Who's seeing COMPANY tonight?- Page 7

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 7:42pm

^Agreed!

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 8:33pm

I have to agree with everybody else when saying that PalJoey, your story was so great. I can guarantee that if you were 14 today, you and I would be best friends. I am exactly how you described yourself at that age. I would really like to hear your experience with Follies!

I really can't wait to see this in theaters! Everybody's reviews make me so excited!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 8:53pm

Thanks, AwesomeDanny. I wrote a lot about Follies are in this thread--so did a lot of other people--and it has links to some footage that is all that remains of the original production:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=1&thread=982568&boardname=bway&boardid=1

And if you've never read Ted Chapin's "Everything Was Possible," it's a wonderful book that puts you right in the center of the creation of Follies.

Enjoy!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 8:55pm

Love that old Follies thread.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 9:42pm

Pal- Wonderful, simply wonderful!

I grew up in a family that were not “theatre” people. So I found theatre through friends and school trips. I increased my knowledge of musical theatre through books, Cast Recordings, and anything I could get my hands on on VHS. I didn’t even go to NYC until I was 19. As a teen I would watch things like “Sondheim the Concert at Carnegie Hall” or “Follies in Concert” over and over again. I listened to things like Patti LuPone Live, or Betty Buckley in Concert over and over, because like the filmed concerts it was the best that Broadway had to offer performing the Best that Broadway had to offer and was as close as I was going to ever get to it.

I married a choreographer who had the same passion and desire to be a part of the real thing, even if just sitting in the audience, as I did. Three weeks ago she gave birth to our third (and final!) little girl. So when she told me over a month ago that she was sending me to NYC for my 30th Birthday and that I should see the Company Concert I was thrilled and touched at such a selfless gift.

Now I have seen many amazing productions over the last few years and count myself as very fortunate to have had some of the experiences in the NY Theatre that I have had, but nothing compared to Friday evenings concert.

I echo most of the things that have been said already. I agree that NPH did not do anything remarkable vocally, but really didn’t care. I think he more than made up for it with his take on the role. He never came across as disinterested as I have seen other Bobby’s do. He was an active participant in the way the show progresses and I love it! I think his realization that there is indeed something more was wonderful!

As far as the rest of the cast I don’t really think there was a weak link in the chain. I think Lonny Price did a great job making the audience feel as if they had seen a musical and not just a concert presentation of something.

For me the other standout was of course Patti LuPone- I thought her Joanne was amazing, and truly thought she outdid what she did with The Ladies Who Lunch from the birthday concert. I was front center and was one of the lucky ones who was soaked with her drink- a very nice touch. My stained tie will be getting framed at Michaels along with the program. (does this make me the Monica Lewinsky of the Musical Theatre?)

But whatever I thought of the merits of the show itself, to have been a part of something special, to walk into that building and take my seat and have all those wonderful performers right in front of me, to hear the Original Orchestrations, the tick tock dance and with the Philharmonic under the brilliant direction of THE Sondheim conductor- I felt like I was 16 again- only this time I wasn’t watching it on VHS or DVD in years to come- I was there. It will go down as one of my all time favorite memories of the city-a city that while my family and I still long to be a part of the day to day life of- for one night I felt like a life long citizen because everything about this concert screamed New York. Turning around before the show started and seeing Frank Rich standing three rows behind me was the icing on top of the cake.

And I owe my wife BIG TIME for letting me go and for being so happy for me to get to go- best damn birthday present I’ve ever been given- how appropriate- Bobby got some tips on life for his Birthday, and I got the experience of a lifetime!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 10:17pm

What a wonderful post, Castlestreet!

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

[Joey.]

Posted: 4/11/11 at 11:16pm

Saw Saturday's matinee and I honestly feel as though this production was the best it possibly could be given the circumstances. Every member of the cast was strong and rose to the material splendidly. My only wish would be to be able to see the production in a smaller venue rather than swallowed by the size of Avery Fisher Hall. With that said, I think it will lend itself beautifully to film and I hope it will be released on blu-ray thereafter. :)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/11/11 at 11:26pm

Great post, Castlestreet! Wasn't it thrilling to hear "Tick-Tock"!

And mazel tov to you and your wife! I hope the two of you are planning to watch the DVD together when it comes out.

And if you were sitting near Frank Rich and his wife Friday night, you were probably also sitting near Jon Stewart.

Reginald Tresilian and I saw them getting on the escalator from the lobby to the first floor. I was so excited to see Jon Stewart chatting with a couple that I didn't recognize the couple as Frank Rich and Alex Witchel.

When Reggie pointed it out, I thought "Now, this is New York."