Of a musical, art and finding beauty

A story of one of my most moving theatrical experiences so far, a reflection of art and finding beauty in the ordinary.

“So much love in his words
forever with his colors
how George looks
he can look forever
what does he see?
his eyes so dark and shiny
so careful
so exact.”

— Sunday (Reprise) from Sunday in the Park with George

A few weeks back, whilst I was looking for reasonably priced Broadway tickets during the Broadway Week, I stumbled upon an advertisement about a revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical 'Sunday in the Park with George.'

My first acquaintance with a Sondheim musical was through the screen adaptations of two of his most popular works, 'Into the Woods' and 'Sweeney Todd'. Watching both movies, the music really stood out to me as being quite unusual. It was definitely more complex and very different compared to the regular musical numbers I have grown to know through my frequent outings to the various theaters at the West End. By the end of both movies, I fell in love with the score and wanted to know more of Sondheim's other works. After doing more research, I found out that he had once wrote a musical about the pointillist painter Georges Seurat and his masterpiece Sunday at La Grand Jatte. The Pulitzer winning musical was a critical success but the last revival was done in 2008 and at that point I thought there won't be much hope that I will be able to see it anytime soon.

Fast forward to 2017 and there I was, staring at my computer screen with the Playbill website advertising a revival of that exact musical. The musical is playing for a strictly limited 10-weeks run and starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Tony Award-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford. It didn't take long for me to decide and within minutes (and after feeling the pinch on my credit card) I ended up with two tickets for one of the preview performances of Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway.

I have a habit these days of trying to find out as much as possible about any piece of theatrical performances I am about to see. Usually this involves researching the history of the particular piece, critics commentaries and of course, the music itself. I know that some people would prefer to go into the theatre with a 'tabula rasa' or blank slate, to allow themselves to be surprised by the performance, which I do agree add a certain thrill to it all. But personally, I find that researching about the piece beforehand to build an understanding of the context and meaning of the piece, only heightened that sense of expectation and thrill. Listening to the songs allowed me to grow into them first, therefore building up the sense of wanting to see the piece of music or song being performed live within the context of the musical.

Through general reading about it, I knew that the musical revolves around the fictional life of Georges Seurat as he painted his masterpiece, A Sunday at La Grand Jatte. This painting has been hailed as the greatest masterpiece of the pointillist movement and currently resides in the Art Institute of Chicago. Stephen Sondheim composed the music and worked together with James Lapine who wrote the book. During the creative process, both Lapine and Sondheim spent several days at the Art Institute of Chicago studying the painting. It was then that Lapine noted that one major figure was missing from the canvas, the artist himself. This observation provided the springboard for the creation of "Sunday" and the production evolved into a meditation on art, emotional connection and community. .

The first act of the musical was mainly about Georges Seurat and the people around him. It portrays a slightly dysfunctional Seurat consumed with his painting and creating his own masterpiece. It depicted not just his obsession but also his process of trying to capture an understanding of his subjects, amidst sometimes the disdain and mockery of society and his peers.  The first act brought to life 19th-century Paris, with its ateliers and the Seine-side Île de la Grande Jatte that Seurat immortalized.The second act moved the action to Chicago and Paris of 100 years later, where another artist named George confronts the politics, mockery and continual self-doubts of his profession.  Whilst the first act depicts a linear and straightforward story, the second act was much more contemplative and surreal. Discussing in a subtle manner, the nature of art, legacy and the need to find something new to say in this already crowded world.

Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed the musical. Towards the end, I was left with a little mist in my eyes as the chorus soars and crescendos towards the musical's gorgeous ending. The musical brought to life not just the painter himself but also most of the characters pictured in the painting. The music was unique, layered and complex. In one scene depicting Georges in the process of painting, the music evolved into just 'dots' of notes whilst Gyllenhaal sang the words "blue, blue, blue, red, red, yellow, orange". It was captivating and perfectly pointillist. Through the music I could almost see the dabs of paint being applied and the colours shimmering just as they do in the real painting.

Jake Gyllenhaal's acting was amazing and he proved to be an able singer for the part. His depiction of the rather obsessive and socially awkward Georges Seurat managed to be distant and yet relatable. Despite that, it was Annaleigh Ashford's performance that floored me. She was spectacular as Dot, Seurat's supposed model and lover. Her singing and acting was (dare I say it) on point. She brought such feelings and nuances to her character that might not have been there if not for her singing and expressions. The supporting cast were wonderful in their own roles; giving life, humour and humanity, even to the smallest character. Looking again at the painting now, I almost feel like I know each of them personally. The woman holding a flower, the boatman lounging by the river, the child and the mother walking through the park and many more.

Sunday at the Park with George was a very special musical for me. The musical dealt not only with the process of making art and a view of how it can consume a person's life; but it also offered a critique of how art is seen and made today, of legacy and of how we understand, appreciate and feel art. It questions at its core the idea of art itself and why is it so important to us. On top of that, the musical also tried to teach us how to see our world differently. Words and phrases from the musical stood out to me as asking us to find what's beautiful even in the most ordinary setting.

All of this might be my own take, but I walked away feeling like not only have I enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining and beautiful musical, but also challenged in my own thinking of art and learned, how to find beauty on an ordinary Sunday.

“As we pass through arrangements of shadow
Toward the verticals of trees
Forever
By the blue purple yellow red water
On the green orange violet grass
In our perfect park
Made of flecks of light
And dark
And parasols
People strolling through the trees
Of a small suburban park
On an island in the river
On an ordinary Sunday”

— Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George