Stephen Sondheim concert: Meryl Streep and co enjoy drinks in bathrobes as they belt out 'Ladies Who Lunch'
Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday saw a star-studded lineup of performers assemble virtually to tribute him as part of the 'Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration' benefit concert which aired on Sunday.
Sondheim, famous for his work in musicals like 'Into the Woods', 'West Side Story', 'Dick Tracy', and 'Sweeney Todd', was initially going to have his 90th birthday celebrated with a Broadway revival of 'Company', a 1970 musical comedy that Stephen Sondheim wrote music and lyrics for, but the show was unfortunately delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, a virtual concert titled 'Take Me to the World' was organized to support youth in underserved communities. It premiered on the Broadway.com YouTube channel on April 26 and included appearances from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Steven Spielberg, Nathan Lane, Mandy Patinkin, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sutton Foster, Josh Groban, Ben Platt, Brandon Uranowitz, Katrina Lenk, Kelli O'Hara, Jason Alexander, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Beanie Feldstein, Raúl Esparza and, of course, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Audra McDonald.
The three ladies performed an enchanting rendition of 'Ladies Who Lunch', Patti LuPone's gorgeous number from 'Company', all while clad in bathrobes and elegantly sipping wine, a martini, and whiskey as they effortlessly belt out the classic. And naturally, fans couldn't help but feel blessed to have witnessed such a glorious show.
"The perfection aka Christine Baranski , Meryl Streep and Audra McDonald ladies and gentlemen #Sondheim90Concert," tweeted one fan along with a video of the performance. Another fan said, "There’s more power in this video than in the history of men ruling the world," and one shared, "Thank you for this!! Made my day, my week, maybe even my month!"
Some fans got comfortable and joined in the fun, tweeting "If anyone wants me today I will be in my onesie with a bottle of bubbly watching #Sondheim90Concert having the best day in isolation ever!!!"
One fan stated, "This is so mesmerizing with those drinks," and another demanded, "We need the “I’m already drinking, dear” meme gif IMMEDIATELY," in reference to Streep's iconic sign-off at the end of the performance. And one fan tweeted, "A masterpiece. Love these girls, and I'd like to see hats!" in response to Baranski singing the lyrics, "Does anyone still wear a hat?"
Some viewers noted something hilariously odd - Streep's rather empty wall shelf. "Did #Meryl just move in?" asks one, while another joked, "Hmmm ... or did she just clear her shelves of stuff she did not want us to see?"
A mystery for another day, perhaps.