Summoning Sondheim is a one-hour, comedic theatre production that channels the spirit of the late musical theatre genius Stephen Sondheim.
A two-hander, Grace (Grace O’Keefe) very quickly introduces herself, her colleague Jordana (Jordana Belaiche), and establishes that we are all here for a seance.
Grace is on a mission to revive Sondheim, and save theatre. We are, quite literally, Summoning Sondheim.
Grace and Jordana are delightful, and immediately endear themselves to the audience. This is useful, as there is light audience participation, in the form of joining in with the incredibly catchy songs – because this is, of course, a musical!
The narrative is currently very simple. This is a work in development, and there is room for more background on Jordana, or for a ‘B Plot’ to be developed for her character.
Jordana is supposed to have booked the medium for the seance. She’s forgotten, and in an attempt to make amends with Grace, decides to step in instead.
At the moment Jordana, as that fake medium Chantelle, is having a magnificent time chewing the scenery and pretending to speak to, and be possessed by, various spirits from the afterlife. It’s a magnificent comedic performance.
As well as the story of the attempted seance, this production contains a very abbreviated history of musical theatre. There’s also some shade thrown at Andrew Lloyd Webber, which is very funny.
The songs are really well done – and incredibly catchy. There are also occasional references within the music to some of Sondheim’s most well-known melodies, woven into the new compositions in a way which feels respectful, rather than exploitative.
As the story continues, the farce builds. Grace and Jordana give it everything they’ve got, but also know just when to pause and become more reflective.
They slip in some commentary regarding how few women are able to find support to put their works on Broadway and the West End’s biggest stages. They also comment on how this means that very few women have won the writing or composition Olivier or Tony for musicals. This is a section which could be developed, and also foreshadowed earlier in the narrative.
There’s so much heart here, and this is a really excellent start for a piece of musical theatre which we hope is given the time, support, and money to be able to be developed further.
Find more about the show and company behind it, The Queen of Cups, here. Also, follow along with Brig’s Edinburgh Fringe content here.
Featured Image Credit: Fringe Society
