Champaigne, chandeliers, and rich & happy company! ‘Putting It Together’ is a humorous display of Stephen Sondheim’s genius music by a talented and dynamic cast. Set at an intimate cocktail party in a New York penthouse, this show strings together songs from Sondheim’s vast theatrical repertoire to tell a unique story. As cast member and triple-threat Caroline O’Connor aptly describes in the program, “Sondheim’s work… is a journey into the heart of theatre itself, a reminder of why we act, sing, and tell stories at all.”
The show kicks off with a comedic tone that continues throughout, with Bert Labonte interacting with the laughing audience as he sings his rendition of ‘Invocation and Introductions’; the perfect opening.
The room erupted with applause as the rest of the notable cast then took the stage one at a time - Sydney’s star Stephanie Caccamo, award-winning performer Nigel Huckle, the renowned Michael Cormick, and international talent Caroline O’Connor. Each performer had their chance to shine, showing off their incredible vocals and their masterfully crafted acting skills.
The show maintained the perfect balance of hilariously choreographed skits and comedic interpretations, and more intimate moments where the music and voices shone through. I still giggle remembering the rib-tickling, over-the-top reactions Caroline had to the appearance of Stephanie as her younger self, interjecting to fight her past self into “not getting married today!”
The whole cast has an extensive history of performance experience, and boy, can you tell! The way everyone conducted themselves on stage, embodying their characters with such comfort and ease, was extremely engaging. So much effort was channelled into expression in every line, pairing beautifully with their gorgeous vocals.
I found Michael Cormick especially delightful to listen to, with his smooth voice and meaningful interpretation. He often sang with Caroline O’Connor, who infuses every line with the fitting aspiration and intonation, and acts with her whole body committed to each gesture and motion.
One moment that really stood out to me was the hilarious presentation of the song ‘Lovely’ from ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’. Stephanie took the spotlight, adding classical phrases to the song with her incredible voice, boasting how lovely she is with grand gestures of great pomp and pretence. The next verse, however, drove the laughter even louder as Caroline cut in, mocking Stephanie’s character and rolling about the stage.
But the talent doesn’t stop at the singers… Musicians Kevin Wang, Nicholas Till and Richard Gleeson flawlessly played Guy Simpson’s arrangement for two pianos and percussion. The show went down without a hitch, with all elements from the creative team accumulating in a beautifully presented and delightfully funny show.
‘Putting It Together’ is a fun time all round, and is bound to make you cackle. It’s a must-see for Sondheim lovers and the uninitiated alike.
The production is showing until the 15th of February at the Foundry Theatre, The Star.
Photo credit: Daniel Boud
Reviewed by: Eleanor Edwards