In a season of bold reimaginings of classic pieces in the musical theatre canon, some have stood out, highlighting different aspects of a known work and turning it into a new production. However, some have missed that mark by a large margin. 

If there was any more talent on stage at the Friedman Theatre, it might border on illegal. Originally devised by Sir Cameron Mackintosh as a one-night-only event in the West End in 2022, Sondheim’s Old Friends starred the biggest names in London, and celebrated the life of legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim—fittingly held at the theatre named after him.

More like “Hide and Seek with Sarah Snook.” Sometimes she’s visible and downstage, but more often than not, she’s hidden by one of the screens or a set piece. However, that shouldn’t matter because she is always there on one screen or another, but she is always performing to the camera - never the audience. And there lies my gripe with this show - it was a movie that just happened to be filmed mostly live. 

On paper, this musical shouldn’t work: it’s about a man who only became famous after death, and the lead spends nearly half the show playing a motionless corpse - during a rock concert, no less. Yet, somehow, it not only works, but creates one of the most thrilling new musicals of this season.

🌟VERDICT’S PICK🌟 “New ways to dream” is undoubtedly the theme of Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical Sunset Blvd, based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 movie. This musical first opened in 1993 on the West End, starring Patti LuPone, who was subsequently (and infamously) replaced by Glenn Close when the production transferred to Broadway.