COMPANY To Close On July 31, 2022 — Page 6

Broadway Bob* said: "It basically just explains in a little detail the copyright issues keeping them from making a cast recording of the Broadway production. He does mention at the end that these issues wouldn't get in the way of a pro-shot video and, really, if we had a pro-shot, someone out there could do an audio rip and make a sort of cast recording! It would be the best of both worlds. No?"

This is exactly why I would prefer a proshot. You can listen to a proshot but you can't watch a cast recording.

I guess the lesser mask restrictions has forced some new staging changes with the show. The pre-show announcement is different and basically just references taking pics/filming etc. Actors are no longer coming thru the audience. The opening doesn’t feel that different actually and still works but the reprise of Poor Baby definitely doesn't land as well. It works fine but just isn't as effective. Basically instead of showing up in the aisles, the 2 Christophers now pop out of the bedroom doors and then continue as usual. I’m a little surprised the show didn’t just stick with the mask mandate and finish out the run that way. Also, there is now pre-show NY music. When did that happen? Oh and also…Katrina Lenk is a musical theater goddess. She is so damn good.

Saw this for the 5th time last night and I keep scratching my head at how they manage to improve on perfection. As it stands now, it's one of the most robust and fully investigated works of theatre I've ever seen. And Katrina Lenk's Being Alive last night was absolutely unbelievable -- a titanic piece of acting and singing that outdoes the entire rest of the evening. I was literally shaking from excitement on my way out of the theatre.

The tragedy of this production is that in 10 years people will see that it ran less time than a year and got a pan in the New York Times and they will assume it was a mediocre or unsuccessful production. I hope those of us who love this production won't give up spreading the good word about it years down the line. I certainly won't!

Updated On: 7/3/22 at 12:01 PM

I have no doubt this production will be legendary.

I think what stings the most about this show closing is that this show felt to me like a production that could have broken through to the mainstream in a way that Sondheim revivals very seldom (never) do. "Company" may have the stigma of being a somewhat confusing/cynical show, but I really think this revival had an energy to it, and a sense of scale and, most of all, a sense of fun that many Sondheim detractors say is generally missing from his shows. It really bums me out that it never caught on with audiences, because I think it's as close to a "crowd-pleaser" you can make from a Sondheim show that isn't Sweeney Todd or West Side Story.

My guess is that they would have held on until Fall if they could have secured any of the big names they wanted to replace Patti and Katrina. And when that fell through they saw no point in hemorrhaging money any further.