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Putting It Together

Putting it Together is the result of numerous requests for an "update" of Stephen Sondheim's popular compilation show from 1976, Side by Side by Sondheim. Sondheim had long resisted updating that show by interpolating new material, but was finally persuaded by producer Cameron Mackintosh (who produced the original Side by Side by Sondheim, as well as the 1987 London production of Follies) to consider putting together some kind of "sequel" compilation. They brought in Julia McKenzie, who was one of the original creators and stars of the 1976 Side by Side by Sondheim, and was appearing in that 1987 Follies

Sondheim's songs tend to be so situation and character specific, that to do them out of context requires tedious narration and exposition. They had gotten around that difficulty in the original by having a narrator on stage. For this effort, all the creators agreed that they didn't want to do a Side By Side II, keeping the straight revue-with-narrator format of the original. They hit on the idea of creating a dramatic framework to hang the songs on - essentially creating enough of a "context" so that narration would not be necessary. Even though that context wouldn't necessarily mirror the situation of the original show, it would still allow the audience to experience the songs as part of a dramatic whole. This "evening at a dinner party" framework was never intended to be a fully realized dramatic book. The audience would always be aware that it was just a device to string together an evening of Sondheim songs.

The rough "plot" that ensues is a dinner party given by "Paul" (Stephen Collins) and "Amy" (Diana Rigg/Julie Andrews), a couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Michael Rupert is a party guest, a young colleague from "Paul's" publishing firm. Rachel York is a maid hired for the evening at the beginning, turning into a party guest later in the show. Christopher Durang is a "mischievous and somewhat mysterious uninvited guest" who occasionally comments on the action throughout the evening.

The show begins out of frame, with Chris singing an updated version of the "Invocation and Instructions to the Audience". Actually, he never does get to the "Invocation" - originally written for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and later put into The Frogs. Rather, he does a version of the "Instructions to the "Audience" portion added for The Frogs, and segues into a customized "Putting it Together" with the company. After that, everyone drops into character, and the cocktail party begins with the guests arriving. During the course of the evening, all 3 men - particularly "Paul" Stephen and "Guest" Michael - flirt with and compete for "Maid/Guest" Rachel, to the annoyance of "Amy" Julie and amusement of "Mysterious Guest" Christopher Durang. Michael eventually prevails, disappearing upstairs with Rachel, as Julie vents her anger at Stephen and Act I ends.

Act II begins with an "out of character" opener, "Back In Business", from Dick Tracy. They drop back into character, several hours later - after dinner and somewhat drunk. Chris talks the others into participating in strange party games, which basically serve as a cheap way to pull in out of context songs while somewhat developing their characters. Julie and Stephen more or less reconcile, and Michael and Rachel make genuine connection as the show ends. Such is the "plot".

- June Abernathy


Show Data





New York Production Info:

Opened ................... April 1, 1993
Closed .................... May 23, 1993
Ran .................... 59 Performances 
Theatre ............ City Center Theatre
Words and Music ....... Stephen Sondheim
Devised ............... Stephen Sondheim
......................... Julia McKenzie
Director ................ Julie McKenzie 
Produced ............ Cameron Mackintosh
................. Manhattan Theatre Club
Artistic Director ......... Lynne Meadow
Managing Director .......... Barry Grove
Musical Staging .............. Bob Avian
Scenery ................... Robin Wagner
Costumes ............ Theoni V. Aldredge
Lighting ................y Tharon Musser
Musical Arrangements ...... Chris Walker
Musical Direction ........ Scott Frankel
Sound ..................... Scott Lehrer
Prod. Stage Manager .... Franklin Keysar   



New York Cast:

Julie Andrews
Stephen Collins
Christopher Durang
Michael Rupert
Rachel York            



Added Songs: 

 1. Could I Leave You?
 2. I Could Drive a Person Crazy"



Cut Songs:
 
 1. The Ladies Who Lunch
 2. The Day Off



Original London Production Info:

Opened ............... January 27, 1992
Theatre .............. Old Fire Station
Words and Music ...... Stephen Sondheim 
Devised .............. Stephen Sondheim
........................ Julia McKenzie 
Directed ............... Julia McKenzie 
Produced ........... Cameron Mackintosh 



Cast:

Diana Rigg
Clive Carter
Claire Moore
Clarke Peters
Kit Hesketh-Harvey



Musical Numbers:

 1. Invocation & Instructions to the Audience
 2. Putting It Together 
 3. Rich and Happy #1 
 4. Merrily We Roll Along #1 
 5. Lovely 
 6. Everybody Ought to Have a Maid 
 7. Sooner or Later 
 8. I'm Calm 
 9. Impossible 
10. Ah, But Underneath 
11. Hello, Little Girl 
12. My Husband the Pig
13. Every Day a Little Death 
14. Merrily We Roll Along #2 
15. Have I Got A Girl For You 
16. Pretty Women 
17. Now 
18. Bang! 
19. Country House 
20. Merrily We Roll Along #3 
21. The Ladies Who Lunch 
22. Back in Business 
23. Rich and Happy #2 
24. Night Waltzes 
25. Love Takes Time
26. Remember
27. In Praise of Women
28. Perpetual Anticipation
29. The Sun Won't Set
30. What Would We Do Without You? 
31. Gun Song 
32. A Little Priest
33. The Miller's Son
34. Live Alone and Like It 
35. Sorry-Grateful 
36. Sweet Polly Plunkett 
37. The Day Off
38. Marry Me a Little 
39. Getting Married Today 
40. Merrily We Roll Along #4 
41. Being Alive 
42. Like it Was 
43. Old Friends 
44. Merrily We Roll Along #5 



Recordings:

 1. Original NY Cast, (2 CD), 1993
    (RCA, 09026-61729-2)

 2. Original NY Cast, (2 Tape), 1993 
    (RCA, 09026-61729-4)



Secondary performance rights handled by
Music Theatre International



Articles: 

 1. 



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