His_DPS legacy_NN1 is_VBZ one_PNI that_CJT will_VM0 be_VBI debated_VVN and_CJC argued_VVN over_AVP as_CJS long_AV0 as_CJS people_NN0 care_VVB about_PRP musical_AJ0 theatre_NN1 ._SENT 
Stephen_NP0 Sondheim_NP0 made_VVD his_DPS last_ORD public_AJ0 appearance_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD preview_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 revival_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Company_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ his_DPS 1970_CRD classic_NN1 ,_PUN last_ORD Monday_NP0 night_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 fifteenth_ORD of_PRF November_NP0 ._SENT Ninety-one_CRD ,_PUN and_CJC a_AT0 little_AV0 slowed_VVN but_CJC not_XX0 visibly_AV0 ailing_AJ0 ,_PUN Sondheim_NP0 was_VBD greeted_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Broadway_NN1 audience_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS he_PNP took_VVD his_DPS seat_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 left_AJ0 orchestra_NN1 ,_PUN with_PRP an_AT0 emotional_AJ0 intensity_NN1 that_CJT was_VBD tidal_AJ0 in_PRP its_DPS ferocity_NN1 and_CJC duration_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 emotion_NN1 was_VBD doubled_VVN ,_PUN perhaps_AV0 tripled_VVN ,_PUN by_PRP the_AT0 relief_NN1 at_PRP Broadway_NP0 's_POS returning_NN1 to_PRP life_NN1 at_PRP all_DT0 –_PUN it_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN without_PRP exception_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 most_AV0 overwhelming_AJ0 tribute_NN1 that_CJT I_PNP have_VHB ever_AV0 experienced_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 theatre_NN1 ._SENT Now_AV0 that_DT0 moment_NN1 is_VBZ sealed_VVN as_PRP history_NN1 ,_PUN since_CJS Sondheim_NP0 would_VM0 die_VVI less_AV0 than_CJS two_CRD weeks_NN2 later_AV0 ,_PUN on_PRP Friday_NP0 the_AT0 twenty-sixth_ORD ,_PUN at_PRP his_DPS house_NN1 in_PRP Connecticut_NP0 ._SENT 
No_AT0 artist_NN1 since_PRP George_NP0 Balanchine_NP0 had_VHD so_AV0 entirely_AV0 dominated_VVN an_AT0 art_NN1 form_NN1 as_CJS Sondheim_NP0 had_VHD his_DPS ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 truth_NN1 of_PRF which_DTQ he_PNP was_VBD ruefully_AV0 aware_AJ0 ,_PUN writing_VVG ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 song_NN1 called_VVD ,_PUN caustically_AV0 ,_PUN "_PUQ God_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ "_PUQ Still_AV0 you_PNP have_VHB to_TO0 have_VHI something_PNI to_TO0 believe_VVI in_PRP /_PUN Some_DT0 things_NN2 you_PNP appropriate_VVB /_PUN Emulate_VVB /_PUN Overrate_VVI /_PUN Might_VM0 as_AV0 well_AV0 be_VBI Stephen_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ A_AT0 generation_NN1 of_PRF musical-theatre_AJ0 artists_NN2 were_VBD defined_VVN by_PRP their_DPS relationship_NN1 to_PRP him_PNP –_PUN some_DT0 to_PRP a_AT0 point_NN1 almost_AV0 self-destructive_AJ0 ,_PUN measuring_VVG themselves_PNX against_PRP the_AT0 Druid_NN1 of_PRF Turtle_NN1 Bay_NN1 in_PRP ways_NN2 that_CJT he_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 exactly_AV0 welcome_AJ0 but_CJC could_VM0 n't_XX0 exactly_AV0 prevent_VVI ._SENT Adam_NP0 Guettel_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 brilliant_AJ0 composer_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ The_AT0 Light_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Piazza_NP0 "_PUQ –_PUN and_CJC ,_PUN as_CJS Richard_NP0 Rodgers_NP0 's_POS grandson_NN1 ,_PUN hardly_AV0 innocent_AJ0 