When Stephen Sondheim passed away last week, the worldwide epicenter of Sondheim grieving was arguably Marie’s Crisis Cafe, New York City’s temple of the musical-theater sing-along: fans waited in line for hours to “Isn’t it rich? Are we a pair?” their sorrow away.
Why sing together with others of your own kind? Grief management isn’t the only draw. Wolves and lions vocalize with their own, probably to defend territory. Birds sing in groups for the same reason, as well as to attract mates and to strengthen the pair-bond. But when humans sing—at least, the ones who have been doing so at Marie’s for the past four decades—they may also do it to unburden themselves of the fact that they secretly know all the words to “Shipoopi.”
