Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together (Umbrella Entertainment/PAL Region 4/Four/DTS DVD
Import)
Picture: B-
Sound: B Extras: D Concert: B
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be operated
on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Four/4 PAL
format software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment
at the website address provided at the end of the review.
Carol
Burnett, George Hearn, John Barrowman, Ruthie Henshall and Bronson Pinchot are
terrific together in an exceptional review of the many amazing, important,
landmark and lasting songs of Stephen Sondheim in Putting It Together, recorded from the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York City. Many of his best songs have been gathered
into a narrative about two couples and other ancillary affairs with energy and
chemistry to spare.
Burnett
is great here as expected and Pinchot is better than he gets credit for, while
Hearn delivers as expected. It is
newcomers Barrowman and Henshall that impress for being less experienced. They fit right in and this is a tour de force
for all involved. If you like music and
comedy, you’ll want to get this DVD ASAP.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in High Definition video
(likely 1080i) and looks pretty good and colorful throughout with limited
aliasing errors, staircasing or minor errors.
Being in PAL and not U.S. NTSC helps, but I can imagine this would look
even better on Blu-ray. The DTS 5.1 mix
is a pleasant surprise with only a few moments where the video is not
optimal. The combination is very
watchable and enjoyable. There are no
extras.
For more
Sondheim in action on stage, try this review of the recent Blu-ray release of Company:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7080/Company:+A+Musical+Comedy+(Imag
As noted
above, you can order this PAL DVD import exclusively from Umbrella at:
http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/
-
Nicholas Sheffo
