Company Previews Thread- Page 9

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/4/20 at 11:37pm

Synecdoche2 said: "ljay, I really appreciate your continual thoughts on the production!"

Glad you’re enjoying it! Tomorrow is the last preview I’ll be seeing for now. I didn’t have the means to get to London to see this production, so this week was a treat for me. 
 

ColorTheHours, that’s too funny! I was in row E of the orchestra. 

Updated On: 3/4/20 at 11:37 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/4/20 at 11:38pm

Love to know of all the issues I could pick on, why they’d change the color of the vodka stinger??

Also, at the second preview the makers mark and red purse were online in act 1 on the terrace.

[EddieP]

Posted: 3/4/20 at 11:48pm

I was row H, center tonight. Since this is a good review, let me blab even though it’s a preview: Apparently one of the producers was right in front of me. I didn’t know it was him, but just turned to the first person I saw at intermission to say “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that!”  I mean it was jaw dropping my good.  (To be honest, I felt the British cast recording was lousy, but this was so tight and punchy.) This The lighting and staging were something. To be honest, I wasn’t blown away by Lenk’s voice (my stylistic preference, not a critique), but felt her stage presence more than made up for it and I’ll bet the best is yet to come. Lupone was... Lupone and my respect for her as a supporting actress shot through the roof tonight. The ensemble really work well together. At times I couldn’t help think about the book and whether it was a bit dated since getting married isn’t what it was 50 years ago, but unlike many other shows I didn’t feel any forced agenda. It’s an entertaining show with a lead with a yummy stage presence. There was a prop failure in the beginning that added to the fun. Show was put on a three minute technical hold, but patty came out and joked about literally stopping the show. Anyway, if this is a preview, may I assume that Mr. Tony will be paying quite a few visits? I know I will.
Oh, the theatre staff were shockingly nice. Is it this the Theatre? I often find the Shubert staff to be bitchy. And... the audience was well behaved too. What the...?


 

Updated On: 3/4/20 at 11:48 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/4/20 at 11:50pm

SouthernCakes said: "Love to know of all the issues I could pick on, why they’d change the color of the vodka stinger??

Also, at the second preview the makers mark and red purse were online in act 1 on the terrace.
 

Some of it is starting the blend together for me. The oversized bourbon and purse are no longer seen at all now. 

they really need to return to the green vodka stingers. Maybe they had an issue producing the color tonight or something?

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/4/20 at 11:59pm

I wonder if someone didn’t want the food coloring for spills? When I saw it last night she did sling her drink around and spill a few times.

And good! I wasn’t sure I liked the big purse thing. But I kind of like the Alice in wonderland Motif.

And I agree with Lenk’s singing, but there’s something about her that I was just drawn to the whole time. She’s passive, but I loved watching her react.

[Dusoleilcanwhistle]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 12:21am

I was there tonight - center Orch towards the back. I genuinely thought it was the best production of COMPANY I've ever seen. Raul remains the best Bobby (or Bobbie) though - yes Katrina Lenk acts the heck out of it, but her vocals are really rough. There were a couple of moments in both MARRY ME A LITTLE and BEING ALIVE where I wished they had just brought the whole thing down an octave - she has virtually no upper register and when she reaches for it, it's, not pretty. 

All of that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The rest of the ensemble was outstanding - Jennifer Simard, Chris Fitzgerald and Claybourne Elder were my MVPs. Patti was Patti and is great at that, but as mentioned previously, I found her "Ladies Who Lunch" to be a bit too mellow for my taste, but the rest of the crowd definitely disagreed. 

[EddieP]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 12:26am

To be honest, up until tonight I thought lupone’s LUNCH is too jazzy (ironic as I used to be a professional jazz musician), but I found her cooler rendition balanced well with the show’s modernism.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 12:59am

I forgot to mention one more change. Susan now wears a jacket in the act two terrace scene, and when she announces she’s pregnant she reveals a fake pregnant belly. The fake belly seemed to get a better laugh. 
 

And I keep forgetting to mention how much I love that Katrina sings the explorative section of “Being Alive” on her knees. As she gets closer to and more comfortable/confident making her decision, she stands again to finish the song. It’s a master class in self discovery.

