‘ I have to finish the hat ‘
Sondheim fans will wallow luxuriously in this book .It is of medium to large size and relatively thick. There is a Prelude , a list of dramatis personae, it is divided into five chapters then there is a Finale , followed by the complete script of the 1984 Sunday In The Park With George which envisages the story behind French artist George Seurat’s creation of the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” and portrays the difficulties facing his (fictitious) great-grandson, also an artist named George, a century later. While yes there is a catalogue of acknowledgements , yet again this is a wonderful book that needs an index but doesn’t have one.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER is mostly presented chronologically .There are intermittent pieces of narration and short , sharp chapter titles .Readers learn that Lapine originally trained to be a photographer and worked as a graphic designer before producing the graphics for the Yale School of Drama and sort of falling into the world of librettist , playwright and theatre director. Lapine reminisces about the inspiration and fascinating creative process behind the creation of the work , inspired by a postcard of the Seurat painting ,the many discussions , the workshops for the first act, the rehearsed readings and how two songs were urgently needed for Act2 and completed at the last minute, with the panic about the Broadway opening . During rehearsals the cast were often a bit perplexed, trying to get a feel for developing their character, particularly for Act 2 .They needed to find the moment ( words, ? song? Sound? Movement ? etc ) that defined their character .A couple of songs were needed to establish them and consolidate the narrative , which Lapine eventually wrote just in time . In particular we hear from Bernadette Peters (who created the part of Dot) and Mandy Patinkin (who created the part of George Seurat).
Transcripts of various conversations with Sondheim and others are presented. Readers learn about Sondheim’s (and Lapine’s) working and creative styles. (Lapine and Sondheim went on also to collaborate on Into the Woods and Passion ).
Their first meeting is recalled and how Sondheim and Lapine instantly ‘clicked’. Sondheim then shares memories with Lapine of their years-long collaborative process on the musical .However ,he also offer frank opinions and anecdotes – sarcastic , cutting ,rancorous – about his work , the way he was treated and the politics and bitchiness at times in the theatre world overall.
First there were workshops and previews ‘ off ‘ Broadway with everyone working frantically behind the scenes .PUTTING IT TOGETHER is also an oral history involving some 40 other people that Lapine interviewed , illuminating various areas of the performance , from the financial side of things and contracts to the whole production team that brought the show to Broadway – the set design and costumes ,the backstage tech people , the sound, the lighting , the music and orchestra for example and the pressure , stresses and strains of working towards opening night , with some people involved quitting .
We are taken through to opening night , and then the season on Broadway. The show won a Pullitzer Prize for drama in 1985.
As Sondheim says ‘ this show is about our attitude towards art and artists and the difficulty of being .”
https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9780374200091/putting-it-together/
