Company
Company
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#0Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 4:53pm
Well, with A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Assassins, and The Frogs either on Broadway or coming to Broadway, I thought we should discuss another Sondheim gem: Company. I recently got the cd, and I love it! (I now have Sweeney, Assassins, Sunday, and Company on cd) 
#1re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 4:55pmThe original cast recording of Company is one of my favorite Sondheim CDs. I love Another Hundred People and Beth Howland's Not Getting Married is tops! And then, of course, there is the incomporable Stritch. It's a real gem.
#2re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 4:59pm
Company wont be revived for awhile b/c the '95 revival didnt do so well...and they made some bad changes to the script for the revival.
Two examples: They made a reference to Prozac, which came around in the 90's and Company is very much a 70's piece. If you try to update the script all sorts of problems arise, like having to change April's occupation b/c in the '70's an airline stewardess was the icon of the sexual revolution.
Also they changed the lyrics in "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" from:
"I could understand a person if its not a persons bag
I could understand a person if the person was a fag"
to
"I could unserstand a person if he said to go away
I could understand a person if he happened to be gay"
WHY?? there was no point.
The revival made stupid chnages, but COMPANY is an awesome show with a spectacualr score.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#3re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 5:06pmI love Company and I hope it comes back to Broadway soon. I don't know who I would cast as Bobby though...any thoughts?
#4re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 5:08pmThough I'm not a big fan....John Barrowman would be great as Robert.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#5re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 5:30pm
Barrowman was a terrific Bobby in the Kennedy Center Sondheim Festival's "Company" two summers ago.
I've also heard good things about Norm Lewis's Bobby -- incredible singer and actor
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#6re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 6:19pm
One of the people considered for the Kennedy Center Company was Hugh Jackman. I still think he'd make a great Bobby. Though John Barrowman, by all accounts, was quite good himself.
In any case, Company was my introduction to Sondheim, and holds a special place in my heart for that reason. I'd love to see a great professional staging of it some time.
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#7re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 6:38pm
StickToPriest-I'd just like to say that I love all of your different icons. What's up next? Assassins?
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#8re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 6:38pmI really enjoyed this work but I know a number of people who found it "heartless" (their words not mine!)I think the trick is to play it as a real period piece, going slightly overboard on the seventies clothing to anchor it. Updates simply damage it. It is very much of its time. Updated On: 6/24/04 at 06:38 PM
#9re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 6:39pm
Thankyou, sabrelady! Exactly!
And thanks gov!
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#10re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 7:26pm
CAMELOT was my first original Broadway cast recording (on vinyl), but COMPANY was my first Broadway show on stage. I guess it was the National Tour, I saw it at the Dade County Auditorium, oh so long ago. George Chikiris played Bobby.
I would love to see it again, on the Broadway stage.
#11re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 7:35pmI never listened to the revival, but i loved the original! (I didn't see it i'm only 13) The songs are soooo good! I'm also getting into sunday in the park w/ george, follies, little night music, anyone can whistle (some older ones)
#12re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 9:04pmI haven't seen the broadway production of Company, but I saw a few years ago, the spanish version... and I almost get sleep in the theatre. totally boring....
#13re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 9:10pmPol- I've got a question- Does your signature have to do with monty python and is your icon from young frankenstein? (if so you rock sox down 12 new york city block, if not then just ignore this post)
#14re: Company
Posted: 6/21/04 at 9:15pm
You're right!
monty python + young frankenstein = that's me!
John
Swing Joined: 6/22/04
#16re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 1:58amDepending on your vocal range, "Being Alive" would be a good audition song.
#17re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 2:00amBeing Alive is WAY overused....WAY overused!
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#18re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 3:23am
As a reply to who could play Bobby.
I recently saw the Los Angeles Reprise! of "Company" with Christopher Sieber, and though he was excellent. He could definitely do it, I have no doubts. He may not seem like the kind of person of "Bobby", but he did a marvelous job.
#19re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 11:44amI've been to hundreds of auditions and NEVER heard Being Alive being used. A lot of the old standards just aren't sung any more in favor of hip newer songs that are overused, like anything from Chess, Jekyll and Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel or Rent.
#20re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 12:20pmI don't think I've ever head 'Being Alive' at an audition either. Now at cabaret shows, that's another story.
#21re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 12:37pmThat's wierd, 'cause I hear it all the time at auditions... that and "Corner of the Sky"
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#22re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 8:33pm
Try "Another 100 People" instead also(maybe more) powerful as "Being Alive" for an auditon. And am I the only one who thinks "Barcelona" is a hoot?
"OH- Gawwwwwwwd!"
#23re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 8:43pm
Book your flights to Rochester NY, because in June 2005 the celebrated (and very Equity) Geva Theatre Center present's 'Company' on it's mainstage. It's sure to be a beautiful production.
Company
May 25 - June 26, 2005
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by George Furth; Directed by Mark Cuddy
Winner of the 1971 Tony Award for Best Musical, Company is a Sondheim classic, filled with sensational songs and biting comedy. It's Robert's 35th birthday, and all his married friends gather to wish him well - and persuade him to finally get married. Their example doesn't exactly instill him with confidence, however, as we follow Robert through comic encounters, love affairs and his search for the perfect mate. A cast of fourteen sing such Sondheim favorites as "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," "Another Hundred People," "Side by Side by Side," "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive" in this season-ending musical romp.
Taken from:
the 2004-2005 Season Press Release
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#24re: Company
Posted: 6/22/04 at 8:53pmChris- you & the missus wanna join me on the"Breeze" for a little Rochester visit?
Videos