Stephen Sondheim: A Life

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (b. 1930) is, arguably, America's leading living composer of serious theatrical music. As composer, lyricist, or both, he has given the world such inestimable treasures as WEST SIDE STORY, COMPANY, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, PACIFIC OVERTURES, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS and ASSASSINS. These shows contain such delightful (if sometimes under-appreciated) song nuggets as "I Feel Pretty," "Comedy Tonight" (from A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM), "The Little Things You Do Together," "Losing My Mind," and, of course, "Send in the Clowns." Along the way, Sondheim has worked with such luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, Zero Mostel, Lee Remick, Elaine Stritch, Hermione Gingold, Len Cariou, and Richard Kind. Yet, strangely, fame and flat-out national attention often have eluded Sondheim. Perhaps it's the composer's tendency not to embrace the press, but his lesser-known shows retain a mysteriously irritating way of fading from consciousness. (This was not always the case on Broadway, even at its most commercial. The Rodgers and Hammerstein flop ALLEGRO (1947) contains a song, "The Gentleman Is a Dope," that has become a favorite of female cabaret singers all over.) It was Meryle Secrest's happy task in this book, STEPHEN SONDHEIM: A LIFE, to "out" the reclusive composer two ways: by celebrating less-admired shows like MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG or ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (whose original cast included Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury and Harry Guardino, that ran less than a week but whose title song will run forever) -- and to pass on the happy news that the Master, in 2010, found love in the form of a permanent boyfriend. She was fortunate to interview Sondheim at length, and in so doing clues us in on the details of embracing a show while being rejected by his mother. This is the only Sondheim bio I know of that celebrates the whole life of the whole man -- warts and all, love life and all. This gives us great insight into Sondheim's career, and makes STEPHEN SONDHEIM: A LIFE much more comprehensive and readable than the usual such book.

The person is at last revealed. I don't understand most of the criticism of the book. If someone wants insights into the process of Sondheim's compositions, read the excellent "Everything Was Possible" by Ted Chapin. If you want to know about the composer as a person, which very little has been written about, this is the book to read.

I bought this for my boyfriend, a huge Stephen Sondheim fan, who has already read planty about Sondheim's works and life. He could not put this book down. I have not read it myself, but when he can't put a book down, I know I picked out something good!

Meryle Secrest presents a balanced, authoritative, comprehensive view of Sondheim. Secrest does "get" Sondheim: the man, the composer, the lyricist. She also "gets" his musicals, both as chronicler and as listener. Virtually all Sondheim screenplays, plays, musicals, and individual songs are intelligently discussed. Extensive and intimate interviews with Sondheim provide the basis, but alternative outlooks from his principle collaborators, associates, friends, and enemies also appear. (Insights of his peers are not present since Sondheim has no peers.) The book carries an inside, but not reverent feel. Sondheim's troubled relationship with his mother leading to extensive therapy, his difficulty in coming to grips with his homosexuality, and his periods of self doubt and perceived failure are sensitively covered. Secrest does not hesitate to call attention to perceived shortcomings, but her undisguised love and admiration for her subject continually shine through. The book is geared toward an audience with a serious interest in Broadway musicals with emphasis on beauty and meaning in lyrics. Secrest does footnote her interviews and references meticulously, but I would also have enjoyed a discography and a listing of his songs by musical as elements of an appendix. I especially enjoyed the insight on Leonard Bernstein.

Since 1959 (I was in Lisbon, then, with my actor-playwriter-composer husband - very well known, by now) when I first heard of Stephen Sondheim. it was love at first sound - West Side Story lyrics, for a 22 years actress to be were a dream - and now, 40 years got by and, reading this MARVELLOUS and HONEST book, I KNOW WHY I fell so in love with the man and his work - am finishing the book, and about to recommence it! CECILIA THOMPSON (Guarnieri) São Paulo, BRAZIL