Who's seeing COMPANY tonight?- Page 6

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 6:04pm

I saw the original production in 1970, too. I was 12. I was "forced" to go because my parents' friends from out-of-town couldn't make it. I had to go so my parents wouldn't waste the ticket!

It was the most original night of theatre I had ever experienced. The performances are burned into my memory.

That being said, I absolutely LOVED the performance I saw today. I think Neil Patrick Harris is an outstanding Bobby. Probably the most charismatic Bobby I have seen in any production.

I am still overwhelmed by this afternoon's show. It's hard for me to articulate what I am feeling. I never cried during "Being Alive" until today.

I thought everyone was wonderful, but NPH and Christina Hendricks were phenomenal. I am overjoyed that I got to see this production and cannot wait until June 15!!!

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 6:40pm

What a moving piece of writing, Pal!

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 7:22pm

Thanks for your post Pal, I really enjoyed reading it. I went this afternoon with my partner of 13 years, who is not as much in to theater as I am, but he loved it too. I wish that I could've sprung for better seats, but the second tier at $145 was all I could get.

I'm happy to say that the performances made it all the way back to where we were. I can only imagine how it would've been to be closer. I didn't discover COMPANY until about 1993, when I saw a production at the Signature Theater in Arlington VA. Just to see it again was awesome. I kept thinking how rich the characters are, and how there is so much to it on so many levels. It took me a while to figure out who was who, since I was so far away from the stage. I was concerned during the opening, because it just didn't sound that great where I was sitting. Once we got immersed in the show though, those concerns were laid aside.

I am most familiar with the 1995 revival recording, so I kept hoping that Anoki was going to belt more. In the end she did deliver...as did Katie Finneran, and of course La LuPone. Neil was fantastic during Marry Me a Little as well as in Being Alive, and his acting throughout was great. I'm so glad I got to see this, especially since I missed the revival with Raul a few years back. I chose to see Grey Gardens instead, so this kind of made up for it. I'll look forward to reading what others say after tonight's show. Thanks to all involved for a great afternoon.

Posted: 4/9/11 at 8:03pm

Brilliant post, PJ.

But... So the people who have liked it best liked it cuz it reminded them of seeing it in 1970? Aside from the answering machine messages, was this the updated script?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 8:12pm

Yes, it had "Marry Me a Little," the gay scene and the reference to Bobby's generation not smoking. It was not the 1970 script.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 8:35pm

I was there this afternoon as well and I had a wonderful time. My first exposure to Company was not so long ago, when I saw the revival with Raul Esparza (though I believe I had the original recording for a bit before that), but I love it all the same. The cast this afternoon was all-around really fantastic...standouts for me were Patti LuPone, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Stephen Colbert, Martha Plimpton, Neil Patrick Harris, and Christina Hendricks. The only thing that was annoying was that I was in one of the $95 boxes and they were super partial view (who on earth made the decision to have those seats face IN?). I'm looking forward to seeing it in movie theaters so I can actually see the things that were happening on stage right, because a lot of the time I really couldn't unless I was leaning really far forward. Other than that, though, great afternoon and I'm really hoping for a DVD release!

And PJ, your post was wonderful. :)
Updated On: 4/9/11 at 08:35 PM

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 8:42pm

Echoing everyone else here, but that was a great post, PJ.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 11:55pm

Just got home from tonight's performance. Loved it. Was it the most vocally stunning cast? No. But it didn't have to be.

I loved the 2006 revival and Raul, but I thought this version of Company was far more human and a great deal funnier (Christina Hendricks wrung more laughs out of her lines than humanly possible- her butterfly monologue was brilliant and deserved the applause it got)- with NPH being so charming and likable that it was easy to see why everyone loves Bobby.

[lsinger2]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 12:43am

I loved every minute of it. I loved all the cast members- it was hard to pick who I wanted to look at. Colbert was surprisingly delicious! It was a fabulous show- one of my favorite theater experiences ever.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 12:51am

I think NPH read the NYTimes review because his performance of "Being Alive" this afternoon was everything Stephen Holden said it was not. I agree with everything you wrote, lsinger2!

(P.S. I love that Martha Plimpton has a connection to The Roches.)

[dave1606]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 1:17am

I was there tonight and before I comment on the show I need to rant a bit about Avery Fisher. I really hate that building. I love the NY Philharmonic and have attended many events there and every time I wonder how anyone thought that this was an OK design for a concert hall?!! Why would I want to stare at the people across from me rather than the stage? The boxes offer a really terrible view, and I missed about half the action tonight. Still, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I love this show. The Raul revival was one of the first shows I had seen on Broadway, and I went back four times by the time it concluded its run. I have really fond memories and knew that there was very little that Neil could do to top Raul. That being said I thought Neil brought a very different interpretation to the role and I really liked it. His Being Alive was strikingly vulnerable, and not as strong vocally as I would have preferred but I still thought it was great.

He has such charisma on stage, and it more than makes up if his voice can be thin at times. I thought his Marry Me a Little was outstanding, better than anything else he sung in the show.

My favorite thing about the night was hearing the 70s orchestrations. The NY Phil sounded better than ever, and it was such a treat to hear even the incidental scene change music sound SO fantastic.

I loved Martha Plimpton and her incredible physical humor. The women cannot do anything wrong in my eyes. (Being Hope is one of my favorite comedies on TV right now.)