Updated On: 3/5/20 at 12:59 AM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 1:08am

I was in the far left front orchestra tonight (Patti just appeared out of nowhere by me in the side aisle during that technical hold!) and I had no idea that Another Hundred People had anything to do with swiping or Tinder! All I could see were the letters moving about and people walking around them. That adds so much more to that scene! I would love to see the show again from the center.

Like most others here, I loved almost everything about this production. I’d actually say that Lenk is the weakest link. I was not a fan of her singing voice and the character really doesn’t have much else to do, she mainly just reacts to everyone else. I did like her performance, I was just disappointed in her vocals. Everything else about the show was wonderful, barring a couple odd book moments, the end of the Joanne/Bobbi lunch in particular.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 1:12am

All I got from this thread is that too many people were complaining about the color of a drink....I’m seeing this next week and honestly I will not share my thoughts with any of you....and I don’t care what you think of my thoughts if I did...

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 1:22am

CarlosAlberto said: "All I got from this thread is that too many people were complaining about the color of a drink....I’m seeing this next week and honestly I will not share my thoughts with any of you....and I don’t care what you think of my thoughts if I did..."

Sorry to hear that. Enjoy the show.

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 1:42am

COMPANY!
Wow. I think this thread needs to focus more on two main things that make this production truly stellar. Marianne Elliott truly has a different and unique vision for the show. There was never a moment where I questioned any of the changes from “Bobby” to “Bobbie”. In fact, some sections like “Not Getting Married” and “Barcelona” are easily the best they’ve ever been.
Secondly, this is easily one of the best supporting casts ever assembled. I am in the camp that Katrina’s voice isn’t the strongest but her acting makes up for most of those issues. But. THAT SUPPORTING CAST! There is so much nuance and color from each and every cast member. I usually hate at least one of the supporting characters in this show, or find the actor playing them lacking, but not here. Jennifer Simard is a one of a kind comedic talent. Her style isn’t for everyone, but for me, she literally elevated the entire show with a featured role. Matt Doyle, Chris Fitzgerald AND Sieber, Claybourne,Kyle, Bobby Etai, Nikki Renee Daniels, Hildreth, Rashidra, Terence and of course Patti. All of them worth mentioning for their individual achievements. Obviously not all of them will be able to get nominations, but I think a good amount will. Should dominate the two categories. I personally think Doyle, LuPone, Simard are locks and Thornton, Sieber, Elder, Daniels and Fitzgerald all also deserve consideration.
Such a fun night at the theater. Go!!!
They started selling windowcards tonight, they got them in.
Again no stage door, probably to work through some changes.

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 8:17am

The “not the best singer but the acting makes up for it” does frustrate me a bit (and I mean no disrespect to people who feel that way about Lenk’s performance) - Broadway is chock full of talent and I feel like the role of Bobbie needs a stellar singer also. I had the same complaint about Rosalie also, who I thought was a bit weak vocally. People go to town criticising actors who are stunt cast and haven’t got the vocal chops, or singers who are stunt cast and haven’t got the acting chops .... but it seems like if you’re a beloved broadway star you get an automatic pass if you fall down a little bit on one those aspects.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 9:16am

WestEndGal said: "The “not the best singer but the acting makes up for it” does frustrate me a bit (and I mean no disrespect to people who feel that way about Lenk’s performance) - Broadway is chock full of talent and I feel like the role of Bobbie needs a stellar singer also. I had the same complaint about Rosalie also, who I thought was a bit weak vocally. People go to town criticising actors who are stunt cast and haven’t got the vocal chops, or singers who are stunt cast and haven’t got the acting chops .... but it seems like if you’re a beloved broadway star you get an automatic pass if you fall down a little bit on one those aspects."

!!!!! No lies told.

And to add to that, it's not that Lenk is a bad actress, by far. No one is saying that. She absolutely nailed her role in The Band's Visit and all the praise/accolades were well-deserved. But she is just not the right fit for Company, and anyone who is saying otherwise feels a bit delusional to me... You can't deny her struggling through that score.

She was born to play Dina, but Bobbie should've gone to someone else.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 10:02am

I actually would love to go back to see her understudy just to see how it would feel with a stronger singer in the role. 

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 10:42am

I was told by security last night that there will not be a stage door for the rest of previews. Presumably once they open (or once they’re frozen?) that should start back up again. But for the next couple weeks expect no stage door.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 10:56am

Has anyone done the. "Side Front Mezzanine Partial View" on Today Tix for $59. Front mezzanine is usually good, and the price is terrific for this show and I'm sure once it opens they will go up. Was the view alright? Anyone have tips?