of_PRF dominant_AJ0 theatrical_AJ0 figures_NN2 –_PUN recalls_VVZ having_VHG Sondheim_NP0 come_VVI to_TO0 see_VVI an_AT0 early_AJ0 performance_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 show_NN1 in_PRP 2007_CRD ,_PUN and_CJC how_AVQ everyone_PNI 's_POS eyes_NN2 fixated_VVN on_PRP the_AT0 back_NN1 of_PRF Sondheim_NP0 's_POS head_NN1 ,_PUN just_AV0 to_TO0 try_VVI to_TO0 discern_VVI ,_PUN by_PRP its_DPS movements_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 oracular_AJ0 verdict_NN1 ._SENT (_PUL It_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN Guettel_NP0 recalls_VVZ ,_PUN a_AT0 happy_AJ0 and_CJC nimble_AJ0 neck_NN1 ,_PUN until_CJS a_AT0 second-act_AJ0 violation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 fourth_ORD wall_NN1 offended_VVD Sondheim_NP0 's_POS sense_NN1 of_PRF story_NN1 decorum_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC all_DT0 hell_NN1 broke_VVD loose_AJ0 around_PRP the_AT0 collar_NN1 ._SENT )_PUR 
Yet_AV0 his_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 late-arriving_AJ0 legend_NN1 ,_PUN hard_AV0 won_VVN from_PRP a_AT0 resistant_AJ0 Broadway_NN1 commercial_AJ0 culture_NN1 ;_PUN unlike_PRP Balanchine_NP0 's_POS art_NN1 form_NN1 ,_PUN Sondheim_NP0 's_VHZ counted_VVN box-office_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC labelled_AJ0 hits_NN2 and_CJC flops_NN2 irrevocably_AV0 ._SENT Sondheim_NP0 was_VBD perhaps_AV0 more_AV0 aware_AJ0 of_PRF the_AT0 commercial_AJ0 uncertainties_NN2 of_PRF his_DPS own_DT0 work_NN1 than_CJS his_DPS worshippers_NN2 quite_AV0 knew_VVD or_CJC wanted_VVD ._SENT (_PUL Once_AV0 ,_PUN in_PRP conversation_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP asserted_VVD to_PRP me_PNP the_AT0 truth_NN1 that_CJT a_AT0 musical_NN1 's_POS destiny_NN1 is_VBZ determined_VVN by_PRP its_DPS first_ORD ten_CRD minutes_NN2 ,_PUN which_DTQ lay_VVD out_AVP the_AT0 evening_NN1 's_POS rules_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 audience_NN1 ._SENT Well_AV0 ,_PUN I_PNP asked_VVD impertinently_AV0 ,_PUN what_DTQ about_PRP "_PUQ Follies_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ whose_DTQ first_ORD ten_CRD minutes_NN2 are_VBB notably_AV0 knotty_AJ0 ?_SENT "_PUQ Yes_ITJ ,_PUN "_PUQ he_PNP snapped_VVD back_AVP ,_PUN not_XX0 entirely_AV0 good-naturedly_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ And_CJC '_PUQ Follies_NN2 '_PUQ has_VHZ never_AV0 made_VVN a_AT0 penny_NN1 back_AVP to_PRP any_DT0 of_PRF its_DPS investors_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ )_PUR 
The_AT0 lineaments_NN2 of_PRF Sondheim_NP0 's_POS ascent_NN1 are_VBB part_NN1 of_PRF musical-theatre_AJ0 legend_NN1 :_PUN how_AVQ he_PNP was_VBD rescued_VVN from_PRP a_AT0 troubled_AJ0 childhood_NN1 —_PUN his_DPS mother_NN1 once_AV0 wrote_VVD him_PNP a_AT0 cheerily_AV0 confidential_AJ0 letter_NN1 saying_VVG that_CJT she_PNP regretted_VVD ever_AV0 having_VHG given_VVN birth_NN1 to_PRP him_PNP –_PUN by_PRP the_AT0 lyricist_NN1 Oscar_NP0 Hammerstein_NP0 II_CRD ,_PUN a_AT0 near_AJ0 neighbor_NN1 in_PRP Bucks_NP0 County_NN1 ,_PUN Pennsylvania_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ taught_VVD him_PNP the_AT0 professional_AJ0 rudiments_NN2 of_PRF musical-theatre_AJ0 construction_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 human_AJ0 possibilities_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 warmer_AJC heart_NN1 ._SENT Relegated_VVN by_PRP his_DPS obvious_AJ0 