Company London

So, I was at the first preview last Wednesday, and I really enjoyed it. For the purists, you won't find this production that different from any other revival of the show, because at the end of the day all the changings are pretty superficial. If on the one hand this production is not nearly as brave and groundbreaking as it could have been (or as it claims it is), on the other it preserves the meaning and dynamics of this beautifully written show withouth the cringiness often associated with the retelling of classics. A part from a couple of scenes still too focused on Bobbie not being married at the venerable age of 35, the show works well with its 21st century setting, so well that you can mostly forget it was written in the 70s. As others have pointed out, Elliott recycled a few elements from Angels in America and - I agree - they worked better here than in Kushner's epic.

Rosalie Craig is a very solid Bobbie, she might not be a vocal powerhouse, but she found a lot of emotions in scenes that might otherwise be a bit of a chore. Her bench scene with Theo (aka Kathy) was intense and moving, and her Being Alive was deeply felt without being suicidal. Besides, she looks terrific in red and has great chemistry with the whole cast. Speaking of Theo, Matthew Seadon-Young was very good and underused; the best of the gentleman callers was Richard Fleeshman's Andy/April, who makes a great impression with and without his clothes in the bedroom scene and Barcellona. George Blagden's PJ (Martha) was by far the weak link (of the whole cast), partly because *she doesn't have the range* for Another Hundred People, and partly because he was trying to make some accent but God knows what it was. Still, the three of them work really well together and their "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" was brilliant.

The highlight of the evening was, imho, Getting Married Today: Jonathan Bailey is fantastic, but the whole scene is hysterical. It got the biggest ovation on the first preview (except for a few people standing after Being Alive), and it was truly marvellous. But the production is really full of great momoments and gems, both in the book scenes and the songs, with other highlights being Side By Side and Marry Me A Little.

Patti is very Patti, but she found some moving depth in the scene before Ladies Who Lunch and her offering up Larry to Bobbie (a potentially cringy moment in this gender-swapped reading) came across as Joanne giving voice to her fear of being left. Patti looked fabulous, but she has sounded better. Oh, and the "And here's to the girls who just watch-- Aren't they the best?" suddenly became very poignant and aimed at Bobbie.

On the whole, it's a hugely enjoyable production, with a fantastic cast and that balanced mixture of novelties and conservativism that will satify both innovators and purists. It's not as brave as you would expect, but still a shiny, fun, moving and thrilling night at the theatre.

****

Likely now Tock Tik to honor the gender switching.

Jordan Roth is listed as one of the producers! So a Broadway transfer seems likely.

Skywalker3 said: "Jordan Roth is listed as one of the producers! So a Broadway transfer seems likely."

Cool! I'm curious --- who makes the decisions on which cast members goes with the transfer. Is it the director or producer? I can see Patti definitely transferring but I am curious whether Rosalie would. I understand with revivals a big name tends to be needed in order for the show to recoup.

Sondheimite said: "I'd be SHOCKED if this didn't transfer, honestly.

It won't be this season.

But I think we'll be seeing this come in Spring 2019."

So...this season.

This would be a great season for it to come in... since right now, the only confirmed musical revival is Kiss Me, Kate. The optics alone of those two revivals competing against each other all but assures a win for Company.

Great shot, indeed. How long is LuPone in this English production of Company?