Company and Sweeney Todd

[Danielm]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 1:25pm

I was in New York last week and one of the things I saw was the revival of Company. This is one of my favorite scores—when I was in middle school I bought the album without any idea of what it was and fell in love with it. I’ve always been a little disappointed in the actual show though. I enjoy it but have never felt it completely worked. I’ve seen several productions—and enjoyed them but never came away completely satisfied.

I also read the reviews--which were all fairly tepid except in their praise of Raul Esparza. I hadn’t seen Mr. Esparza in anything so was a little suspicious. Whenever I hear that kind of rabid fan worship and critical adulation heaped on a performer I always think, “I’ll be the judge of that.”

I am happy to say I was very pleased on all accounts. In the beginning I wasn’t sure about Esparza. He plays the character very low-key but with an intensity that you I didn’t see at first—but by the time he did “Marry Me A Little” (and this is the first time I’ve seen this song used in the show and thought it made sense) I was completely in love with him. It’s good that he had this effect because it helps you forgive Bobby’s boorish behavior in the second act. His understated performance throughout worked perfectly so that when he sang full out on “Marry Me” and “Being Alive” it was all the more heartbreaking.

But in addition to Esparza I think this is an excellent production. One thing most (and maybe all) of the reviews said was that the “actors as musicians” thing that seemed so great in Sweeny Todd seemed like a gimmick here. I really disagree. I think it works better here. I loved the Sweeny revival and thought it was fascinating but thought it made the narrative rather confused—especially in the second act where people start dying. When I saw it a lot of people were confused as to weather Johanna had been killed or not. I think if I didn’t know the show so well already I would not have been able to follow it. I also really missed the chorus in Sweeney and the songs they had to cut because the chorus wasn’t there to sing them. Company, on the other hand, is not a narrative heavy show. It’s almost revue-like in its form and the further abstraction helps to magnify the fractured time frames and alternate realities. The reviews also said the rest of the cast wasn’t very good—maybe they’ve gotten better since it opened but I found the performances quite nuanced with some nice subtleties you don’t often see in this show. In fact, I thought this production worked better than any of the full stagings of it I’ve seen. It’s also interesting—one of the things I heard on the TKTS line and in other places was that people were afraid of the show because they thought it might be sad. I’ve never found the show sad—when done well I find it exhilarating. Robert finally learns to let go of fear and live—hopefully.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this production, it made me fall in love with this wonderful score all over again.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 1:30pm

I saw both and I enjoyed "Company" more. Maybe it has something to do with liking Raul as much as I do, but I liked the look, loved the sonics (correct word?--the harmonies and orchestrations sounded great) and I felt more at ease this time with the actor/musician thing.

Now tell all your friends so the show survives at least through awards season...47% capacity last week!

[Danielm]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 1:36pm

I've told everybody I know in New York. I live in LA so I only get back east maybe once or twice a year. I've been telling my friends who might go to NY as well.

I think the concept works better in Company because it is a concept show and doesn't have a strict narrative.

I hadn't seen Raul in anything before this but I'm a fan now.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 1:37pm

I saw Company, and sweeney...not...in...a...theater. I thoguht Company was better, maybe because I didn't see Sweeney live, ro whatever, but I enjoyed it a lot! I agree, tell yuor friends!

[gumbo2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 2:19pm

I agree about the harmonies and the sound mixing...my friend and I actually went up to the sound guy after the show and congratulated him on doing such a knock-out job.