By Marilyn Lester***Certain cabaret performers can be relied on for shows that consistently achieve a high standard. Then there are those who add another layer to that dependable excellence; such a one is Meg Flather. Flather can be counted on for 
ingenious concepts, thoroughly researched with keen insight and intellect—and of course, executed with plenty of theatrical and vocal talent. In her new show, Hammerstein & Sondheim: Carefully Taught at Don’t Tell Mama, all of those elements were present and the result was truly “something wonderful.”
The title of the show comes from the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, South Pacific. The eponymous number is a brilliant condemnation of bigotry. More than that, in the title, there’s a subtext upon which Flather has drawn, and that is: “Teachers make all the difference. Teachers save lives.” In the case of Sondheim, who had a difficult upbringing, the serendipity of a Universe that placed him squarely at Oscar Hammerstein II’s feet as a preteen not only saved his life but had far-reaching consequence. And so a friendship 
formed between these two individuals who shared commonality; both were raised essentially motherless, and as the relationship developed, the bonds that were formed ran deep. It would turn out that Sondheim, who wanted to be a mathematician when he grew up, would discover a passion and talent for brilliant songwriting. As one man had changed the course of musical theater with his partner, Richard Rodgers, so would another man do the same later on his own merits.
With Lennie Watts’s direction, Flather capitalized on her natural ability for drama and theatricality. She’s high-energy and her storytelling instincts are spot-on. With music director Tracy Stark at the piano (who occasionally added her beautiful vocals to Flather’s), biographies, themes and songs were intertwined and illuminated to spin out the story of teacher and student. From pairings of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” 
(Richard Rodgers, Hammerstein) with “Sunday” (Stephen Sondheim) to “Life Upon the Wicked Stage” (Jerome Kern, Hammerstein) and “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” (Jule Syne, Sondheim) to the dramatic “Edelweiss” (R&H) and “Somewhere” (Leonard Bernstein, Sondheim), Flather worked her magic and closed on a simply breathtaking note.
While Hammerstein was exclusively a lyricist, Sondheim wanted total control of his creative output and resisted working as purely a lyricist; but his teacher and mentor encouraged him to gain the experience when that opportunity presented itself. Hence the student’s lyrics for Gypsy and West Side Story already demonstrated Sondheim’s brilliance. With Stark, Flather delivered a bouncy, hilarious rendition of “Free” from Sonheim’s firt solo musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Another interesting juxtaposition was in the flops both men suffered. For Hammerstein it was Allegro near the end of a career and for Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along at the beginning of his. Flather sang the title song from the former
and “Rich and Happy” from the latter, delivering another comic tour de force. On the dramatic side, she sang a devastating “Lonely Room” (R&H, Oklahoma!), a profound but dark song cut from the film and cast recording.
Without the mentorship of Oscar Hammerstein II there may have been no Stephen Sondheim musical writer and genius. Maybe there would have been Sondheim brilliant mathematician. We’ll never know. But this we do know for sure, illuminated so clearly and masterfully by Flather; Stephen Sondheim was carefully taught by Oscar Hammerstein II and we are all the more richer for it.
Don’t miss this show! You can catch Hammerstein & Sondheim: Carefully Taught at Don’t Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street) on September 10 and, October 28 at 4:00 PM and November 19 at 7:00 PM.
Photos by Jeff Harnar
