After receiving its world premiere in New York in 2023, Here We Are, the final musical by the legendary Stephen Sondheim (and book by David Ives) now has its UK premiere in a new production at the National Theatre. Inspired by two of Luis Buñuel’s iconic films, Here We Are is directed by Joe Mantello (WICKED /Assassins).
Wealthy couple Leo and Marianne Brink wake up to a group of friends arriving for bunch – that seems to have been forgotten. At the other side of the room, daughter Fritz, is quietly plotting the end of the world.
The group of friends hop in the car and set off to their destination, only to find that ‘Cafe Everything’ actually has nothing. And that is where the surrealism begins. With each new restaurant, the friends grow hungrier and even water seems to be out of the question. Fritz is trying to blackmail her drug cartel father into giving her 50 million dollars to help fund a revolution but isn’t so happy when he says it will have to come out of her trust fund.
The group eventually find food and shelter but are stuck in a room, unable to leave. As unrest ensues, the group have to work together to figure out how they can leave. Maybe a slow-dance with a giant Bear will help, or maybe the sudden appearance of a Bishop… and a Soldier.
Here We Are is surrealism at its most absurd. The last time I was so confused as to what I was watching was the musical Opening Night starring Sheridan Smith.
Act 1 is nice enough with very Sondheim-esq songs, which are pleasant but pithy and don’t really go anywhere. It is apparent how far through the writing process for this musical he was when he died as Act 2 is mostly just a play with very little to class it as a Musical. The lack of songs and totally absurd story, make the second half of the show almost boring and I found myself pondering the meaning of life.
Tony Award Winners Tracie Bennett (Woman) and Denis O’Hare (Man) steal the show, garnering rupturous laughter from their looks alone.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Paul Zimmer) and Martha Plimpton (Claudia Bursik-Zimmer) provide some much needed comedy with flamboyance and a sense of entitlement which make you love and loathe them at the same time.
Jane Krakowski is a joy to watch on stage as Marianne Brink. Her acting is effortless, meaningful and sincere.
The first (and only) time the music really perks up is when Fritz (Chumisa Dornford-May) meets soldier (Richard Fleeshman) and they sing the only powerful and meaty number in the show.
Edward Baker-Duly, Alastair Brookshaw, Steven Serlin, Jack Butterworth, Molly Lynch and Amira Matthews make up the ensemble for the show. Woefully underused, their talent is ignored.
The set and costume design by David Zinn is really worth celebrating here. The vibrant costumes mixed with the transformative set, shine through and make Here We Are a joy for the eyes to behold. Also, the choreography by Sam Pinkleton is quirky and fun.
Here We Are isn’t a masterpiece and I have no idea what story was trying to be told on stage (something about capitalism I think) but as a chance to see a first class cast of legendary actors performing the last work by Stephen Sondheim, it is worth seeing just to bookend the life of a legend, who sometimes created masterpieces and at other times, didn’t.
Reviewed by West End Wilma
If you enjoy/have enjoyed any of these performances, why not nominate them for a West End Wilma Award.
