Any word on Doyle's Company?- Page 3

[JO125]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:17am

Another new article:


'Company' Cast Plays on as Orchestra

[JO125]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:19am

And third new article:


Director reinvents theater, by necessity

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:19am

So Raúl is playing piano.

Hot. Exciting.

[insert positive words here]

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:24am

I'm seeing it 18 days!! AHH I can't wait!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:25am

Five.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:01am

...And I'm not seeing it at all.

[BobRandomGuyMan]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:02am

I'm pretty positive that producers will snatch up the Meiner Chocolate Factory's Sunday in the Park. It's exactly the right time to bring Sunday back to Broadway. I would really hope that they would just bring the production and not the actors, though, as there are so many talented NY actors that deserve to be in this show.

I have a friend in the Cincy Playhouse version of Company, and I think I'll make the trip to see it. Quite frankly, I can't imagine it working - unless this man is a genius of highest proportions. Sweeney was fantastic, but it lent itself to the device. Company, as I see it, doesn't.

Furthermore, please please please God of Broadway and Everything Holy, don't let this self accompanied musical theatre trend take off. Universities have a hard time turning out triple threats as it is - a quadruple threat is too much of a demand on anyone.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:11am

I don't understand how you can say SWEENY lends itself to John Doyle's actor/musician treatment but COMPANY doesn't. If anything, I think on paper, it would appear to be the reverse: COMPANY is much less structured play, with the various couples already acting as a Greek chorus of sorts "commenting" on Robert's life. To add a violin or clarinet in their hands seems much more "natural" than adding a tuba to Mrs. Lovett...

But of course SWEENEY worked brilliantly, and Doyle has been doing the actor/musician concept for years. It's apparently worked very effectively in productions of FIDDLER, MACK AND MABEL, IRMA LA DOUCE and THE GONDOLIERS.

I would imagine COMPANY will work just as well if not better than most of the others.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:15am

I didn't think it was possible, but I'm even more excited about this after reading the Cincinnati Enquirer articles.

[BobRandomGuyMan]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 2:44am

I say that because his approach to Sweeney seems natural within the framework of the musical. All the ballad sections are direct address to the audience, and it's written in a very story theatre/Brechtian way. So not having been familiar with his work, Sweeney seems like it was a good introduction to this performance style he's created, just because, for me, it worked well matched with the musical. As far as Company is concerned, I just can't see it being a good match. I could totally be wrong, but I'm skeptical. I don't disagree that there are defintely places that are suited to the characters playing for themselves in numbers, but as far as what the "concept" will be (ie. Sweeney's asylum), I'm interested to see what he does with it ultimately.

I'm all for creating and being innovative with your work. I enjoy people taking fresh stabs at material. If this is Doyle's style and trademark, I guess he can figure out a way to make anything work. But where I'm sitting right now, I need to see it to believe it.

(And I realllllly can't imagine a Mack and Mabel done in this style! Wow!)
Updated On: 3/13/06 at 02:44 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:53am

Will all the dancing be gone in Doyle's version?

Will Kathy still do the TICK TOCK dance?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 10:45am

ljay, if that info doesn't turn up in the press ahead of time, I know there's at least one person on this board who's seeing either the first or the second preview, so I guess we'll know soon.

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 10:45 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 11:13am

He might be doing it the way he did MACK AND MABEL - the two leads didn't play anything in that production. And I don't think Raul is an instrumentalist so perhaps its the "symphony of voices/instruments" in his head kind of thing. I could see it working really well - can't wait to hear actual reports!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 11:38am

MB, Raul is definitely at least playing piano... it's mentioned in the second article that JO125 posted.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 11:55am

I agree with Michael Bennett that this concept applies more to Company than to Sweeney Todd. The only reason it makes more sense to some people it's because Doyle actually deconstructed the show in such a way that it seems it's always been done this way.
One of the reasons the show is titled Company it's because the cast serves as the ensemble since there is no chorus, that's why in the original show they did not have any above-the-title stars. If there's a Sondheim show to which this idea applies, it is definitely Company.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:05pm

I'm seeing this on Sunday and am so excited!!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 3:22pm

I heard something from a friend who has a friend in the show that gave me the impression that there might be more than one pianist, unless there's some sort of mix-up along the lines of communication.

I know he can play, but he's not exactly an instrumentalist by trade.

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 03:22 PM

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 3:38pm

I can't put into words how much I wish I was seeing this. Company is my favorite Sondheim show and then there's RAUL! and my new love for John Doyle as a director and...

I am jealous of everyone who gets to see this.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:28am

Posting the RIGHT picture this time....



*flatlines*

Updated On: 3/14/06 at 12:28 AM

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:34am

I. Can't. Wait.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:35am

I'm sure it's just the light, but it makes his hair look blonde-ish.

And Keaton, I hear you on this one. I am crying a river for missing this.

*weeps*

Updated On: 3/14/06 at 12:35 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:36am

It looks so coooool.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:47am

Wow. that's minimal alright...whats that big pilar thing?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:48am

They have those at the Public, too; just a permanent fixture of the space, maybe?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 12:50am

I'll be curious than to hear what the lighting is like.