COMPANY - Closing Performance Stories

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 2:45pm

COMPANY
Closing Performance
Sunday, July 1 2007
Barrymore Theatre

This link told us who was going to the show:
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=939749

Use this thread to tell us how the show was once you return!

PHENOMENAL PRODUCTION!
It's a damn shame I never got to see it in person.

*blows out candle*

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 3:36pm

I can only imagine how emotional Raul blowing out candles will be this afternoon.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:44pm

The lights should be coming-up in the house right about now... I imagine there are a lot of tears... rip-roaring applause...

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:47pm

Not for another 45 minutes or so

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:51pm

Oh my bad. I thought it was a 2PM matinee, not 3PM
Okay... so instead... there's probably a triangle-ringing as April is ready to go on a Boeing.
Updated On: 7/1/07 at 04:51 PM

[opiv]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:16pm

...and I guess it's about over now. God, I can't even imagine how emotional it's like in there.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:18pm

They were at intermission at 4:45pm, so not yet.

[opiv]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:19pm

Oh, well my um...special recording was over. :]

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:19pm

Esparza can take comfort int the fact that he was the main reason PBS recorded so his performance would be preserved

I do not see Curtains being recorded for the usual reasons but it does say something about Esparza's performance.

Updated On: 7/1/07 at 05:19 PM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:21pm

* His last name is Esparza

I literally JUST got off the phone with Tony Award-winning producer Stewart F. Lane (interview posted on BWW.com soon) and I asked him what his next project is...

His answer: The PBS recording of "COMPANY." So given his track-record and personality, I feel the filming is in good hands.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 5:55pm

Esparza wore his nerves on the outside for this performance and everyone who saw it will always remember it. Regardless of whose name is on the Tony, I think we all know who gave the best performance of the year.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 6:25pm

I saw the show in March and again last Thursday and whether it's knowing that it's all coming to an end or just feeling freer with the material, it was SO much better this time around and I'd liked it a lot before! All the humor clicked (Kristin Huffman in particular seemed forced to me last time, but nailed every last line to perfection Thursday), the audience responded in kind and it still sounds amazing.

Did a walk-by of the theatre Friday and all the equipment was there...took some pictures....and definitely wish I could have stayed a few days longer.

One thing did piss me off though and it nothing to do with the perforance, but an encounter atthe stage door that does not exactly given me hope for the tourist trade. Leenya was signing autographs and this woman asks her how much they actually played their instruments, since there HAD to be a orchestra hidden somewhere. I know there are people out there who don't read up on Broadway and may not know the particulars of the show, but I still found it incredibly ignorant. I said to Leenya in passing, "People need to read," referring to sites like this and Playbill, to which she said "Seriously!"

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 6:28pm

"Regardless of whose name is on the Tony, I think we all know who gave the best performance of the year."

Christine Ebersole? I kid, I kid.

Best of luck to the cast and crew of Company. I can't wait to see it on DVD!

[Wicked63]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 6:30pm

OK so Company has been filmed and is in the tissue paper. Now can we get round to rooting for Grey Gardens. The filming of Company came about very quickly, why cant the same be done with Grey Gardens. We'll be putting that to seed in 4 weeks so hows about it guys?

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 6:55pm

I third the GREY GARDENS statement

But anyone back from COMPANY yet?

The show got over a little more than an hour ago or so...oh well, hopefully later tonight :)

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:28pm

Back from COMPANY here.

It was an extremely emotional, more than usual, "Being Alive."

An insanely fierce "Ladies Who Lunch," not spoiled even by the cell phone that went off during the silence after her final "RISE!"

A massive standing-O following "Being Alive" that went on for five minutes.

A beautiful, tearful speech at the end by Raul tracing the cast's history with the production, and explaining what an ensemble it is-- "if you clap at 'Being Alive,' you're clapping at a moment that was created by all of us together..." or something along those lines. He also talked about how despite some saying Broadway is declining, he thinks we're on the verge of another golden age. He acknowledged the 50% houses during recent months, and the struggle to keep the show open. Just very classy, moving, appreciative and sincere-- got about 5 or 6 applause breaks. During it, they brought out the understudies as well as Heather Laws's baby.


I'm sure others can offer more/better/any detail, but that's coming off the top of my head. Updated On: 7/1/07 at 07:28 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:32pm

I'll fourth that Grey Gardens request.

Sounds like it was a phenomenal performance.

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:38pm

i'll Fifth GREY GARDENS, if that helps at all!!!!

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:42pm

Did you notice that the stupid cell phone that went off after Ladies Who Lunch was the Dreidel song?

Way to ruin the moment. It was terrible.


The show was incredible though.

..I don't know what else to say...

So I'll let someone who can put the afternoon into more elegant words give a full review.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:44pm

Thank you MiracleElixer!
And awesome new icon (autographed Playbill).

I'm with Raul... feeling like we're on the verge of a new Golden Age. I'm glad he said it standing on a Broadway stage out to a thousand-person audience (holds more oomph than starting a thread on these boards)

I'm sure it was just a delightful performance. Can you remember anything in any of the other songs or scenes that were special?

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:47pm

well, I'm just hoping for a video of Raul's speech to show up on Youtube, because I'd love to see it

and way to ruin "The Ladies Who Lunch" on closing day...that really sucks. at least it didnt happen during the taping yesterday...haha

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:48pm

Haha The Dreidel Song?

I fifth the request, even though I've never seen GG. It must be good.

[Ariella]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:49pm

A full description would be wonderful from anyone who cares to write one. I wish so much that I could have been there.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:49pm

For the most part, just certain big character moments (such as Harry talking his drink while his wife's licking the brownie plate) got huge applause. Each character's big moment seemed to have this happen.

The only really standout moment was during Marta's presentation on peoples' asses. Raul had an odd response, like a "Hmmm" that I hadn't seen him do before, and it got a huge response, and then he broke character for a second and laughed, and Angel fought to control hers.

Also, when the cast returned to the stage at the beginning of Act 2 and the audience went nuts, you could see some of the cast members holding back smiles, except Barbara Walsh who couldn't control it, before immediately going back into Joanne's blase stare.

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 7:55pm

"Not Getting Married Today" got a huge response, of course.

Cathy (Kelly Jeanne Grant) looked like she was holding back tears during her moment with Raul in the park. Talking about a time to come to New York and a time to leave.

People were standing up for "Being Alive" before Raul finished the song. It was truly a remarkable performance.