Company Reviews (and beyond) — Page 25

I was also at last night’s performance of Company and would like to echo all the wonderful things being said about NRD’s Bobbie. She was astounding. Her Bobbie was likable, charming, and real. Like… I know that girl, I'm friends with that girl, and I care about that girl. It made her whole struggle hit me much harder than Lenk’s performance. Nikki’s vocals were also superb. She sounded incredible and yet let the emotions effect her voice in ways that made you understand her feelings instead of worrying about how she sounded. Dare I say - she acted the song. I truly wish she was the primary Bobbie because this would’ve been a star turn for her.

Patti was indeed on fire and made a lot of choices I had not seen her do the last time I saw it. She was having a blast. Her LWL was incredible and the scene following was more heartbreaking than usual for me. Perhaps me caring more about Bobbie this time made Joanne’s moments with her that much more powerful.

There’s something incredible happening at Company the last few days with the understudies and swings. We had 6 understudies and the show was riveting. Everyone was so polished and impressive, I particularly enjoyed Javier Ignacio and Britney Coleman. The entire cast had this sense of community among them and it was palpable enough that I believed them as a group of friends and believed they cared for Bobbie. It made Bobbie’s arc that much more emotional to watch.

I really have nothing negative to say about my experience last night. Katrina was the only issue I had with the show and I feel I finally got the closure I wanted.

I believe Katrina, Doyle, Sieber, and Fitzgerald return tomorrow. Manu started back last night and Jennifer Simard should be back on Tuesday.

Yes. I’m pretty certain they will all be in on the Saturday matinee

It seems like the understudies have been rehearsed to reflect more of the Rosalie Craig version of Bobbie.

Lenk's Bobbie is cool, edgy, often anxious and conflicted. She's the Bobbie you would definitely try smoking weed with.

With Lenk, you don't feel a sense of relief from the character until she blows out the final candle in the finale. It's such a deeply emotional performance, and her catharsis in the post LWL scene through "Being Alive" is unmatched. Her performance is definitely more Raul and Adrian Lester than NPH or Craig. I prefer a darker and more emotional performance like Raul, Lester, and Lenk, but I did enjoy Daniel's happier take on the role. She is an immensely talented performer, and I do think with more time in the role she could find more of the cathartic elements of the character.

Updated On: 4/8/22 at 01:51 PM

Hi all, is there anyone going to Company over the next several days that's willing to pick up a poster of Playbill they are selling for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids? I will reimburse (Venmo, Paypal, etc.) for the cost plus shipping.

Thanks so much.

chrishuyen said: "wewdie--wish I saw your post earlier and I could've grabbed you one! though FYI they're only selling one each per person, which I found out when I tried to pick up a second playbill for my friend

Went to see this again for Nikki Renee Daniels, and I'd pretty much echo what everyone's said about her being more "the girl next door" type. I think her scenes with each of the married couples feel a little more naturalistic, and overall she feels warmer in a way. But because of that, I could never really buy into her scenes with the boyfriends, most in particular her conversation with Theo in the middle of Another Hundred People--she seems tooniceto be that sardonic when talking to him about marriage and missing the party. Her conversation with Jamie also feels different, as it seems like she still believes in marriage as a concept and just wants her friend to be happy whatever he chooses, whereas Katrina's Bobbie rebels against the idea more and feels relieved to have someone else that might agree with her.

Nikki's Bobbie seems like she really is interested in trying to pursue a connection but just doesn't know how/is scared of moving outside her comfort zone, and Being Alive is her way of realizing that the risk is worth the reward. Marry Me a Little also seemed like she genuinely believed that was how to have a good marriage, whereas Katrina's felt like she was lying to herself a little about the types of concessions that needed to be made in a happy marriage, and in general her Bobbie seems more like it's afraid of what a deeper relationship would bring so she chooses to keep everyone at a bit of a distance (including her friends).

Ultimately I'd say I enjoy Katrina's version more, especially with the overall arc of the character through the whole show, and especially with Being Alive, which could almost be a 3 act play in the way that she does it. Nikki's doesn't have quite the same level of revelation/catharsis because I think she was further along in her "journey" and just needed that final push from Joanne, though her rendition of the song was still quite thrilling to see.

I swear the club scene changes every time I see it. Joanne seems more vulnerable and insecure after LWL, like she almost believes Larry could actually be better off with Bobbie (I noticed it first with Jennifer Simard and again today with Patti), and her general interactions with Larry are just fascinating to watch. Also, I'm absolutely obsessed with the club outfits and wish we could see them better.

And despite having 6 of the principals out, the show remains absolutely fantastic. I could watch any combination of these actors performing this show."

Wow. This is an incredible analysis of the differences between Katrina and Nikki’s Interpretations. You’re absolutely right, Nikki’s Bobbie just needed a little push from Joanne to come to her revelation. Katrina uses that entire moment and the beginning of “Being Alive” where she defiantly responds to her friends to inch closer and closer to making a decision. As I said earlier, I don’t think Katrina’s Bobbie is relieved until she blows out her final candle. She finally cuts the noise in her head (her friends) and finally seems happy. Marianne and Sondheim have both said part of “Being Alive” is Bobbie freeing herself from her friend group, and Marianne’s direction makes that very clear.

Updated On: 4/8/22 at 11:37 PM

Rudy2 said: "ljay889 said: "It seems like the understudies have been rehearsed to reflect more of the Rosalie Craig version of Bobbie.

