Reviews of the production of Side by Side by Sondheim at the Coronado Playhouse

Robert Hitchcox's review
Published in News Blaze on 29 October 2007 and in the San Diego Theatre Scene on 2 November 2007

If you love Stephen Sondheim, you'll love Coronado Playhouse's production of Side By Side By Sondheim. If you love the excellent voices of Brett Daniels, Lisa Goodman, Julia Celano, you'll love Director Daniel Logan's take on Side By Side By Sondheim. If you love the antics, both song styling and narrating, of Adrienne René, you'll laugh with Side By Side By Sondheim. It is a true retrospective of Sondheim's work through 1975 and a bit beyond. Now is the time for a full production of Wall to Wall Stephen Sondheim, which has been performed once, March 19, 2005.

It is pure pleasure to hear the singers and narrator unencumbered with mikes and amplifiers in an acoustically balanced room. Tiffany Fenderson's set is a multi-tiered collection of seemingly random risers. Dale Goodman developed a lighting design that took advantage of the unique set, highlighting each performer exactly right. This combination allows Logan to stage his cast in an almost infinite number of settings. His choreography adds even more to the revue. While the set design works well, the execution, while colorful, doesn't have the crispness one would expect. Add the colorful costumes by Angela Wills and some amazing hats reminiscent of Mardi Gras.

While numbers from Company and Follies are featured often, the show revisits Gypsy and A Little Night Music as well as lesser known works such as Pacific Overtures, The Mad Show, Anyone Can Whistle, and more. Daniels' "I Remember" from Evening Primrose wows the audience. Goodman and Celano's Westside Story offering of "A Boy Like That" and "I have a Love" is so powerful it brings images of the stage production. Goodman vamping her way through "I Never Do Anything Twice" from The Seven Per Cent Solution, is met with thunderous applause. Celano's "Broadway Baby" from Follies was an absolute joy to hear. And that's exactly the way this night goes. Kirk Valles, Musical Director, deserves kudos for his work with this talented cast.

All one has to do is close one's eyes and visualize the setting from any of the shows represented. Don't close them too long or you'll miss surprise moments. René presents many of those moments to us as she brings a very personal touch to her dialog. She is unbelievably animated, interacting and singing with the others.

This cast and their director prove that a revue can have almost all of the elements of a fully staged show. All it takes is excellence in all departments. This is one time when you can leave the theatre humming one of Sondheim's songs. Don't miss the music.

Gay Lesbian Times review
by Jean Lowerison

Goodman is by far the most successful: her slightly naughty "I Never Do Anything Twice" breathes Dietrich, her defiant "I'm Still Here" and the novelty take-off on "The Girl From Ipanema," Mary Rodgers' "The Boy From..." show the breadth of her capabilities

Daniels is most effective on the ballad "I Remember" and Follies song "Could I Leave You."
Celano is terrific with Goodman on "Can That Boy Foxtrot" and solid alone on the emotional "Losing My Mind."

Coronado Eagle review
by Elizabeth Guiten

The whole cast came together in a performance that words will not do justice....
Goodman in a literally breath taking performance....
Celano's smooth operatic soprano only adds....
Daniels shines in "I Remember"
Rene for expertly weaving the comedically informative web that held it all together.....
Valles for the musical impetus that took the revue from just good to something great.