Stop thinking I'm characters from my shows

Sondheim hated that too. First he was Bobby, then he was Sweeney, then he was George. I was never into him in a sexual way: why would people think that, given that he was a lovelorn recluse who wasn't in a committed relationship until he was over 60? In fact, he was none of those people: he was a writer that mostly told librettists to invent those characters, and then he set their ideas to his music and words. For starters, my brother was the one who wanted the Knight character. That was entirely his concept and invention... I smoothed it out into passable blank verse, but it was totally his idea. Rachel was my idea.

I think people are way too obsessed with my tape. As far as I know, Mr. Sondheim was keeping some tabs on me, but we never spoke directly. Whether it's 'the' tape that parallels his experience with Oscar Hammerstein... well, I think that's a highly dubious assertion. He made thousands of those tapes, and I highly doubt that I was the first person to attempt to copy his exercise shows that Oscar made him write. Plus I was asking advice for another medium, which is probably why he was sympathetic (as a frustrated filmmaker that wasn't really into movie musicals 🤣). - So, yeah: I'm neither Rachel or Reginald. Rachel is probably closer to Aidan. I can see why people thought Tina was me, but she's way more normal than me. I also invented the other characters: Sean, Caliope, Jade... that's all me as well. Regarding Shipwrecked, Jo is obviously modelled on Chloe and Greta, and I reckon that most people can guess who the characters are based on, though they were wrong that Edgar was a Winston riff... it never crossed my mind - I dunno why it struck me to have a Māori PM, but he was supposed to be a totally original dude.