Laguna’s Ralston help get ‘Sondheim’ soaring

Tom Titus

No single performer has exemplified the interpretation of Stephen

Sondheim’s musicals more than Laguna Beach’s Teri Ralston. She’s

starred in several, and even helped create a few.

If America were a monarchy, Sondheim would have had a “Sir”

attached to his name long ago. After all, he’s the reigning king of

Broadway whose tenure is approaching half a century. Unlike that

British knight, Andrew Lloyd Webber, who composes brilliantly but

leaves the lyrics to others, Sondheim writes both words and music,

and has been doing so since “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the

Forum” some 42 years ago.

The only problem with a show such as “Side by Side by Sondheim,”

now in residence at the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s

Founders Hall through Sept. 19, is that it was written some 27 years

ago and doesn’t include anything Sondheim has created since -- such

as “Into the Woods,” “Sweeney Todd” or “Assassins.” However, what

we’re left with is still pretty hot stuff -- particularly in the

current incarnation of this tribute.

The cast numbers only three -- well, four if you include guest

narrator Carole Cook, who contributes one solo -- but they’re

certainly the right trio. Joining Ralston are Davis Gaines (who’s

made a career out of playing the “Phantom of the Opera” over 2,000

times) and young, blond sparkplug Julie Dixon Jackson, who draws --

and aces -- some of Sondheim’s trickiest solos in this production.

What separates “Side by Side by Sondheim” from other tributes to

Broadway composers such as “Red, Hot and Cole” (Cole Porter) or “Some

Enchanted Evening” (Rodgers and Hammerstein) is the depth to which

the three singers -- all skilled actors -- can reach with their

interpretations. Each musical segment touches a particular emotional

nerve, and Ralston, Gaines and Jackson all know which buttons to push

in this regard.

Highlights abound, and each singer has at least one memorable

number. Ralston just about brings down the house with her stirring

hymn to survivorship, “I’m Still Here,” from “Follies,” and Gaines

immediately follows with another in the same vein, “Being Alive,”

from “Company.” Both are celebratory, life-affirming numbers,

enhanced by superb interpretations.

Meanwhile, Jackson rattles off the hilarious “Getting Married

Today” (also from “Company”) and the equally amusing “Another Hundred

People” from the same show with admirable clarity -- Sondheim’s

lyrics aren’t for the timid, especially these two tongue-twisting

selections.

Ralston, the Lagunan who directed and performed in a fine

production of “Follies” earlier this year at the Irvine Barclay

Theater, also scores highly with “Send in the Clowns” from “A Little

Night Music,” but her face is blocked to the stage-right section of

the audience by the motionless Gaines (who’s just rendered a moving

“Anyone Can Whistle” from the little-known show of that title),

somewhat diluting the effect. This is something director Nick

DeGruccio could easily remedy simply by moving Gaines off the stage

after his number.

As the troupe’s opening selection promises, there’s “Comedy

Tonight.” Toward the end of the show, the three singers offer the

strippers’ “You Gotta Have a Gimmick” from “Gypsy,” but since only

two are female, Gaines draws the assignment of interpreting the

“classy” bump and grinder, with hilarious results, including his

feigned reluctance.

Cook, meanwhile, brings a veteran, brassy presence to the mix, and

some of her erstwhile ad-libs border on the blue, but if she’s only

to be given one number, why not “Ladies Who Lunch” from “Company”

rather than “Broadway Baby” from “Follies?” Her been-there, done-that

attitude would be perfect for the song etched into the memory banks

by Elaine Stritch.

“Side by Side by Sondheim” beautifully celebrates the early years

of Broadway’s greatest composer-lyricist.