Sunday in the Park with George

Rating:
Summary: "Pretty isn't beautiful. Pretty is what changes...
Review: 'Beautiful does not...'

This is more than a pretty play. There is a significance, sophistication and depth in this musical that goes well beyond what you would expect. Every time I have had the opportunity to catch this musical on HBO or PBS I have taken it - it has been well worth seeking out.

This story is a complete work of fiction that centres around the life of the painter. It's not really about the painter, or about the painting. It's about art. It's about the art of making art. It's about the search for significance and meaning to our lives. It's about connecting with the world around you. It's about living life for all it's worth, with all you've got, and not settling for the mediocre or second-best. It's about standing back from the dots that make up our lives and looking how it all fits together, allowing the perspective (or lack) fall into its proper place.

This DVD is worth obtaining for two reasons. First, you WILL want to watch this over and over, and review it from time to time. Because you have changed between viewings, the play will say different things to you. Second is the commentary with James Lapine who wrote the libretto, Stephen Sondheim who scored the music, and Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. There are times where the commentary goes completely quiet, which is sometimes confusing (I would have preferred if they spoke through the whole thing, and I can't tell if the recording equipment failed to record some parts, or if they were really silent. This is a minor complaint, and I'm still very happy to have this DVD.)

I have recommended this movie to many friends, of different backgrounds, and with a few exceptions most have come away with many reasons (often different from my own) as to why they enjoyed and were touched by the play.

Rating:
Summary: The State of the Art
Review: Stephen Sondheim. James Lapine. Put these two names together,and you know that you are in for some heavy, moving, and unforgettablemusical theatre. Being the first of three collaborations between the two men (along with the touching/important "ITW" and lustful/macabre "Passion), I must say that Sunday in the Park With George is, in fact, their masterpiece (and my favorite musical as well).

Now let me start off by saying that if you would have asked me about this musical three years ago, I would have told you that I hated it; But that was when, of course, I had little knowledge of theatre and was hung onto musicals like Rent (that is a brilliant piece in itself--but i was drawn in merely by the score--not the meaning or spectacle). Now, I am an 18-year-old freshman at Indiana U and within those past three years, have grown to learn so much about the musical theatre and the unmatchable music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. I share my thoughts on this musical with you.

Based on an the brilliant painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by the then ridiculed, now praiseworthy Georges Seurat, Sondheim has written a truly unforgettable score which contains such unique orchestrations and the finest of instruments and vocal demands. Lapine's gorgeous creation of bringing life to each of the featured people in the painting only adds pure serendipity and brilliance to Sondheim's music and lyrics. How the first act carefully concentrates on setting up the second act, we are introduced to the two major roles of the piece: the artist, Georges Seurat, and his fictional mistress, Dot. We are then taken into the lives of the colored ensemble as they spend their Sundays in the park. Wondering how each individual ends up in that famous pose for the painting is brought to our attention at the first act's conclusion (which is perhaps one of the finest Act I finales ever produced in the musical theatre). The second act takes place 100 years later and gives us hints of mystery, inspiration, determination, and elation as we all feel uplifted after the second act finale.

Although I'm not a huge Mandy Patinkin fan, he does more than suffice in the dual role of both Georges Suerat/George. This role really does suit this actor well and it is said by many to be his most accomplished work.

Bernadette Peters on the other hand is an absolute Godsend. This woman not only has to portray a somewhat naive, heartbreaking, and adorable young mistress in the first act, but a 98 year old grandmother in the second act. Not only can she pull it off to the point that her acting is extraordinarily believable, but she also has to change from one to character to the other in a matter of minutes. How she does this, and allowing the audience to buy this flawless performance is beyond me. I recently had the honor of seeing Stephen Sondheim speak at the St. Louis Jewish Center on November 7th. He said that this is the piece of theatre which opened Bernadette Peters' acting range in the musical theatre. Sunday in the Park with George is what really gave Bernadette that mastery craft of acting--and you know something? I couldn't agree with the genius more.

The rest of the cast is splendid as each take on dual roles from the 1884 generation to the 1984 generation. From the haunting "Beautiful" to the harshness reality of "Putting it Together" to the awe-inspiring "Move On"--this piece of theatre is without a doubt, a masterpiece within a masterpiece.

