You Could Drive A Person Crazy | Sondheim: Intimidating & Prickly?

About this episode

The episode explores the intimidating reputation of Sondheim through personal anecdotes and insights from his friends and collaborators.

The world views Steve as an icon – and to many an icon is 'intimidating'. Steve’s presence and reputation seemed to bring theatrical giants to their knees ... but was this label as a scary intellectual really warranted? Join Sondheim’s chum Martin Milnes and Steve’s first love Peter E. Jones for a unique investigation. With the aid of a glittering cast – including Patti LuPone, Mia Farrow, Christine Baranski, Maria Friedman, Adam Guettel, Ronan Farrow and Dame Judi Dench – can Martin and PJ solve the Sondheim mysteries which for decades have baffled and been misunderstood? “His being socially uncomfortable would read to people as if he was mean, or off-putting. It was never that. He just wasn’t a mean guy. The most talented people are the least mean.” – Adam Guettel Why did Steve object to Mia’s striped socks? How did Christine overcome her fear of singing in front of Steve? And what answers can PJ provide Patti about her bumpy moments with Sondheim ‘The Genius’? “But can I just tell you one thing, now that Steve has passed, that has people laughing their ass off?” – Patti LuPone CHAPTERS: 00:00 Christine Baranski: ‘That’s what it meant to me’ 05:06 ‘Intimidating’ &amp…

People in this episode

Hosts: Martin Milnes, Peter E. Jones

Guest: Patti LuPone

Topics covered

• Sondheim
• theater
• intimidation
• musical history
• celebrity
• personal relationships

Keywords

• Sondheim
• intimidation
• theater
• musical
• Patti LuPone
• Mia Farrow
• Christine Baranski
• Adam Guettel

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Winterset

More episodes of Loving You: The Untold Sondheim

• Move On | 'Goodbye for Now' from Sondheim's Friends and Family · May 21, 2026 · 1h 31m
• No One Has Ever Loved Me | The Love Story of Stephen Sondheim and Peter E. Jones: Act Two · May 14, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Something Just Broke | The Love Story of Stephen Sondheim and Peter E. Jones: Act One · May 7, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Children and Art | Sondheim: The Father Figure · April 30, 2026 · 54 min
• Me And You, Pal | Sondheim's Collaborators & Interpreters · April 16, 2026 · 45 min
• Come Play Wiz Me | Sondheim's Parties, Puzzles, Games & Ambivalence · April 9, 2026 · 1h 4m