Company to the Ethel Barrymore- Page 2

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/14/06 at 11:33pm

"You gotta have a gimmick."

Hey, Sondheim! Where's Styne?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/14/06 at 11:36pm

It's generally been home to plays, more than musicals

In this particular case, I'm glad to hear that, for the sake of intimacy. This production needs it.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/14/06 at 11:48pm

I was at the Belasco today...such an odd location.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 6/14/06 at 11:58pm

LuvtheEmcee,
Thanks for the information and the reply. Like I said, I haven't seen Sweeny, but it does look like an exceptional production. Still in most of the segments I've seen, the instruments are not what draw me to the show. It's the acting, the lyrics, and the voices. To get the "emotional impact" of a show, I really do believe you have to be there. Especially when it's something about the physical production. A story or the score, I'd understand- there are plenty of OBC recordings that hit me in the guyt, but if we are talking about physical production aspects or that audience/actor connection, it's one of those things you have to be there to have that experience. Which is why I wish I lived in NYC .

Updated On: 6/14/06 at 11:58 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 12:05am

Well, Company, IMO is more emotionally accessible than Sweeney Todd is, but what I said was with regards to the way Doyle's employed the actor/musician concept. I don't want to ruin what he does at the end with the instruments and how he stages Being Alive, but it's glorious, and thanks to Doyle's staging and Raul's performance, it's hugely emotional. I don't mean that like... the way it looks is emotional, but the way they pull off a scene transition that's probably a difficult one to make really just... works. They instrument thing enhances it, and makes it what it is.

ETA - I guess I can post it... ****spoilers****

Bobby doesn't play an instrument throughout the show, other than a few cymbal crashes during Side by Side by Side. It's symbolic of commitment, basically -- all of his married friends and potential girlfriends play instruments, and they're the accompaniment to his life of solitude, despite being surrounded by friends. So before Being Alive, he screams for all of the chatter from his friends to stop, and he hesitantly goes to the piano that's at the center of the stage. He plays piano for the beginning of Being Alive, symbolizing the precursor to his stepping into this beam of light at the end of the song. It's very beautiful.

Updated On: 6/15/06 at 12:05 AM

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 12:59am

AS I have said previously, I feel like Company was completely genius in Doyle's re-imagined style. I (as well as many others) can attest to the fact that the cast is top-shelf and Raul is in a role that seems as though it were written for him. That said my one concern remains... What will the show lose in its loss of the thrust. The stock response from those involved who I've been able to communicate with is that "well Doyle made the transition with Sweeney, and it worked beautifully." That's all fine and good, but the way that the thrust was used as such that I cannot imagine the production in another format. Specifically, the lighting of the outer edge of the thrust with the individual special "spots" (those who saw it know what I mean) was so beautifully done. I feel like that is just one thing that the production will lose in it's redesign.

And just to second Em, as if she needs it, it is far from a gimmick. In my opinion the integration of the instruments into Bobby's playboy world works better than its integration into Sweeney's 18th century London.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:13am

At the recent 'Evening With John Doyle', Em actually asked about the transitions in staging due to the stage. Doyle actually seemed pretty on top of it. I cannot wait. Two of my favorite Sondheim shows in two years.

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:30am

If anyone can do it, Doyle can. I guess I just love the intimacy involved in a thrust stage, and I hope it, like Sweeney, retains its magic.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:32am

Yeah; he's basically going to flip the angles, but keep the concept of "surrounding" Bobby. I really like the plans he described. They're going to have this bleacher-like structure, so the ensemble will surround Bobby, but rather than in a circle, it'll be a different dimensional setup. I'm definitely intrigued.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:37am

Me too. Then again, anything that man says is intriguing.

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:37am

Well, I'm intrigued just from that description. I definitely think that the "flipping of the angles" could work. I just can't wait to see this. I have never seen a production that I felt was more uniformly strong. So, because of this strength, I think the idea of changing anything kinda puts me on edge. Sort of "why mess with a good thing?" Of course the reason why you have to change it is obvious but still it is just so well done as is.

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:39am

Well, I'm intrigued just from that description. I definitely think that the "flipping of the angles" could work. I just can't wait to see this. I have never seen a production that I felt was more uniformly strong. So, because of this strength, I think the idea of changing anything kinda puts me on edge. Sort of "why mess with a good thing?" Of course the reason why you have to change it is obvious but still it is just so well done as is.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:39am

I wish my mom had let me go see it in Cincy.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:44am

Well, they *have* to make some changes to keep its impact on a proscenium stage; Doyle basically said two things he was not willing to give up were (a) the concept of surrounding Bobby and (b) Bobby walking into the light/birthday cake.

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:46am

No i totally agree. The reasons for why it has to be changed (i.e. the proscenium) are obvious. I trust Doyle completely, I just worry whenever something I feel is so wonderful needs to be tinkered with.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/15/06 at 10:11am

I hope they announce dates soon! I think the original transfer press releases said November, and they're going to rehearse for three weeks, go into one week of tech and four weeks of previews -- I'm curious.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 7:39pm

So here's a question: Would Doyle be the man to finally get "Follies" to work? He seems to have a knack for adapting the problems often found in Sondheim's work and even making them positives. Opinions? Is "Follies" just one of those problems shows that can by virtue of it's inate "bigness" and ageing unhappy protagonists destined to not quite work?