re: COMPANY falls a bit for me.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 1:31am

I think COMPANY is one of the best written (Score and Book) shows ever!
The integration of music and lyrics to the the Brechtian way the songs comment on the characters just floors me.
Mary-Mitchell Campbell's orchestrations are brilliant and prove once again that Sondheim has some kinda genius going on we can only bow down to and kiss his toes.
George Furth's book is so witty and spot on I hope he is writing a new show right now.
But i had problems with this production.
The use of the cast playing the instruments is a bit wierd, but they play so well it works just fine.
Especially in YOU COULD DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY where the saxes sing.
Mostly I thought the acting was weak.
A lot of the scenes got the laughs (some didn't) but they fell flat.

The pot smoking scene was a dud, and the Karate scene also.
I missed a lot of the dialouge in the Birthday party scenes and it made them confusing.

Performance wise, i felt the actors were cast for their instrument playing, which was excellent but they failed (for me) to create the characters, and in some cases singing them.
ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE (a musical gem) was sung rather poorly.
GETTING MARRIED TODAY was articulated well but didn't get the laughs it should when acted well.
THE LADIES WHO LUNCH was just too spitted out and not too nuanced.
I liked Barbara Walsh a lot up till then.
Raul's performnce confused me.
He is a talented actor but I did not understand why he delivered every line with the same down ending.
I know it's called underplaying but Bobby is called charming and up-lifting by his friends, not sarcastic.
His voice is rather thin (maybe singing this role as others has taxed him) and his vibrato not so pleasant, but the audience loved him, I have seen other Bobby's who can sing the sh*t out of the beautiful Sondheim Songs,
I did leave the Theatre singing the score and am gald this show is back and that audiences are enjoying the score and book which are so strong and can take a different take on this show.
Go See It and decide for yourself.




Updated On: 12/14/06 at 01:31 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 1:41am

Did you see it today? If you did, you saw an understudy for Marta and I was wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more on her performance?

Raúl is not the typical overall uplifted(ing) Bobby, at all. A lot of people aren't digging that, which is unfortunate, 'cause I think what he's doing with that depressive, sort of tortured delivery is very powerful, though of course that's not all there is to the mix. But, I've never seen it any other way, so that's just my uninformed pocket change. I hope his voice is okay; a week ago, he sounded the best I've ever heard him. Whatever, to each his own.

Updated On: 12/14/06 at 01:41 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 10:40am

I saw it a few days ago and no understudies were on.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/14/06 at 12:05pm

I agree with Another Hundred People --- I was not impressed; I was however impressed with the actress' instrumentality.