst in a quite effective way.

Stephanie Waters - making her return to Signature after several years - and Austin Colby round out the strong ensemble. Waters has a lovely vocal tone which fits "On the Steps of the Palace" (from Into the Woods) quite well. Colby gives a consistent performance, delivering strong, smooth vocals throughout.

All in all, if it's good music you're looking for that's well-performed, this show is for you.

Running Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes, including an intermission.

SIMPLY SONDHEIM plays at Signature Theatre - 4200 Campbell Avenue in Arlington, VA - through April 19, 2015. For tickets to the limited run, call the box office at 703-820-9771 or purchase them online.

Photo: Cast of SIMPLY SONDHEIM; By Margot Schulman.

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