Lapine's direction could not have been any more carefully thought out or more intelligent; the performers couldn't have portrayed their roles any better; and Sondheim could not have written a more gifted score than that which is given to us in the Pulitzer Prize winning Sunday in the Park With George.

Rating:
Summary: DVD Features Story Behind Sondheim's Musical
Review: "But it's warm inside his eyes ... and it's soft inside his eyes ..." Some say Sondheim is cerebral and sophisticated. However, I am always very moved by SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. I especially find the first act to be the best part of the show. And Sondheim constantly warms my heart with his lyrics and beautiful music.

The production of the video of the show is very good. Lapine gets some good shots, even though it's basically a taped version of a Broadway show. The editing in spots is very good.

Bernadette Peters, a favorite performer of mine, is not in very good voice for the taping. I think I've read that she was having vocal problems at the time. Some dubbing is apparent in spots. Mr. Patinkin is very subdued and subtle in his performance.

The DVD is a preferable way to watch this show due to its extra audio track of Sondheim, Lapine, Peters and Patinkin reminiscing about it. There are some great stories told by the group. Mr. Sondheim sheds some light on the earlier drafts of songs and scenes.

Remember, this show won the Pulitzer Prize! It is not an "Oklahoma" kind of musical -- it's very artsy and concerns a difficult man obsessed with his art. But it is so sweet and clever. Like Seurat's famous painting that the musical is based on, the stellar talent behind the show blend together to produce a truly luminescent experience.

Rating:
Summary: masterpiece of art and humanity
Review: This work has always meant a great deal to me, and now being able to own it on laser disc is an honor! Powers that be...give us Passion and A Little Night Music (stage) or even Sweeny Todd!!!! My vhs is getting so old, that i cant see through it..and masterpieces should be preserved on disc! PRICELESS!!

Rating:
Summary: An imperfect representation of a good Broadway show.
Review: Sunday in the Park with George is understandably one of Sondheim's finest works, but this video does not preserve it in the most memorable fashion. Bernadette Peters, in the middle of her Song and Dance period, sounds understandably tired vocally, and does not produce the same sense of luminescense she has demonstrated onstage, or in the original cast recording of the show. Many Patinkin, while he may have been fine onstage, is difficult to watch in the video, where his odd singing and acting styles suffer greatly from the many close-ups Georges and George receive. These small faults aside, the wonderful score and intriguing production make this an important video for any musical theatre enthusiast's library.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I had the CD of this show for a while and to be completely honest, I just didn't like it. But being a Sondheim junkie, I had to buy the video. It was one of the most moving shows I'd ever seen. Now I can't stop listening to the CD and watching the video. It is my second favorite Sondheim show now (coming in next to "Company").

Rating:
Summary: perfection
Review: a welcome, if overdue, rerelease ... one of sondheim's finest works, a pulitzer prize winner. bernadette peters and mandy patinkin are simply wonderful, and sondheim's music and lyrics have never been more passionate, witty, or downright funny. the best substitute for not being able to see the original cast on stage.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I've been looking for SITPWG for over a year and a half. I couldn't even order it from you! It's great that it's back on the market. This is an excellent presentation of the musical. The style of filiming caught the staging and costuming so well without imposing. It was almost as good as being there to see the performance. Nobody beats Sondheim's music! Bernadette Peters is super as always. I enjoyed Mandy Patinkin's performance too.

Rating:
Summary: It has to come to Light!
Review: I've always loved Stephen Sondheim, putting him in much higher regard than other Broadway fames such as Andrew Lloyd Webber. After buying the CD of SITPWG, I quickly scooted to a local library and read the script. Now the cycle is completed with the movie. This is top-quality work! Peters and Patinkin are sublime, a marvelous pair of performers. Catch this and 'Into the Woods' while you still can!

Rating:
Summary: Great musical, not-so-great picture quality.
Review: This is a good and enjoyable musical almost as superb as Sondheim's Sweeney Todd or Into the Woods. I'm not a fan of Mandy Patinkin and his touchy-feely style, but his performance is remarkable. I found the (DVD) video quality not crisp and the jitters in the picture quite distracting. I felt that I was watching from an old VHS tape. I take two rating stars away because of this.