My thoughts on 2006 Company Revival CD - A masterpiece !- Page 2

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 11:30am

LASTLY : Finally It hit me. By listening to the CD again > I realize what is Bobby's problem ?He has not found what he is looking for ?

Its not... He is afraid to commit to a relationship nor He annoyed bec. his friends is bugging him as to why he is not married. its bec.. he has not found what he is looking for and what is he looking for ? we dont know neither only Bobby Knows.

For sometime now , starting at the Barrymore Theater . I struggled with the idea of this 35 year old man feeling the need to get married.. Is this a little outdated in 2006. Most of my straight male friends does not really care ? I felt like they could have made Bobby as a female character (me personally being the same age as Bobby could understand what is he going thru) I also flirted with the idea that ... hey making Bobby into a gay character would be great and everyone in the Company should be gay too ( great idea -- but change the story line into ... he cannot find a BF not marriage or probably in our case in Boston - why not ? Gay Marriage ! - Personally I have seen most of my friends here in Boston at Bobby's age- afraid to commit to anything and also presurred by their gay friends with BF and most recently by their "MARRIED ' gay friends- I think its a good idea !!!) but that is not being true to the original book. Its funny bec. I saw several productions of COMPANY and finally after listening to Raul Esparza voice-- it hit me.. Bobby has not found what he is looking for ? and (i Think) he really does know it neither what he wants (now I dont struggle with COMPANY anymore)





Updated On: 2/16/07 at 11:30 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 11:41am

If you're looking to answer the question of why Bobby is alone, making him gay is taking the easy way out. It's too simple, specially given the fact that Esparza is playing him as this dark, broken, depressive character. I don't see it at all as so simple that people are telling him to get married and he's just looking to be with a guy instead of a girl. It's too quick a fix, and pulls out much of the complication in the story.

There's an interesting theory (based on some body of research, from what I understand) that married people are happier, and generally better off, mentally, physically, etc. But the theory goes on to ask -- is it that married people are happier because they are married, or is this certain type of person more likely to get married? So is Bobby alone because he's a f*ckup, or is he broken because he's always been alone?

I think it's that Bobby is frightened to commit because of the discontentment he sees around him. He sees things he doesn't like in all of his friends' marriages, and he wants something better -- more "right," as he sees it. He hasn't found what he's looking for, I agree with you. I don't think he knows what he wants, but perhaps more accurately what he doesn't want. He may be something of an idealist, but I think he begins to gain awareness of that with Being Alive -- he acknowledges the necessity of taking the good with the bad.

On a separate note, I'm amazed by how different (for the better) Raúl's voice sounds on this CD in comparison to his other recordings.

Updated On: 2/16/07 at 11:41 AM

[Clayford27]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 1:34pm

I just got the cd in the mail! I'm lsitening to it now, it's AMAZING. God, Raul sounds amazing, I love this. I'll post a full review later tonight! :)

Posted: 2/16/07 at 1:51pm

you all might hate me for this, but i think listening to the cast recording on headphones is more emotionally moving than actually seeing the show.

especially the voices coaxing Bobby on in BEING ALIVE, its like they are right on your shouldder whispering support into your ear.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 2:41pm

I love this show, I've been in this show, and I love both previous recordings of this show (OBC and 1995). I'm seeing the current production next weekend. I recieved my CD yesterday, and i'm sorry to say that i'm not as enchanted as I thought i'd be. I'm sure it's very powerful and clever in the theatre, but on CD, I miss the orchestrations of other productions. I love how previously, the opening number starts off normally, and by the time the cast explodes with "Bobby, come on over for dinner..." the music has gotten frantic, and the drum has gone from keeping time to simply pounding away and driving at Bobby like the other voices. I'm sure i'll enjoy the actual production, but though I like the voices, I'm not at all a fan of the orchestrations on this CD. Kudos though, to the packaging.

Updated On: 2/16/07 at 02:41 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 2:56pm

n69n- I agree with you 100% - I love listening to it on my headset , especially when I saw it on 12/9/06. The lady sitting next to me keeps clearing her throat and it was irritating the whole time. during the intermission. I politely broke a conversation with her (but my real motif was to give her my extra menthol candy or cough drops)
but she said she will be okay. It was a torture indeed when your listening to Raul's
songs when a lady next to you keeps coughing and clearing her throat the entire show!!! (Audience's distractions play a big part when you are in the theater-- I am not going to mention the unbearable moments I had experience this season bec. it is another THREAD all together- like kids crying during Mary Poppins last 1/16-that's the WORST experience I had )

Princeton 78- When you see the musical, you might change your view. The strip down Orchestration is brilliant bec. it plays an important part of the plot ( for me ) Example Raul is the only one that does not play an instrument (until in the end which he plays piano during "Being Alive" which for me his inability to connect thru the entire Company ... being an "outcast" . I can understand you- Same thing happen to me with last year's Sweeney Todd.. I think - ALL MUSICAL should have an available CAST Recording before it opens... bec. it can help you appreciate the musical more, if you are familiar with the Score- ( I mean to say , BUY the CD after you watch it , so you can relive the experience)-J*


Updated On: 2/16/07 at 02:56 PM

[raiosunshine]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:14pm

I also agree with you 1000%, n69n! I was just listening to "Being Alive" and I almost teared up because of how beautiful it sounded, the way it made everything else seem non-existent. I highly recommend listening to it with your headphones over a stereo (isn't that weird?!).

I absolutely agree with your review, jaystarr! It's completely magnificent. My favorite instrument is by far the flute, the way it's there, but not too powerful. It's quite beautifully done!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:18pm

My favorite instruments in the recording/show (undoubtedly ) are

1. the VIOLIN beautiful played by Leenya Rideout ( as Jenny )
2. the Cello - gracefully played by Fred Rose in the show (as David)

Everytime these two guys play (in the cast recording ) I am definitely smiling. Actually my favorite tracks are "Sorry/Grateful"perfect for a quiet afternoon ( I Love Fred Rose) and " Someone is Waiting"-(which is my least favorite in past recording until Raul Esparza sings it with the guitar accompaniment- HEAVENLY VOICE !!) Also I may add - I love Robert Cunningham too ! ( He is enough reason for me to see the show )

Is there anyone playing an instrument in the show that was not a part of the Company Cast ? I thought I saw one playing the organ during " I am Not Getting Married Today" and I did not recognize him or just my oversight ??-J*


Updated On: 2/16/07 at 05:18 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:34pm

The first time I listened to it, I did it on big speakers; I turned the bass way up, because I adore the bass line that runs through much of the score, and I was a happy camper. It's beautiful on headphones, though.

Is there anyone playing an instrument in the show that was not a part of the Company Cast ? I thought I saw one playing the organ during " I am Not Getting Married Today" and I did not recognize him or just my oversight ??-J*

Unless you see an understudy who does not play the instrument of the character he or she is covering, there's no one other than the cast playing an instrument. For example, when Angel Desai (Marta) was out, her understudy didn't play the violin, so the violin part was covered by Jane Pfitsch (one of the other swings) from off-stage.

Updated On: 2/16/07 at 05:34 PM