"if a person's personality is personable..."

stephen sondheim. this prolific composer will turn 80 on the 22 of this month and is being celebrated with TWO star studded concerts at both city center and the philharmonic. this month roundabout theatre company is producing a new sondheim anthology show called "sondheim on sondheim." he has won more tony's than any other composer (and an oscar to boot) and has long been an obsession of mine.

he posesses a power and a prowess as a lyricist that is truly unparalleled. He is witty, heart-breaking, clever, and original with every single line. he doesn't often get as much credit as a composer, but he's shown just as much versatility with his music over the past 50 years. it's astonishing to me the man who wrote "assassins" also wrote "sweeney todd." from rollicking ballads to bach-like fugues and light opera.

many books have been written on his work so i wont go into details analyzing a piece. one of my absolute all time favorite line comes from my sentimental favorite, "into the woods" and is quite odd, particular, and peculiar. as jack (as in "...and the beanstalk")'s mother is telling her son to sell their old cow she describes the situation and milky white by saying "we've no time to sit and dither while he withers wither with her." every time i listen to that song, which is often, i smile.

i leave you with a youtube link to perhaps his greatest work, "a little priest" from "sweeney todd." mrs lovett cleverly devises a horrific scheme to dispose the bodies of sweeney's victims. the traditional musical hall sound is in direct contrast with the hilarious, yet gruesome lyrics. every time i listen to it i catch a new joke/entendre/meaning, the mark of true genius. angela lansbury went on to win her fourth tony for this performance.

"a little priest"

...is cherished by the wisest men.

My name is Bret and I'm overly critical. This has been expressed to me over and over again my entire life. I used to argue it and tell myself everyone else was just jealous of my "intelligence," but now I've grown to accept it. I strive for perfection in every single thing I see (sad, because my own work is messy and never even close). I'm opinionated. I'm critical. I guess this makes me a bitch and I like that.

My friends Amber and Bethany started blogs about their new domesticated/married lives and as happy as I am for them, I'm so happy I'm not blogging about those issues. I plan on just doing cute updates about what I'm watching, reading, what pisses me off, or random things I'm thinking. I'll try to remain positive and not turn this into a vehicle for venting.

Life in New York is like that. Lots of time for thinking. Despite the "city that never sleeps" and "fast-paced city life" cliches. Things here can be very slow, quiet, and lonely. Lots of fun things to post about. Lots of fun things to "really?" about. I look forward to the ride.