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 3:38pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Has anyone done the. "Side Front Mezzanine Partial View" on Today Tix for $59. Front mezzanine is usually good, and the price is terrific for this show and I'm sure once it opens they will goup. Was the view alright? Anyone have tips?"

You should take the partial view warning for thsi show VERY seriously. You have to understand that a lot of the set design for this production is a series of large boxes with walls and ceilings representing apartments. When these structures are on stage, your view from side seats of some of the "apartments" will be very obstructed. I'd be surprised if people can see much of anything at all from these seats.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 3:46pm

The “not the best singer but the acting makes up for it” does frustrate me a bit

It shouldn't.  That attitude has been around for decades.  From Carol Channing to Tonya Pinkins, there have been plenty of performers whose acting has earned them more respect than their singing.

[binau]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 3:53pm

I’m very very surprised you mentioned Tonya there. I mean, I understand she suffered vocal issues in time (as did say Alice Ripley in n2n). But on the cast recording of Caroline she sounds incredible to me. Of course, in general I am a fan of voices with strong personalities so perhaps there are ‘flaws’ I see as a positive thing. Craig is such a good example of a voice with very little personality. Sweet, decent but dime a dozen. Bernadette Peters, Donna Murphy, Elaine Stritch, LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Tonya et al. all have very unusual and distinct voices. I personally am hoping Lenk brings this to Company where Craig could not.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 4:26pm

Matt Rogers said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Has anyone done the. "Side Front Mezzanine Partial View" on Today Tix for $59. Front mezzanine is usually good, and the price is terrific for this show and I'm sure once it opens they will goup. Was the view alright? Anyone have tips?"

You should take the partial view warning for thsi show VERY seriously. You have to understand that a lot of the set design for this production is a series of large boxes with walls and ceilings representing apartments. When these structures are on stage, your view from side seats of some of the "apartments" will be very obstructed. I'd be surprised if people can see much of anything at all from these seats."


Thanks very much for your advice. I think I’ll probably splurge for this show then. I’m sure it’ll be worth it. 

[Miserent]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 4:47pm

I sat 2nd row mezz all the way to the right and there were a few moments where some action was missed, but nowhere near enough to hinder my enjoyment of the show. I’m glad I sat in the right section so I didn’t miss Lupone’s face at all during the entire nightclub scene.

[BeNice]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 5:23pm

Hamilfan2 said: "I was told by security last night that there will not be a stage door for the rest of previews. Presumably once they open (or once they’re frozen?) that should start back up again. But for the next couple weeks expect no stage door."

Honestly with all this Coronavirus talk I don’t blame them if they never do it.

[sweaterbox]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 5:40pm

Matt Rogers said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Has anyone done the. "Side Front Mezzanine Partial View" on Today Tix for $59. Front mezzanine is usually good, and the price is terrific for this show and I'm sure once it opens they will goup. Was the view alright? Anyone have tips?"

You should take the partial view warning for thsi show VERY seriously. You have to understand that a lot of the set design for this production is a series of large boxes with walls and ceilings representing apartments. When these structures are on stage, your view from side seats of some of the "apartments" will be very obstructed. I'd be surprised if people can see much of anything at all from these seats."

Any perspective on Orch sides, not PV? Going next week in seats i 11-15 & would appreciate any insight! I didn’t see any Company specific shots on a View from my Seat there yet. Thanks in advance!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 3/5/20 at 7:20pm

sweaterbox said: "Matt Rogers said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Has anyone done the. "Side Front Mezzanine Partial View" on Today Tix for $59. Front mezzanine is usually good, and the price is terrific for this show and I'm sure once it opens they will goup. Was the view alright? Anyone have tips?"

You should take the partial view warning for thsi show VERY seriously. You have to understand that a lot of the set design for this production is a series of large boxes with walls and ceilings representing apartments. When these structures are on stage, your view from side seats of some of the "apartments" will be very obstructed. I'd be surprised if people can see much of anything at all from these seats."

Any perspective on Orch sides, not PV? Going next week in seats i 11-15 & would appreciate any insight! I didn’t see any Company specific shots on a View from my Seat there yet. Thanks in advance!"

It sounds like you might be far enough back that it won’t be a problem.