Company Previews Thread- Page 11

[neeGallagher]

Posted: 3/6/20 at 5:33pm

Does Patti still smoke a real cigarette in the nightclub? She did in London and the theatre had an advisory posted for those that might be sensitive to the smell (which wafted into the orchestra both times I saw it). Such a bada**.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 12:40am

neeGallagher said: "Does Patti still smoke a real cigarette in the nightclub? She did in London and the theatre had an advisory posted for those that might be sensitive to the smell (which wafted into the orchestra both times I saw it). Such a bada**. "

I doubt it. I was on the first row and very sensitive to cigarette smell. I didn't get anything.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 2:10am

I'm actually kind of allergic ( or just sensitive) to that smell, and I didn't notice it. 

And I actually didn't notice any Dina accent. I really like Lenk. There's something so charming about her. But I do wish her vocal were more commanding. Especially in a musical. And a big budgeted musical on Broadway. 

I just find it interesting that both Bobbies have been criticized for their vocals. Maybe Elliot doesn't care? But like, there has to be a million actresses who can sing this part no problem, and still be interesting/relatable? 

[Lost in daydreaming]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 1:32pm

Hi sorry if this has been answered already but is Company doing Stage Door?

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 1:35pm

No theaters are doing stage dooring for the next 30 days due to the coronavirus scare.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 1:55pm

ljay889 said: "I just saw the first four previews, and it’s been noisy backstage every night. There was almost another technical issue tonight while Bobbie was awaiting the David and Jenny set, there was an unusually long pause, but then everything worked fine.


Four previews later, and it’s back to reality for me. The show was sold out tonight with a completely full standing room, something I didn't notice during the other previews.All of the changes from the third preview remain, nothing new happened tonight. Performances are truly growing night by night, and it’s been fun seeing this cast evolve over the course of a few days. I genuinely and enjoy and respect Matt Doyle’s performance more and more each night. I appreciate that he doesn’t pull the predictable flamboyant and completely over-the-top approach that Bailey apparently used to great success in London. Doyle is still neurotic, but he’s grounded in a way that I find very relatable. Etai Benson continually makes such a strong impression as Paul. I’ve never cared about Paul until Etai’s performance.

I’ve seen Patti dozens of times in the past, and no two performances are ever the same. Each night she's been changing up little bits. She'sknown for constantly evolving over the course of a show’s run, even after it'sopened. She’s simplymarvelous in this production.

I love the intricacies of Lenk’s performance. Whether it’s a hand gesture or a facial expression, she is able to convey so much to the audience. Her singing is what it is. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, it’s not like she sings out of tune, it’s not the disaster some are making it out to be. Could maybe some of the keys be tweaked further? Sure, but the same was said of Rosalie’s keys. As of now, I believe the only songs she’s singing lower than Rosalie is her solo in the title number and “Marry Me A Little.” Her “Being Alive” keeps getting better. Her “Stop” was most forceful I’ve seen from her tonight, and it was the most defiant I’ve seen her sing her responses to the group’s spoken lines in the first part of the song. She delivers quite the emotional journey in this number.

In the end, what draws me the most to Company in Sondheim's score. I may sound like a broken record but I am thrilled with Joel Fram and David Cullen forensuring the score sounds absolutely sparkling. I've listened to the London recording a countless number of times, and while I enjoy it, I was worried the sound was a little too tepid and tinny. All of those issues are gone now. The tempos are brisk and breezy, and the orchestra sounds larger than 14 players. Cullen's subtle changes to his orchestrations only improve the overall sound. And you can't beat the exit music in this production."

Thanks for the reporting-1st four previews ~ 1st preview audience - do you see yourself

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 2:18pm

You’re welcome! And yes I do see myself, lol!

[Lost in daydreaming]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 2:34pm

TerrenceIsTheMann said: "No theaters are doing stage dooring for the next 30 days due to the coronavirus scare."

Thanks for responding! I’m glad all theaters aren’t doing it much safer for the actors.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 2:46pm

ljay889 said: "You’re welcome! And yes I do see myself, lol!"

Cool :)  - we are going March 20 front row mezz - center

Updated On: 3/7/20 at 02:46 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 2:49pm

TerrenceIsTheMann said: "No theaters are doing stage dooring for the next 30 days due to the coronavirus scare."

This is incorrect. Backstage guests are not allowed, but stage dooring is still happening, though with more precautions. 
To answer the question, Company has not had a stage door set up since the first preview (unrelated to coronavirus). 

