Stephen Sondheim and Luis Buñuel is not a pairing that immediately comes to mind, but Sondheim's last work is an adaptation of two of Buñuel's films to the stage. The first act of Here We Are references The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and the second act is a riff on Buñuel's earlier film, The Exterminating Angel. The first act deals with a spoilt set of upper class New Yorkers trying to find a place for brunch and is an allegorical parody of capitalism's despoilment of the planet. It is far from subtle, but the piece is enlivened and enriched by Sondheim's signature musical tropes and his clever lyrics. The second act is even darker than the first, with the group of friends trapped in the embassy of a fictitious Latin American country. Here the questions raised are existential rather than political, and we don't have Sondheim's music to lighten the didacticism. While it can be argued that this is a thematic choice, the absent score is definitely missed. Nevertheless, David Ives' book cleverly captures the darkly satiric and absurdist quality of both films, despite the second act's lack of music being a bit of a letdown. The cast is universally strong and the performances all hit just the right note. This is an extremely talented ensemble of actors who manage to walk that very thin line of creating two-dimensional, parodic characters while not falling into slapstick. Director Joe Mantello has paced the show beautifully, and despite the homiletic quality of the work, it never drags. We loved Sam Pinkleton's wonderfully mannered choreography, and the sets by David Zinn were simply stunning. There are so many reasons to see this production, but not the least of which is the unique opportunity to appreciate the final work of Stephen Sondheim in his homage to that other genius, Luis Buñuel.
Rated: ★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner
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