Putting It Together

A fantastically detailled, suitably pointillistic (composed largely of brief interviews with cast and crew of the original production) account of the development of a unique and important piece of theatre. Now that it's become a legend, it's fascinating to look back at its origins before anyone knew it would work, the tensions and conflicts behind the scenes, James Lapine's inexperience as a writer and director. The connecting and sustaining thread throughout is Lapine's close collaboration with Sondheim, who was just coming off a painful failure with Merrily We Roll Along and yet willing to dare again to do something completely different, following an artistic dream, taking a chance on an unknown. The complete script of the show is included at the end, but it's no substitute for watching a performance – fortunately the recording of the original production is available.

As a former theatre major and someone who hasn't worked on a show in a decade, this was a wonderful way to connect with the drama of that world.

It was wonderful hearing from all the different perspectives of putting the show together from page to stage.

So much drama on and off stage. Loved it!

I listened to the audiobook and while the narration was fine I would have much preferred hearing from the actual folks who were featured in the interviews rather than the voice actors.

***Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy for an honest review.