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/7/20 at 9:50pm

Robbie2 said: "ljay889 said: "You’re welcome! And yes I do see myself, lol!"

Cool :) - we are going March 20 front row mezz -center"

Enjoy it! That’ll be a great seat. I hope to see it from the front mezz eventually. 

[benfox2]

Posted: 3/8/20 at 7:40pm

Does this production do the exit song from the OBC album? As in the final reprise of the opening number?(shout out to Elaine Stritch's iconic offbeat TELEPHONE)

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/8/20 at 8:00pm

Nope. But the orchestra plays it as “exit music” as heard on the 2018 album. It sounds great.

And yes! I also love Elaine’s “telephone!”

[BenElliott]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 9:22am

How would the front row be for this one?

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 9:52am

Robbie2 said: "ljay889 said: "You’re welcome! And yes I do see myself, lol!"

Cool :) - we are going March 20 front row mezz -center"

I will be there as well, front/center of the rear mezz. Can't wait!

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 10:05am

BenElliott said: "How would the front row be for this one?"
 

It was amazing to see the acting so close up, but for the overall picture of the set and staging, it’s not the most ideal location. 

[BenElliott]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 10:37am

Thanks. I did notice that the center of the second row was substantially cheaper than the rest of the orchestra. Is there a reason for that?

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 11:38am

Any new reports on how the show is shaping up? Any changes? I do hope it's getting tighter, cause last week's previews were fine, but there were so many issues.

I think this show can be outstanding, but first week of previews proved there is a lot to work out.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 1:27pm

shout out to Elaine Stritch's iconic offbeat TELEPHONE

One of my favorite moments on the cast recording. 
"...deep talks, long walks, TELEPHONE calls..."

[neeGallagher]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 2:03pm

broadway86 said: "Robbie2 said: "ljay889 said: "You’re welcome! And yes I do see myself, lol!"

Cool :) - we are going March 20 front row mezz -center"

I will be there as well, front/center of the rear mezz. Can't wait!"

I'm going on the 20th also. Very excited!

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 2:05pm

Saw this last night and liked some of it (and them) and didn't care for other parts.  Company is still a strong show and the material really is the star.  Patti is better than ever and will walk away with her third Tony deservedly.  Jen Simard and Christopher Fitzgerald are both scene stealers as always and both are fantastic.  The rest of the cast does their job well. I didn't dislike anyone but I wanted more out of Doyle. Yes he does his job and hits all the words and beats of the song but he hasn't really found anything new.  After seeing performers do this song for decades you'd think a 2020 broadway revival would be different or fresh but it just feels like the song is "done".  I thought Another Hundred People was sung beautifully but staged too busy. He is great though.

My two main complaints are the choreography, which is frantic and makes no sense and all the actors are running around with no purpose and you can see the work behind their eyes just to move the damn chairs and tables for the 20th time in 5 minutes.  And Katrina.  Walking into the show I never thought I'd not like her since I LOVE her. I saw her twice in Indecent and thought she was incredible and loved her in The Band's Visit as well.  She was great in the scene work here and her acting was nuanced and great overall, but the songs don't work.  All three of her solos are the same, completely undirected and very internal.  Which could work but the songs sit on her break in their current keys and her jazzy upper register just reads as thin and she packs no emotion behind it.  She seems tired when she sings.  She doesn't need to belt it out like we are used to but she does need to connect to it and for me there was no connection in the music.  

 

Overall I had a good time and it is worth the price of admission but it's not as reinvented as I wanted it to be.  Just feels a little lazy and I don't understand the praise for the direction.  

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 8:18pm

John Arthur Greene is on for Etai tonight, he was on last night as well. I hope Etai is doing ok and will be back soon!

Updated On: 3/10/20 at 08:18 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 9:52pm

The production gets its first major change tonight.

courtesy of ShutUpLupone on Twitter 

this should satisfy those who weren’t a fan of all of her solos being sung on a bare stage, but doesn’t it sound kind of like a copy of what Van Hove is doing in WSS? I know shows have used rain before, but to do it in the same season as another major revival that is using it as a main gimmick seems a little odd. 

Updated On: 3/10/20 at 09:52 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 9:57pm

Can someone confirm if they were using actual onstage rain?  That seems a bit strange and out of place to me.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 9:59pm

ShutUpLupone confirmed it's actual on stage rain, and Lenk gets wet "a lot." 

The production's assistant conductor posted a brief view of the rain on an IG story earlier, and now it makes sense. 

Updated On: 3/10/20 at 09:59 PM