Company or Curtains? — Page 2

I suppose it would go without saying that I'm encouraging people to see Company no matter what, but it really depends on your taste.

They are both comedies, but completely different comedies; Curtains is an old-fashioned, feel-good, big musical comedy right in line with the classic style. Its comedy is all about jokes and gags, lots of funny one-liners. This production of Company is pretty dark; much of it is hilarious, but in a very different way, because you're probably laughing at things that seem very real. Its subject matter for many is very close to home, and without emotional distance, it's sometimes hard to see something as being terribly lighthearted. Stylistically, there's hardly anything similar about the two; Curtains is big and extravagant (well done at that) and Company is entirely concept. The acting in both is great; the Curtains cast is packed with enormous talent and one of the most evenly-balanced I've seen in a while. Raúl Esparza's performance in Company is nothing short of brilliant, and his castmates are wonderful as well. No matter what you choose, you're going to see fantastic performances, but on the whole I think it really depends on what you like.

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Updated On: 3/18/07 at 11:16 AM

"I'm not sure why people think Company is a musical where you must "cry"..."

I didn't mean to insinuate that Company was deary or depressing, far from it. I didn't cry either, but there were people in the audience that were crying. I did like Company and thought it a fine show. My personal preference is a "Curtains" type musical and I like falling-out-of-your-seat, laugh-out-loud moments and Curtains did that for me. No offense to all Company fans, I would never want to insult your preferences. I'm sorry if I did, I didn't mean to.

Curtains sounds like a really great show (I haven't seen it yet) but Company - I can't get it out of my head. Company was a brilliant show.

I sort of agree with people who say you should skip The Color Purple or Xanadu and see both Curtains and Company. I'm not dying to see TCP after Felicia Fields left. But that's just me.