Theater Review

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    Patchwork quilt of songs

    By Juliet Schoen Staff Writer

    Is there a rhyme for Sondheim? If there is, Stephen Sondheim can probably find it. In “Putting It Together,” songs from his various musicals are strung together in a make-do revue that showcases his remarkable aptitude for lyrics.

    The music isn’t bad either. The show is now playing at the International City Theater in Long Beach through Dec. 8.

    Disciples of Sondheim will hear more than a dozen of his songs from such musicals as “Passion,” “Into the Woods” and “Company.” The cast of five brings them to life in a lovely apartment setting arranged by Bradley Kaye. The actors move about from “room to room” venting their emotions, from love to passionate hate. There is no doubt that there is cynicism in this exploration of the lives of two married couples.

    Henry Polic II, an accomplished actor, serves as the “observer,” talking directly to the audience as each new number unfolds. The older married couple is played and sung by Hank Adams, who has toured with such musicals as “Oklahoma” and “South Pacific,” and Colleen Fitzpatrick, an old Sondheim hand from many of his shows. Tom Schmidt plays the younger man with charm. Virginia Weber, who took over for Brittany Paige in an afternoon performance, played his “wife.” She did a fine job, especially in her rendition of “Lovely.” Among the other songs were “Putting it Together,” “Impossible,” “Being Alive” and “Pretty Woman.”

    This is a tough show to direct but Michael Michetti moved the cast about admirably on the simple thrust stage.