“Marry Me A Little” can be considered an unique experience.
It is a collection of Stephen Sondheim songs from some of his biggest hits that were included or dropped before the show opened. Songs from “A Little Night Music,” “Follies,” “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” and “Company” are included in this combination review and love story.
The other love story is director Robert Kelly’s admiration and esteem for Sondheim. This is his 19th production of Sondheim creations. He believably moves this dialogue-free story and characters with a delicate hand that sends feelings most of us have felt and experienced at one time or another in our lives.
Playwrights Craig Lucas and Norman Rene wrote the story in 1980 about two young lonely characters living just a staircase away from each other. Though the original plot took place in Brooklyn, TheatreWorks production updated the local to San Francisco and the characters are of this era with laptops.
A.J. Shively as Him and Sharon Rietkerk as Her handle the Sondheim songs masterfully. Rietkerks combining a yoga moment while Shively sings “Bang” with her interjecting was perhaps not the most melodic moment of the production—but possibly the most amusing and entertaining.
The delightful, detailed San Francisco apartment set by talented scenic designer Bruce McLeod and the piano background by the ever brilliant William Liberatore are the glue that keeps this moment of Sondheim an enjoyable encounter.
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View
Through: June 29
Running time: 1 hour and 15 minutes no intermission
Tickets: $19-$73
For reservations and information call: (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org
