Exclusive Curtain-raiser As Cameron Mackintosh,Judi Dench and ‘Old Friends’ Prepare To Celebrate Musical Genius,Stephen Sondheim
deadline.comAll eyes were on Judi Dench .The legendary actress was seated stage right ,performing one of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest hits .The sound of her voice ,accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra led by Alfonso Casado Trigo, held a hushed audience in awe.There was spontaneous applause.The great dame was led off stage.She reappeared moments later to perform the number again.“Goosebumps,” said Cameron Mackintosh,echoing the thoughts of those lucky enough to be gathered in the stalls of London’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre for several hours on Monday ,for a long day and night of technical technical rehearsal for tomorrow night’s celebration of Sondheim ,a giant of theatre ,who died last November aged 91.Tuesday’s one-night only show is called Old Friends,named after a number in the composer’s 1981 musical comedy, Merrily We Roll Along.Mackintosh has been putting Old Friends together with Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman staging ,and choreography by Stephen Mear.
It boasts a cast of thirty-eight ;23 of them headliners :Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Haydn Gwynne, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Siân Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot and Michael D.
Xavier.The co-stars are impressive,too: Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Holly-Anne Hull, Ashley Campbell, Anna-Jane Casey, Desmonda Cathabel, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Ian McLarnon, Jeremy Secomb, Jordan Shaw and Matthew White.A company that size ,in a show this spectacular would, ordinarily, head for the more capacious Royal Albert
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