dexterity_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 mere_AJ0 lyricist_NN1 ,_PUN Sondheim_NP0 had_VHD to_TO0 fight_VVI to_TO0 be_VBI taken_VVN seriously_AV0 as_PRP a_AT0 composer_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 hard_AJ0 climb_NN1 ,_PUN assisted_VVD ,_PUN as_CJS all_DT0 such_DT0 are_VBB ,_PUN by_PRP perseverance_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 occasional_AJ0 orneriness_NN1 of_PRF those_DT0 who_PNQ refuse_VVB to_TO0 be_VBI nice_AJ0 at_PRP the_AT0 expense_NN1 of_PRF their_DPS own_DT0 talent_NN1 ._SENT 
When_AVQ this_DT0 writer_NN1 first_ORD encountered_VVD Sondheim_NP0 's_POS work_NN1 at_PRP length_NN1 –_PUN outside_PRP the_AT0 inevitable_AJ0 collision_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 lyrics_NN2 to_PRP "_PUQ West_NN1 Side_NN1 Story_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ at_PRP which_DTQ he_PNP usually_AV0 winced_VVD (_PUL "_PUQ I_PNP feel_VVB pretty_AJ0 and_CJC witty_AJ0 and_CJC bright_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ sung_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 Puerto_NP0 Rican_AJ0 teen-ager_NN1 ?_SENT )_PUR –_PUN it_PNP was_VBD in_PRP the_AT0 1977_CRD London_NP0 revue_NN1 "_PUQ Side_NN1 by_PRP Side_NN1 by_PRP Sondheim_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ Sondheim_NP0 was_VBD a_AT0 cult_NN1 taste_NN1 ,_PUN brought_VVD forward_AV0 by_PRP English_AJ0 discernment_NN1 against_PRP the_AT0 run_NN1 of_PRF American_AJ0 favor_NN1 ._SENT Before_CJS "_PUQ Sweeney_NP0 Todd_NP0 "_PUQ or_CJC "_PUQ Into_PRP the_AT0 Woods_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ Sondheim_NP0 's_POS fame_NN1 rested_VVD on_PRP the_AT0 equivocal_AJ0 success_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Company_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 art-house_AJ0 shine_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Follies_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ and_CJC the_AT0 perfect_AJ0 romantic_AJ0 roundelay_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ A_AT0 Little_AJ0 Night_NN1 Music_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Yet_AV0 the_AT0 revue_NN1 was_VBD one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 great_AJ0 revelations_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 lifetime_NN1 –_PUN and_CJC not_XX0 for_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ sophistication_NN1 "_PUQ alone_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 dazzling_AJ0 casual_AJ0 linguistic_AJ0 virtuosity_NN1 ,_PUN exemplified_VVN by_PRP throwaways_NN2 ,_PUN such_DT0 as_PRP the_AT0 bridge_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Uptown_AJ0 Downtown_AV0 ,_PUN "_PUQ about_PRP a_AT0 woman_NN1 divided_VVN between_PRP her_DPS two_CRD identities_NN2 :_PUN "_PUQ She_PNP sits_VVZ at_PRP the_AT0 Ritz_NP0 with_PRP her_DPS splits_NN2 of_PRF Mumm_NP0 's_POS /_PUN And_CJC starts_VVZ to_TO0 pine_VVI for_PRP a_AT0 stein_NN1 with_PRP her_DPS village_NN1 chums_NN2 ,_PUN /_PUN But_CJC with_PRP a_AT0 Schlitz_NP0 in_PRP her_DPS mitts_NN2 down_AVP at_PRP Fitzroy_NP0 's_POS Bar_NN1 ,_PUN /_PUN She_PNP thinks_VVZ of_PRF the_AT0 Ritz_NP0 ,_PUN oh_ITJ it_PNP 's_VBZ so_AV0 schizo_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ No_ITJ ,_PUN even_AV0 that_CJT virtuosity_NN1 could_VM0 not_XX0 obscure_VVI the_AT0 more_AV0 important_AJ0 side_NN1 of_PRF Sondheim_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 