At about this time last year, I was having fun exploring "Finishing the Hat," the first volume of Stephen Sondheim's musings on his own work. And now, here we are, in November 2011, with the second volume, "Look, I Made a Hat" available for order.Excitement!
This one picks up where "Finishing the Hat" left off, covering 1981-2011, and it is subtitled "Collected lyrics...with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany."
Sondheim's work -- his lyrics, his music and his writing in general -- is smart, moving, sharply honed and always impressive. He also comes off that way in all the interviews and comments he's been giving for "Look, I Made a Hat," some of which I have collected here for your perusal.
There's Newsweek/The Daily Beast, Playbill.com, and BroadwayWorld.com, where Sondheim even talks a little about Shakespeare.
Sondheim is endlessly fascinating, his lyrics are absolutely the best, and these two books are absolute necessities for anyone who is interested in musical theater.
I will write more about my thoughts on the contents of "Look, I Made a Hat" once my copy gets here. In the meantime, you go order yours, or read the one you already got, or share quotes with your friends, whatever it takes. Get the word out!
"Look, I Made a Hat" is now available!!!
If all goes well, my copy should be waiting on my doorstep when I get home tonight. (I hope UPS puts it somewhere it won't get soaked!)
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for today's delivery and stay-dry packaging! I think mine should arrive Saturday. If I'm lucky. At least it's shipped, so that's something to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteI made the trek out in this monsoon to get my copy at Barnes and Noble -- and it is well worth the drenching I got. Steve
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Steve. I'm hanging out at home in the Lazy Boy. But I would have something to read in the Lazy Boy if I had gone out and bought my "Look, I Made a Hat" in person.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to UPS for putting the carton on end inside my storm door, away from the rain. And blessings to Amazon for safely shrink-wrapping it inside the carton. In other words, no moisture touched it. And I've started reading it. And it's just as wonderful as vol. 1. I'm still in Act I of "Sunday in the Park," so there's a lot to look forward to.
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