Company Reviews (and beyond)- Page 29

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 3:32pm

ljay889 said: "I think the opening number makes the most sense for the Tonys. It’s already been filmed, but it’s an upbeat catchy song that could sell tickets. It doesn’t feature Patti much, but I think it would make the most overall sense."

I agree, and I think this will come down to how many Tony nominations the production ends up getting in a few weeks. If we see a bevy of Company performance noms (which I think will at a minimum include Lenk, LuPone, Simard, Doyle, Elder, and potentially even Fitzgerald, Sieber, and others...), then it justifies doing the opening number more, in order to highlight as many Tony nominees possible instead of showcasing Katrina or Patti.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 3:46pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "ljay889 said: "I think the opening number makes the most sense for the Tonys. It’s already been filmed, but it’s an upbeat catchy song that could sell tickets. It doesn’t feature Patti much, but I think it would make the most overall sense."

I agree, and I think this will come down to how many Tony nominations the production ends up getting in a few weeks. If we see a bevy ofCompanyperformance noms (which I think will at a minimum include Lenk, LuPone, Simard, Doyle, Elder, and potentially even Fitzgerald, Sieber, and others...), then it justifies doing the opening number more, in order to highlight as many Tony nominees possible instead of showcasing Katrina or Patti."
 

Great point. The opening not only features the full principal cast, it will highlight all of the nominees from the show. I think it’s the best option. 

Updated On: 4/22/22 at 03:46 PM

[yanks02]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:06pm

Any news on Patti’s departure during intermission last night? I hope she’s okay but haven’t heard anything.

I’m so so so heartbroken though. I’ve been waiting to hear her sing Ladies Who Lunch for years now. I had tickets in April 2020 and just booked a special trip to NYC this week to finally see the show. I loved the first act and felt like I was walking on clouds at intermission and then we got the dreaded announcement. I have to say I was pretty numb in the second act just processing it all. Props to her understudy who came on and nailed it but I was obviously disappointed it wasn’t Patti. 
 

I might try to get a cheap ticket for Sat matinee if Patti will be back but I haven’t heard any announcement either way. 

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:10pm

I am also anxiously awaiting news on Patti. My parents will be there tonight so I’ll report if we don’t hear anything before then. 

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:18pm

Looks like she’s out tonight, e-mails going out soon. 

[hollebolle]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:22pm

Based on something I saw on Twitter, I’m guessing Patti is out and Jennifer Simard is going on. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:24pm

I hope Patti is ok. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:32pm

hollebolle said: "Based on something I saw on Twitter, I’m guessing Patti is out and Jennifer Simard is going on."

Curious what happened to Patti. And kind of sucks for Anisha that Simard is now the first cover for Joanne. Understandable, but still sucks that she's now the second cover.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 4:32pm

Patti is out tonight. Looks like Simard will be on for her and Kathryn Allison will play Sarah. Britney Coleman is still on as Jenny and Jacob Dickey is playing Paul. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:08pm

Got rush tickets this morning.  Still looking forward to seeing the show tonight,  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:15pm

Simard confirmed on her IG she's on as Joanne tonight.

[hak5]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:23pm

Do we have any news on how long Patti may be out (as well as the reason) ??

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:28pm

Everyone is in INCREDIBLE hands with Simard as Joanne! 

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:29pm

I still have yet to receive an email, dang.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:47pm

hak5 said: "Do we have any news on how long Patti may be out (as well as the reason) ??"

No word. Odd, because the last time she was out, the show released a statement about having COVID.

[yanks02]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:57pm

The announcement last night said it was due to a non covid illness. 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:27pm

ACL2006 said: "Yes, Anisha played the role in Act 2. Curious who plays the Bobbie double when Anisha in on as Joanne or Susan?"

When I saw Company, Anisha was on for Susan. I’m 99% sure that the Bobbie double at the end of Act I was Kathryn Allison, but Anisha was still a double in Tick-Tock.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 7:03pm

Nolan LuPone said: "ACL2006 said: "Yes, Anisha played the role in Act 2. Curious who plays the Bobbie double when Anisha in on as Joanne or Susan?"