depth_NN1 and_CJC wonder_NN1 and_CJC –_PUN empathy_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS articulate_AJ0 passions_NN2 ._SENT Though_CJS he_PNP wrote_VVD few_DT0 mating_AJ0 calls_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 sort_NN1 that_CJT dominate_VVB pop_NN1 songwriting_NN1 ,_PUN no_AT0 songwriter_NN1 –_PUN not_XX0 Rodgers_NP0 ,_PUN not_XX0 Schubert_NP0 –_PUN has_VHZ ever_AV0 written_VVN so_AV0 many_DT0 great_AJ0 songs_NN2 of_PRF longing_VVG and_CJC wanting_VVG ,_PUN from_PRP "_PUQ Too_AV0 Many_DT0 Mornings_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ in_PRP "_PUQ Follies_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 song_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 man_NN1 rediscovering_VVG a_AT0 decades-lost_AJ0 love_NN1 ,_PUN to_PRP "_PUQ Loving_VVG You_PNP ,_PUN "_PUQ from_PRP "_PUQ Passion_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 anthem_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 psycho_NN1 stalker_NN1 made_VVD humanly_AV0 plausible_AJ0 ._SENT Sondheim_NP0 was_VBD accused_VVN by_PRP some_DT0 critics_NN2 of_PRF being_VBG merely_AV0 "_PUQ sour_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ and_CJC nothing_PNI dates_VVZ so_AV0 fast_AJ0 as_PRP sourness_NN1 –_PUN if_CJS that_DT0 had_VHD been_VBN what_DTQ Sondheim_NP0 counted_VVD on_AVP ,_PUN he_PNP would_VM0 have_VHI passed_VVN into_PRP history_NN1 along_AVP with_PRP other_AJ0 cynics_NN2 ._SENT Wits_NN2 who_PNQ remain_VVB famed_AJ0 for_PRP wit_NN1 ,_PUN from_PRP Oscar_NP0 Wilde_NP0 to_PRP Dorothy_NP0 Parker_NP0 ,_PUN are_VBB rarely_AV0 cynical_AJ0 ;_PUN just_AV0 the_AT0 opposite_NN1 ,_PUN they_PNP come_VVB to_PRP us_PNP shining_VVG with_PRP faith_NN1 and_CJC hope_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC are_VBB too_AV0 smart_AJ0 to_TO0 pretend_VVI that_CJT it_PNP 's_VHZ been_VBN rewarded_VVN ._SENT Sondheim_NP0 ,_PUN similarly_AV0 ,_PUN was_VBD never_AV0 really_AV0 sour_AJ0 ._SENT He_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN instead_AV0 ,_PUN consistently_AV0 bittersweet_AJ0 ,_PUN like_PRP the_AT0 best_AJS ,_PUN and_CJC darkest_AJS ,_PUN dark_AJ0 chocolate_NN1 ._SENT 
Sondheim_NP0 could_VM0 be_VBI ferociously_AV0 ornery_NN1 with_PRP performers_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC God_NP0 knows_VVZ with_PRP critics_NN2 ._SENT He_PNP once_AV0 wrote_VVD a_AT0 memorable_AJ0 no-thank-you_NN1 note_NN1 about_PRP a_AT0 singer_NN1 who_PNQ was_VBD too_AV0 unsubtle_AJ0 for_PRP his_DPS songs_NN2 :_PUN "_PUQ She_PNP screws_VVZ up_AVP the_AT0 lyrics_NN2 royally_AV0 ,_PUN she_PNP even_AV0 sings_VVZ the_AT0 wrong_AJ0 tune_NN1 ..._PUN You_PNP call_VVB it_PNP sprightly_AJ0 for_PRP her_PNP not_XX0 to_TO0 change_VVI her_DPS tune_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP call_VVB it_PNP lazy_AJ0 and_CJC selfish_AJ0 ..._PUN I_PNP told_VVD you_PNP I_PNP 'd_VM0 be_VBI candid_AJ0 ._SENT Actually_AV0 I_PNP 'm_VBB being_VBG kind_AJ0 ._SENT "_PUQ He_PNP noted_VVD in_PRP an_AT0 e-mail_NN1 that_CJT another_DT0 singer_NN1 "_PUQ was_VBD so_AV0 off-pitch_AJ0 that_CJT in_PRP order_NN1 to_TO0 keep_VVI my_DPS cool_NN1 in_PRP public_NN1 I_PNP had_VHD to_TO0 pretend_VVI to_PRP myself_PNX that_CJT I_PNP was_VBD at_PRP some_DT0 peaceful_AJ0 blue_AJ0 Fiji_NP0 lagoon_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 sun_NN1 setting_NN1 and_CJC squads_NN2 of_PRF flamingos_NN2 gracefully_AV0 flapping_VVG around_AVP ._SENT "_PUQ 
