WISH-LIST WEDNESDAY: Do I Hear a Waltz
- James Tradgett
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
We return to the work of Stephen Sondheim this week, showcasing one of his lesser known works, his final collaboration with playwright Arthur Laurents, and his only work written with Richard Rodgers. "Do I Hear a Waltz" was one of only three major musicals for which Sondheim wrote the lyrics alone, and was the first to yield the great man a Tony nomination, whilst also being one of Rodgers' final major works, in a real passing of the torch in terms of musical theatre history. The musical is actually adapted from a prior play by Laurents entitled "The Time of the Cuckoo", which was also in turn the inspiration for the 1955 Katherine Hepburn film "Summertime".
It's a tried and tested formula, woman goes on vacation, falls in love, only to find out the man is married, and this rather complicates things. "Do I Hear a Waltz" sets the action in Venice, Italy, as Leona, a lonely American woman, travels across the Atlantic on holiday, and falls for Venetian shopkeeper Renato, an Italian family man. Ultimately, his possible financial motives, and her own personal insecurities, the pair conclude that they are incompatible, as we explore the cultural clash between the unbreakable American spirit, and humble European worldliness. What sets it apart is its cliche dodge in the end, with the innate emotional complexities proving two much for both parties.
The show has had humble exposure to public audiences, only running on broadway for around six months and 220 performances, garnering 3 Tony nominations in the process. More recently the show was revived at NYCC Encores! in 2016, however nothing further has been seen since, certainly as far as major revivals go. Its only forays onto the UK stage have both been fairly limited off-west end runs, most recently at the Park Theatre in 2014, so perhaps it's high time we saw this rare Rodgers-Sondheim collaboration return to theatres soon...
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