Here We Are Musical Review - National Theatre's Wild Sondheim Finale

Here We Are Cast - Photo by Marc Brenner

Now playing at the National Theatre, Here We Are—Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, directed by Joe Mantello—is a wild, existential, and abstract ride. Inspired by two films by Spanish-Mexican director Luis Buñuel (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel), the show weaves a confusing yet oddly compelling tale of brunch, the end of the world, and the secret lives of the ultra-rich. It's utterly perplexing, and yet, somehow, still charming.

Trying to summarise the plot feels futile—this is a show rooted in the abstract, and I often found myself completely lost. At times I didn’t have the faintest idea what was going on. But despite my confusion, I was thoroughly entertained. Was David Ives' book a work of genius, or just completely bonkers? Even after sitting with it, I still don’t know. The first half felt strong, and I was hoping the second would bring some clarity or catharsis—but no. Perhaps that was the point: leaving the audience just as bewildered and existentially adrift as the characters.

Here We Are Cast - Photo by Marc Brenner

Where Here We Are shines is in its cast and design. The ensemble is a dazzling buffet of stage royalty—many of them Tony or Olivier winners or nominees. Even in such a powerhouse lineup, a few stars stood out. Jane Krakowski’s Marianne, all ditsy chaos and Real Housewives-level vapidity, was a comic masterclass (“I just can’t remember what I was supposed to do today!”). Denis O’Hare and Tracie Bennett lit up the stage with a carousel of surreal characters, injecting fresh absurdity at every turn. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Chumisa Dornford-May, Rory Kinnear, Richard Fleeshman and others round out an impressively stacked cast.

David Zinn’s set design is a triumph—from stark white brunch spots to surreal mirrored spaces, with café signage descending from the ceiling to double as furniture. The velvet-draped, over-the-top Morandan embassy was a decadent visual treat—a lavish prison for the characters that perfectly mirrored the show’s themes.

Here We Are Cast - Photo by Marc Brenner

Of course, Stephen Sondheim’s genius is undisputed. With eight Tonys and five Oliviers, his legacy includes theatre staples like Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods. Old Friends, currently on Broadway, is a worthy tribute to his brilliance. But if we're honest, Here We Are feels more like a swan song than a magnum opus. The music is lighthearted and whimsical, but mostly forgettable. Much of the show drifts into talk-singing territory, and at times the score felt like listening to Sondheim through a kaleidoscope of psychedelia.

In short, Here We Are is a wild, abstract, confusing, comedic, and entertaining musical. I was frequently amused, occasionally bored, and consistently baffled. It left me with far more questions than answers. Would I see it again? No. Would I recommend it? If you're a Sondheim devotee, then absolutely—this is a piece of theatre history. For everyone else, maybe not.

Here We Are is running at The National Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre until 28th June 2025

Tickets available at https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/here-we-are/

Photos by Marc Brenner