Lenk's Bobbie is cool, edgy, often anxious and conflicted. She's the Bobbie you would definitely try smoking weed with.

With Lenk, you don't feel a sense of relief from the character until she blows out the final candle in the finale. It's such a deeply emotional performance, and her catharsis in the post LWL scene through "Being Alive" is unmatched. Her performance is definitely more Raul and Adrian Lester than NPH or Craig. I prefer a darker and more emotional performance like Raul, Lester, and Lenk, but I did enjoy Daniel's happier take on the role. She is an immensely talented performer, and I do think with more time in the role she could find more of the cathartic elements of the character."

What an interesting observation.

I was in London in 2018 and almost went to see the production, but figured it would probably transfer to New York with LuPone so elected to see something more uniquely West End.

After listening to the cast recording I did not regret my decision. I find Craig so mannered - all about sound. I also don’t care for the actors who played Jamie or PJ - I think Conte and especially Doyle sound so much better, with less musical theater cliches.

Maybe I would have felt different had I been able to see the show as well as hear it, but I don’t think so. In any event, I’m glad I saved this joy for now.

"

I do think the west end Jamie (Jonathan Bailey) was special and better seen than heard. But agree on the other aspects - the Broadway production and cast more generally was a great improvement. I especially like Lenk’s more dark and complex take on Bobbie (plus more interesting and unique vocals) than Craig. I know everyone keeps saying this but we desperately need a cast recording. I hope now that COVID is settling within the company then can now think about this.

Went last night to catch it again with this cast before the regulars return, my third time in ten days. It was a bit bittersweet, knowing it was the last time for a while for some of them, and that this particular ensemble in this arrangement may not go on again. They just mesh so well as a believable friend group, which I didn't find with the regular cast, that it's so much fun watching them together. (After Harry's bit in Side by Side about how Bobbie is the only person you think should drink more where Sessions, Coleman, and Ignacio froze in a cluster together, they were looking at each other and looked like they could barely keep it together and were all fighting to hold back actual laughter, which was adorable.)

I agree Patti was completely fresh and doing things I'd never seen before. It may have been my favorite time seeing her. The applause after LWL felt like it went a full minute (which I think it may have the first time I saw it, but not the next two.). She did seem a lot more vulnerable in the scene with Bobbie, but also funnier in other spots (the reaction after Larry says she packs her bags twice a year).

I'm leaning toward Nikki being the Bobbie I enjoy watching more, but Katrina being better for the piece. Nikki is so warm and so likable, and the singing so effortless, that she's such good, well, company. But yeah, without enough of the angst underneath landing, the arc isn't there (and it feels less like her friends calling her out and leading her to a revelation than a perfectly happy woman being piled on by her supposed friends--which only plays because this cast is also so likeable). With Katrina, you get the acting and the believable arc, even if the idea that this Bobbie would spend any time with some of these people, let alone consider them her best friends, isn't believable (especially Simard's Sarah and Fitzgerald's David). Both are excellent in their own ways with neither being a completely perfect fit in the role.

I wasn't overly impressed with Kathryn as Sarah the first time I saw her last Saturday (and thought some of the praise here was overstated). She felt forced to me. But everything she was doing in the Harry/Sarah scene hit me just right this time and I loved her. More natural and even funnier. (Maybe I just need a second viewing to vibe with an actress's take on Sarah. I also thought Simard, while very funny, was too cartoonish the first time I saw her but LOVED her the second time.)

I was close enough to be able to really hear Bobby Conte's vocals on the ensemble numbers, and he really does have a wonderful voice. I just don't love what he's doing with Another Hundred People. (It was nice to see the number again with all the letters and the crowd after they had to do a minimal version last weekend, while still not being as frenetic as the original version.)

I still think Doyle may handle the song slightly better, but I prefer Ignacio's Jamie. (He was wearing glasses last night. Was that the first time? He wasn't wearing them last week. Not a big difference or anything; just kind of interesting.) The tricky thing about that scene is that the audience has to want Paul and Jamie to get back together after Jamie breaks his heart two minutes earlier, and that simply works better for me with Javier. Matt's Jamie was SO high-strung and SUCH a mess that when he ran after Paul I was like, "RUN, Paul." There was no way that person was someone anyone should get back together with, let alone marry shortly thereafter. Javier's Jamie has a sweetness and softness where he feels believably scared in the moment, but not to the degree that he should never be getting married at all. The turnaround works. That said, last night did lack a bit of the emotion for me. Last week, the scene hit so hard that Benson played the aftermath on the verge of tears, and when he ran out it really felt like he was about to start crying. (Saturday night there were audible gasps all around me when Jamie told Rodriguez's Paul he didn't love him enough.) This time it felt a bit more restrained, and Benson held it together a bit more (which fit the way the scene was playing out), doing that dazed, smiling-in-disbelief-and-not-knowing-what-to-do thing. Always interesting to see the different ways scenes play and different takes from the actors!

Had a lousy day yesterday, but this was an excellent way to end it. Despite my criticisms, I really love this show.

I think Simard is out a few more days.

Both Jennifer Simard and Jacob Dickey are still out. Jacob’s NY’er part is being covered by Nicholas Rodriguez

Was Katrina back in today?

Did anybody see the show today? How was Katrina and Matt’s return?

I just found this rave tweet about Katrina tonight.
https://twitter.com/atsymbolanna/status/1512993623998140418?s=21&t=aiO-F8WtMUeYLlQAbB7BUw