Christina Hendricks was inspired casting. More than anyone else onstage I thought she nailed her part perfectly. She was hysterical and the butterfly store really had me in stitches.

Katie Finneran's Not Getting Married today was also a major highlight. A true master of comedic timing.

Another highlight, was Patti Lupone throwing her drink into the front row and soaking several people! All fun aside her Ladies Who Lunch was incredible.


Overall this reminded me how much I truly love this show. I could have a revival every two years and I would be happy. I am so glad we will have a filmed version of it as I can go back and see what I missed from those awful seats. In the meantime, NY Philharmonic PLEASE take this money from these shows and renovate that auditorium!

[viola13]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 2:22am

I managed to see the show on Thursday as well as tonight, and it definitely got tighter and the actors were more comfortable with their roles and overall everyone sounded better. Hope they use mostly footage from tonight's show for the broadcast. I think the sound mix was also better, but I was sitting WAY closer tonight (3rd row ahhhh, thank you friend for the present!) so I'm not completely sure.

That being said, NPH's Being Alive was pretty much the same on Thursday as it was tonight, with the exception that he didn't cut words off quite as much tonight in the earlier verses, but overall, the vulnerability and his other acting choices were the same. I have no idea what Stephen Holden was talking about. lol.

And my Company story is I was introduced to the show in college, not through a professional production, but through a college production which needed more strings in the pit. So I learned the score by playing it, and listening to...I think the 1995 cast album. This was my freshman year, and I clearly remember listening to Another Hundred People having left a rehearsal, while walking through Union Square, and everything just clicked for me. And I knew from that point on that NYC was my home. I guess I have a little Marta in me. :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 2:33am

Pal...well, what can I say? Nothing. I am just going to sign off, go to bed and turn on the OBC. I so envy you.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 2:33am

It was a great night. I don't have much to add. I enjoyed it a lot, despite having awful seats.
It was thrilling to see a COMPANY closer to the tone of the original production. I like a lot about the Doyle revival, but it was such a treat to see a more "fun" version of the show.
I enjoyed the choreography a lot. I was expecting to dislike "Tick Tock" with backup dancers, but I even liked that! Such a pleasure to see the number done live.

I hope we get a DVD release!

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 2:42am

I so wanted to see it and I will run to a theater when it is released. I hope we get the DVD also. I shed a tear the other night when I walked past Lincoln Center knowing I would not be attending any of the performances! A good friend went last night (Sat.)

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 7:41am

Question- I haven't read through the whole thread, but how have they been taping this live? When I saw the matinee yesterday, they only captured the first act through two manned cameras in the front orchestra (house left and right), two unmanned cameras onstage that rose up and down, one manned one onstage, and four at the back of the house.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 9:01am

My first exposure to COMPANY (and SUNDAY for the matter) wasn't until Barbra Streisand's Broadway Album in 1985. I had a sheltered theatrical youth unfortunately (Catholic School, growing up in Ft Lauderdale etc.) You all will also have to forgive me because I'm still discovering things about this, but during Tick Tock yesterday, I kept thinking that it sounded a bit like The Music and The Mirror, which had not been written yet. Just now, I read that Kathy was played by Donna McKechnie. I wonder if there were there comparisons between the 2 numbers back then.

Updated On: 4/10/11 at 09:01 AM

[Q]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 9:54am

PJ - that was great. Thanks.

Having viscerally reacted to NINE all those years ago, this cracked me up:
"Even though I was a budding homosexual, I got a boner. It was, after all, Anita Morris stretching me out."

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 10:43am

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here goes:

1.) PalJoey, that post was so, so wonderful. Thank you.

2.) I saw the show yesterday and thought it was outstanding. I loved Neil Patrick Harris, especially his "Being Alive". I loved hearing the Philharmonic playing the original orchestrations. I loved "Getting Married Today". Basically I just loved the whole thing. I was certainly familiar with the show, but yesterday something clicked for me. I was fond of Company before; I adore it now. I don't know what it was about yesterday's performance that did it for me, but that might not even matter. I just know that, for me, yesterday was special and I'll always remember those three hours in Avery Fisher Hall.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 10:44am

PalJoey, was a wonderful post, thanks for sharing.

I was at yesterday's matinee and loved it. I really lucked out with seating, I had a seat in the front side orchestra, Lincoln Center had left me a message they had to change my seat (found out it was because of the camera's and crew) they gave me a premium center orchestra seat. : )

KirbyCat , they probably taped more then one show, as well as one with out the audience. They will piece it together for the movie and use the most optimal takes.

[canmark]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 10:53am

Do we know which particular performance will be shown in theatres this summer? Or will it be an amalgam of shots from different performances?

[Kad]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 11:01am

It will be an amalgam of the best possible shots and takes from the duration of the filming. That's how taped performances usually go.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 11:03am

I was at the matinee yesterday. Regarding filming, I overheard a cameraman speaking to another audience member saying that the matinee was just practice for for the real filming which would take place at the evening performance

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 4:57pm

Anita Morris: yes
Shelley Winters: no
Karl: ?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 7:35pm

PalJoey, you should write a book.

Or a blog.

Or a column for BWW.

This isn't the first time you've shared your personal history - of seeing a show and what it meant to you - with us. Your stories are filled with such vivid and special detail. I devour every word.

Thank you for sharing this story. Another gem.