Company: The Queen of Cups
The Queen of Cups bring this campy cabaret comedy séance and love letter to Stephen Joshua Sondheim that will have theatre kids hooting and hollering throughout.
A medley of Stephen Sondheim’s songs cut with an interview plays over the speakers, the lights are low and then we are approached by cloaked figures. Grace O’Keefe and Jordana Belaiche welcome us to their ritual: the candles are lit, his book Finishing The Hat stands propped on the table – a symbol of the deceased we wish to connect with this evening. Stephen Sondheim, regarded as one of the most important figures within 20th century musical theatre, was a composer and lyricist- well known for creating Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street among many other legendary musicals. He passed away in November 2021 and The Queen of Cups take on what must be many a theatre kid’s dream: to contact Stephen Sondheim from beyond.
To conjure the theatre legend, the performers sing Sondheim parodies, speak of their own experiences in theatre and bring in a medium. We are also taught a little about Sondheim and his life – about how he never had children but inspired so many with the legacy he left behind.
The performers call on the audience for help throughout, whether that’s singing a Sondheim song or engaging in some deep breathing exercises. There are moments that this audience interaction can feel a bit clunky with audience members unsure of whether they can interact or not. There’s a chance that the performers’ love and knowledge for Sondheim is intimidating and audience members worry that they don’t know enough to participate but O’Keefe and Belaiche still dazzle us with their amazing vocals and hilarious character work whilst interacting with the audience organically. Even when impromptu things happen, like the aforementioned book falling over at a hilariously timed critical moment, the performers run with it and garner laughs from the audience. It comes naturally to them. Part way through, we are introduced to a medium who brings a lot of joy and humour to the show. Belaiche plays the role wonderfully, embodying the trashy clairvoyants that plague your TV in the small hours of the morning in her frizzy red wig and the way she ends every sentence with an unenthusiastic “okay!”. The séance doesn’t always go to plan, and at times it is interrupted by setbacks such as the harrowing demo tapes of other theatre composers (or demons) coming through from the other side.
Fans of musical theatre and Sondheim are sure to love this show – it’s a silly, whacky but heartfelt inside joke for theatre kids. It’s unapologetically niche but that is far from a bad thing. Those unfamiliar with Sondheim and his work may find it a little alienating and could get lost along the way. The show assumes we have a fair amount of Sondheim knowledge already – and he’s so legendary that you probably do without even knowing it.
All in all, Summoning Sondheim is a wonderfully original piece which musical theatre fans will appreciate. O’Keefe and Belaiche will be taking the show to Edinburgh Fringe this summer and it isn’t to be missed.
Reviewed on 24th May 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
A musical theatre dream
