“How Sondheim Can Change Your Life” a book review

***** I know that my readers and listeners are used to either dining or theater reviews, but once in a while, I find myself caught up in spending time with a book. As you know, I have read those of Paul Lisnek and it was Paul who turned me on to a book writeen by Richard Schoch, a drama professor in Ireland. The book is about my very favorite musical theater composer,Stephen Sondheim, the wordsmith of musicals amd is titled “How Sondheim Can Change Your Life”.

Speaking for myself, I can tell you that finding Sondheim did affect mine. You often hear me talk about his works and how as impossible as it may seem, he was able to take a multitude of words, put them together with music and come up with a song that propelled the story along, but as I found out from reading this book, had something to do with life itself!

The book is written in 11 chapters, each reflecting on one of his musicals as well as how they affect our lives. Of course, being a book about Sondheim, it begins with an OVERTURE ( a history of the man, the artisit, the composer, the lyricist, and of most importance, the scholarly person). This is followed by an Introduction ( The Song Is You) giving us a little history about the man and his music, and then the book takes you on a trip to a place where you will know more than you ever expected about the man and his music and how it all relates to us.

I am not going to go deep into the book, as I truly feel it is one that every theater buff NEEDS to read. If you do not like Sondheim, perhaps reading this book will change your mind about the genius that has created some of the best musicals on stages anywhere.

The chapters are:

1-“Gypsy” ( How to be who you are)

2-“Company” (How toe get close)

3-“Follies” (How to survive your past)

4-“A Little Night Music” (How to handle your regrets)

5-Pacific Overtures” (How to be a part of the whole)

6-“Sweeney Todd” (“not” to deal with injustice)

7-“Merrily We Roll Along” (How to grow up)

8-“Sunday In The Park With George” (How to be an artist)

9-“Into The Woods” (How to choose the right path) “Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood/Do not let it grieve you – no one leaves for good.” —Stephen Sondheim, “Finale/Children Will Listen”

10-“Assassins”( How to let the darkness in)

11-Passion (How to love)

after these wonderful soul searching chapters, we find EXIT MUSIC ( Here we are)

and then the notes, acknowledgements. bibliography etc.

If you look at the plays and the statements that go with each chapter, you can see the relationship of Sondheim and life, and how his words ( and music) can change your life with ease and in a positive way.

The book is published bySimon & Schuster, and I am sure is available wherever you buy books. Yes, I am sure that they library has a copy ( or two), but I truly feel this is a book you should have on your shelf so that every time you are feeling down, you can pick it up, go to the show that deals with what has you “down”, and after “everyhting will come up roses”!