SUNDAY IN THE WOODS WITH GEORGE
Sadie Kempner as Seurat’s model, Dot
If you go INTO THE WOODS on Sunday, you’re sure of a big surprise! No teddy bears picnicking there but a most stupendous show, the best production of a Sondheim musical I have ever seen. The woods in question surround the gorgeous outdoor theatre at Thorington near Saxmundham. Carefully crafted out of a bomb crater, the eco-friendly amphitheatre seats around 300 lucky audience members. Its steeply raked seating (take a cushion) allows one to see everything including the woods AND the trees.,
SEDOS, the London-based company presented ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ complete with a cast and orchestra of 50 talented performers. It was a truly magical production in a truly magical setting adorned by two outstanding lead performers and a cast of stunningly-costumed singers.
Lapine and Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was first performed in 1984. It tells the (fictional) story of the artist George Seurat, he of the pointillism and the two famous works: The Bathers and Asnieres and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. That’s the one with all the strange upright figures, the profiled lady with the huge bustle. Here she is cleverly called ‘Dot’ and is both model and mistress of George. He is the anguished artist driven by his theories of colour and light but oblivious to the shades of love. He is, of course, scorned by his fellow artists. Lapine’s book brilliantly brings the many figures in his La Grande Jatte painting to life; the two fishing girls, the soldiers, the little girl with the big hat, the cigar-smoking toff and the reclining boatman with his pipe and black dog. And of course the iconic lady with the parasol, and pet monkey. The second half skips 100 years and we are in the world of George’s great great grandson, also an artist called George. Financially successful with his art installations he has hit a creative brick wall and can see neither colour nor light at the end of a long tunnel.
A Sunday Afternoon in a Clearing on Thorington forest.
Will de Renzy-Martin was astonishing as the troubled genius. With fire in his eyes but lead in his belly, he proved to the woodland audience that he can sing, act and cavort with the best. The cavorting came with a breathtaking rendition of the boatman’s dog which had the actor barking, scurrying acrobatically while singing Sondheim’s devilish doggie patter song. Sadie Kempner was the finest ‘Dot’ you are ever likely to join up. She caught the character as perfectly as you could wish – great at comedy but deeply emotional. Her opening number about modelling on a hot, shadeless day in the park stole the show even before it got going. She has a wonderful singing voice and deeply expressive eyes.
There were two moments of pure theatrical beauty – the final number ‘Sunday’ in which the characters come together to form the famous painting led by George the artist-magician. It is a beautiful anthem and belies the false belief that Sondheim couldn’t write great melodies.
Will de Renzy-Martin as George impersonating the black dog in Seurat’s landscape
The staging directed by Robert J. Stanex was mightily amibitious but it came off. Characters constantly emerged from aisles, stairways, woodlands and then at a stroke melted into the air. It felt as if Prospero’s staff was conducting the show. In fact it was Isaac Bartels who led 11-person band including harp and horn. They created a deeply satisfying sound (though at some points a little too loud).
You will never see a better production of this show (there were Sondheim Society members in the audience who confirmed that to me) so drop all plans and see the final performance next Sunday (the 4th August) at Thorington Theatre. You are sure of a huge surprise.
book and explore their summer programme: thoringtontheatre.co.uk
‘Finishing The Hat’
images; THANKS TO SEDOS
