Thursday, 5th May - Saturday, 7th May (Musical Director: David Wray, Director: Alan Kinsella) Cobalt Café at 8.15pm. Tickets 12 euro

For four decades Stephen Sondheim has been revolutionizing the Broadway musical. His name be-speaks theatrical excitement and applause. He is one of the singularly gifted within the ranks of the Broadway musical elite and has been described as "without question, the best Broadway lyricist past or present". Sondheim's work has won him many accolades including Tony, Grammy, and Academy awards together with a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 'Simply Sondheim' is a revue celebrating the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim brought to life by an 'international' company of singers from New York, London and Dublin.

'They blend perfectly in a songbook that is internationally known and hailed'

'They induced in me an inchoate wish to ask if they sang requests'
IRISH TIMES

Simply Sondheim was commissioned by Opera Fringe Northern Ireland in June 2004 and was broadcast as a live relay by the BBC it then played in Dublin at the Liberty Hall Centre in September 2004 to great critical acclaim.

Cast & Crew

Danna Davis
Ellen McElroy
Andrew Holden
John Matthews
Musical Direction/Piano: David Wray

Devised by David Wray
Directed by Alan Kinsella

Show Reviews

"A celebration of what is best about one of the greatest living musical theatre lyricist and composer, Stephen Sondheim. Presented by Music Theatre Ireland, this was a feast of music and interpretation from Musical Director David Wray, Director Alan Kinsella, with Ellen Mc Elroy, Danna Davis, John Matthews and Andrew Holden performing. Wray's compilation of Sondheim's (mainly) earlier works rivals the more established "Side By Side" by Sondheim for entertainment, and tops it especially in its rich musical arrangements. The work was of a very high standard and my criticism are more "nit picks". The selection of "Dick Tracey" over of few more gems from "A Little Night Music" was disappointing, as was a very thin narrative at times, which left one thinking that Little Red Riding Hood's Wolf then went off to chase Cinderella! Plaudits go to each of the tuneful quartet, especially Davis who out Minellied Liza with her "Losing My Mind", and the breadth of her vocal range – her "bass" in "Ladies Who Lunch" to her soprano in "Company". John Matthews dominated the male side with a superb Wolf in "Into The Woods" and for "Sweeney Todd". Mc Elroy's tour de force was the reluctant bride in "Company", and an amusing Red Riding Hood and Holden's consistent mellow tones were a joy in "Being Alive" and in "Not A Day Goes By", but he would benefit from drawing out more anger and passion from the writing. The staging by Alan Kinsella was clever in the warm surroundings of the Cobalt Café. The ensemble blended beautifully in presentation and in song. Sound balance improved as the evening progressed, and it is wonderful to hear every word in an "unplugged" show. In short, this 90 minutes of musical bliss might be more aptly named "Superb Sondheim"!" - Gordon Farrell, Scene City - June 2005