When I saw Company, Anisha was on for Susan. I’m 99% sure that the Bobbie double at the end of Act I was Kathryn Allison, but Anisha was still a double in Tick-Tock."

That’s interesting. It’s not a major part, but Anisha does a lot with Tick Tock. She’s great in it. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 8:18pm

I saw Company on Wednesday night. It was quite an enjoyable night at the theater and the role of Joanne seemed like it was written for LuPone. Both LuPone and Lenk were so good with their Bea Arthur-style reactions and deadpan looks. I'm sorry if it breaks a BWW rule to compare LuPone here to Arthur but that's what her and Lenk's performance reminded me of, in a very good way of course. 

There aren't many new shows that I want to see again (and again) but this is definitely one of them. So many deliciously funny and and creatively acted and directed scenes, I feel like I could appreciate more with repeated viewings. 

As for what people were saying about Doyle on this thread, I felt bad for him because he was sweating like crazy through his big number and the audience was going crazy for the preacher. Every time she appeared the audience went nuts. And then at the end of the number, the way it was staged blew the roof off the Jacobs Theater. But that applause and reaction really wasn't for Doyle at all, so that was awkward. 

I, along with the chatty theater queens behind me were anxiously waiting Ladies Who Lunch (man oh man did they discover some stuff about their relationship while they watched "Getting Married Today". Yikes!  They openly talked and shared their feelings about the opinions expressed in the song and let's just say they didn't agree with each other and they did not know they didn't agree with each other until that song. I bet they are broken up now)  As much I awaited Ladies Who Lunch, it was not my favorite LuPone performance of the night. I loved all of her ensemble stuff much more. She was often inaudible and of course her diction was atrocious so I found myself waiting for the song to end to get more of her delicious line readings.  And I apologize for the Patti criticism. Please be gentle with me theater gods. 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 5:47am

Still no word on why Patti was out?

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 6:29am

Agree about The Preacher stealing the performance! I don’t know why everyone is raving about his performance ….yes he works his butt off but it’s all about the preacher 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 6:43am

Hmm.

I'd say The Preacher is more about Marianne Elliott and her clever ideas for staging.  Anyone in that role would likely get similar reactions as a result.

Doyle's performance of the song, however, is not replicated quite so easily.

[BJR]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 8:19am

JasonC3 said: "Hmm.

I'd say The Preacher is more aboutMarianne Elliott and her clever ideas for staging. Anyone in that role would likely get similar reactions as a result.

Doyle's performance of the song, however, is not replicated quite so easily."

And this discussion comes up a lot. Yes, sometimes there is a staging that stops the show. But a performer has to be able to set it up and sell it. Yes, Marianne Elliot's staging is incredible, but he lives up to it, rides it like a wave.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 9:12am

Count me in with the minority who feels that Doyle does nothing special in the number, that anything remarkable in it comes from the song as written, and doesn't see anything in the performance that can't be replicated so easily. Unlike Elder, who is elevating his scenes through his choices for the character, I don't see Doyle making any interesting choices that are elevating what's already there (and frankly feel he could and should be). I've only seen video of Bailey doing it in London, but I thought he was better.

The minister does walk away with the number, and while the directing choices in the scene are a large part of that, giving that all the credit is incredibly dismissive to the actors who've played the part. Having seen both Daniels and Coleman in the role, they've done little things and have made small choices to enhance the humor beyond the direction. (And I did think both were better than what I've seen of their counterpart in the London production.)

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 9:24am

Saw the show last night, and "Not Getting Married Today' was fantastic!  Show stopping!  The preacher makes an already hilarious musical number even better.  Incredible performance by Doyle all the way around.  

Patti was out last night, unfortunately.  Seeing 18 shows during my NYC trip, but unfortunately don't have any extra time slots to try and see it again.