The Ladies Who Lunch - A "COMPANY" Review

[RentHead2]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 7:36am

I went into this show kicking and screaming, I expected to be bored with the performances and basically say afterwards, "I've seen better" but I am wrong.

This show was absolutly fantastic. Since it is only natural to compare all of the shows I have seen, I would rate this as one of my favorites. Raul Esparza was brilliant, and the cast was magnificent. It's a shame they are not filling this theatre. This is one of the smartest shows broadway has to offer right now, right next to Grey Gardens. Just wanted to post and say how much I enjoyed this one.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:28am

Glad you enjoyed it! Why weren't u expecting to? Not a Sondheim fan? Not a fan of the "Doyle" style of staging/instruments?

E

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:35am

I'm not a huge Sondheim fan or anything, but I am curious to check this show out.

[mint0621]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 9:52am

I didn't consider myself a Soundheim fan either, but liking Sweeney and Company like I did...I guess by "default" I am :)

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 9:57am

See it Millie!

[RentHead2]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 11:38am

Well, let me be very honest and blunt about why I didn't want to see company. I really do not like seeing "revivals" to begin with, and I didn't really get a pleasant feeling while walking past the theatre when I was in the city. However, it was my grandfather's 85th birthday and I wanted to take him to something sophisticated and semi-upbeat. Thats when I narrowed it down, and my friend who saw COMPANY stated that it was a great performance by Raul (who I listen to daily in the Tick, Tick Boom CD). Like I said, I really didn't want to go at first, but once I got there I honestly enjoyed it 100 times more than the other shows I saw when I went up. And the best part is, we went on a Wednesday and I got the cheap $49.00 seats and they let us move way way way up in the theatre, we had probably the best seats in the house.

It was honestly a beautiful performance from start to finish, which I can rarely say.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 11:41am

Renthead - glad to hear you liked it. What did grandfather think?

The problem with avoiding revivals is - a lot of us weren't around the first time around!

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 3:11pm

Went I went in, I was excpecting to like it, since I loved Sweeney.
I hated Company. I couldn't keep my eyes open, and just thought it was so boring.

Raul did do a great job though. Being Alive was amazing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 3:16pm

It always makes me happy to see the show win over some of the skeptics. You should expand your horizons a bit and give more revivals a chance, though -- they don't write 'em like they used to anymore.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 4:47pm

DRS, I'm with you.

But RENT, I'm glad you enjoyed the show, and I hope yoiu grandfather enjoyed it as well.

[Ariella]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 5:19pm

I'm so glad, Renthead.

Out of curiosity, how empty was the house?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 8:50pm

"It always makes me happy to see the show win over some of the skeptics. You should expand your horizons a bit and give more revivals a chance, though -- they don't write 'em like they used to anymore."

Of course many critics of Company back in 1970 said the same thing...

E

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 9:32pm

And people will always be saying that; it's the perpetuity of historical distance.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 9:41pm

With an avatar from "The Wedding Singer," you will never leave a Sondheim show saying "I've seen better."

I'm glad you enjoyed it, it's definately one of favorite shows.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 10:40am

I just wanted to let LUV THE EMCEE know that I am stealing the phrase "the perpetuity of historical distance" and promise to use it safely and wisely at least once each day!

LOVE IT!
THANKS!

:)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:56am

lol. Thanks, I think.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:33pm

YAY! I'm glad there's another COMPANY fan. Were you kicking and scremaing because you like shows like rent and wedding singer (noting from yuor username/icon.) and wanted to see something fun? Glad you enjoyed it!

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:49pm

I also enjoyed this revival. I was told that the cast will be the musicians and couldn't imagine how they would be able to perform but, it worked quite well with the choreography, the blocking, the dialogue, and the songs. I didn't see the last revival of Sweeney Todd so, I didn't have a benchmark. The cast was amazing. Raul Esparza is an excellent choice for the lead, and so goes for the rest. I've listened to Stritch's "The Ladies Who Lunch" and wondered if Barbara Walsh would be able to own the song....yes, she did! She was great! Angel Desai was amazing and her "Another Hundred People" was flawless. I had to buy the CD after the show. I highly recommend the show.

Updated On: 4/28/07 at 12:49 PM