re: In comes COMPANY....- Page 5

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:00am

Of course, Bobby is cold! I could be wrong, but isn't that kind of the point? Bobby isn't some romantic hero. He's a confused, sad man who hurts people, intentionally or not.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:08am

if your friends were ALWAYS around and asking "when are you getting married?", wouldn't you get to be a little withdrawn, bitter and cold towards them? Raul plays the role exactly the way I feel it should be played. He's the PERFECT Bobby. As always, his voice is amazing.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:09am

Excellent point, Boobs.

By the way, classic avatar.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:10am

I saw the final dress yesterday @ 2. my thoughts are almost the same as penguins. I really liked it, but I wanted to be blown away by the vision. I think my expectations were a little TOO high. that being said, I still thought it was very good. with a little tweaking over the preview period, it can be brilliant.

if you are planning to go, don't sit on the sides. the set is symmetrical, and will be a better experience if you can see what is happening on both sides.

What I loved- the vocal direction on all the chorus numbers- the singers are so strong and sound great together singing those chords on "we Looooooooove you"

I loved the little things you do together, you could drive a person crazy, someone is waiting, side by side, poor baby, Barcelona, and of course, being alive, in which Raul is quite exceptional. his voice is so strong, but when he pulls back, it is beautiful, filled with subtext, and disarming. this was my first time seeing him live, and I am now a fan. he deeply impressed me.

some things worked, some didn't. Doyle left room for applause after some songs, and didn't after others. Sometimes it was awkward, like after the great opening, they went right into the scene, and the audience didn't know what to think. I know Doyle had to do that after the first song to set up how the evening would go.

But I wanted to applaud after some of the great performances, and It just felt weird to me not to be able to.

The pacing in some places will need to be picked up. sometimes there were lulls, and sometimes dramatic pauses lasted a little too long for me, but it can all be forgiven because of the wonderful cast, concept, and direction.

Sondheim was there in the 3rd. or 4th row. of the orch. yesterday, with Doyle sitting in the mezz on the right side. and as the show ended, Doyle got right up, and passed by, scanning the audience's expressions. I loved watching that moment.


funny story- when I got to the theatre, there were about 2-300 playbills of "Ring of Fire" that had never been bothered to be discarded. I just found it funny, and thought that maybe the show was just too horrible to clean up afterward.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:14am

Some great points, Pippin. I definitely agree with a lot of what you said.

I can't believe I forgot to mention how STRONG their vocals were as an ensemble.

They made all the chords, and harmonies sound so damn easy. The title number is a VERY tricky song to sing, but they made it sound so simple. Their vocals were flawless. I was so impressed how strong they sounded together as a group. Now they just need to get their instruments sounding that strong together as an ensemble.
Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:14 AM

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:19am

yeah, there were some definate instrument flubs, but they each get their time to shine during side by side, and props to the actor continously walking his upright bass around that stage, while playing and singing at the same time.



oh yeah- one more thing. I felt the actors had a difficult time finding thier lights yesterday, which I know will get ironed out once they get more familiar with the stage. but those little spotlights on the stage moved constantly and they were so small and specific. but there was a lot of actors wandering out of their light while singing to get to another light. don't know what's going on, whether that is a lighting or directing issue.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:19 AM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:39am

I did find it odd that "The Ladies who Lunch" didn't get an applause...I felt it was because she goes right into dialogue without a pause and we (the audience) thought maybe the song wasn't finished yet. Any thoughts on this? Barbara Walsh so deserved a thunderous applause after her performance.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:42am

^ On page 3 we discussed not being able to applaud for LADIES WHO LUNCH.

That is one thing I hope Doyle changes before it opens. I think they need to end it with a final instrumental "hit" like it usually ends. But here it just ends with her singing the last RISEEE acapella, and then they go straight into dialogue. Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:42 AM

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:46am

I think what Doyle was doing was letting us see how crazed Joanne was in that moment, when the music went out, but she kept yelling rise! in my mind, this whole show is played out in Bobby's mind, much like Tobias in Sweeney. so IMO, Bobby is dreaming of Joanne singing this, and then snaps out of it and sees her screaming like a woman who just went crazy in a resteraunt yelling at everyone around her from the disgust that she feels by these ladies who lunch.

so the choice for no applause brings the reality to what Joanne just did, because the audience is not interupted by the sound of thier own applause, and the scene takes on a much more grounded feel.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:47am

No applause after LADIES??? I hope that changes by this Friday!

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:50am

no applause after ladies, Company, the little things..., sorry grateful, someone is waiting, another hundred people, and poor baby.

it was just like Passion, hehe.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:50 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:54am

^ I wonder why the title song didn't get applause at the invited dress yesterday?


At the preview, the number received thunderous applause and cheers, it lasted quite a while.

I also wanted to applaud for ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE. I felt Marta did a great job. The song is another very tricky song to sing, but she handled it so well. None of the Marta's on recordings have made it sound so simple.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:54 AM

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:55am

I desperately wanted to applause, but it did make quite a dramatic effect on the audience because they "weren't able" to.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:55am

probably because Doyle noticed it was a very awkward moment for us because we wanted to applaud, but the scene started right away. I hope that that change will stay.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 11:55 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:01pm

My biggest complaint about SWEENEY was that I couldn't applaud after each musical number. I thought this would change with COMPANY...guess I was wrong.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:03pm

^ The majority of the songs DID get applause. Quite thunderous applause too.

But a few songs didn't get the opportunity for applause. Most notable LADIES WHO LUNCH. That's the only number I feel needs to be changed for applause. Otherwise I can deal with LITTLE THINGS, POOR BABY, SORRY-GRATEFUL, and a couple others not getting applause.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:05pm

It does seem strange that the 11oclock number from the show leaves no room for applause. A better question....Is "Ladies Who Lunch" the 11oclock number? Or is it "Being Alive"?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:09pm

There was no applause after the title song when I saw it in Cincy, either. The transition to Harry and Sarah's book scene is so sharp, and I think it caught the audience a bit off-guard.

As far as this production (and not simply because it belongs to Raul), I'm gonna go with Being Alive as the 11:00. And it is TRULY show-stopping.

I REALLY hope they have posters tonight. I have a spot on my wall for one and everything.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 12:09 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:12pm

I guess both songs could be considered 11:00 numbers!

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:14pm

My dad said when Stritch was in it that was the number people wanted to see. He said she was brilliant. Would you say "Ladies" is the most popular song from the show? I was never comfortable with the whole 11oclock thing. I never can decide. I mean "Lots Wife" is considered the 11Oclock in 'Caroline" but much prefer "Underwater".

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:14pm

I'm seeing it on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm sure they won't change any of the applause buttons. There is a method to John Doyle's madness...

[mrkringas]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:15pm

I do recall going to the theatre quite often and not needing to applaud everything.

It serves its purpose yes but its so exciting and interesting when you realise how unecessary it is to the dramatic truth of the play.

Although some people seem incapable of getting over it. You dont go to theatre to applaud an 11 o'clock number. Perhaps there can be anew interpretations you know!

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:18pm

I am actually really glad we got to applaud for the title number. I really hope Doyle keeps that change.

The audience really exploded after that number. The actors just stood there, and you could just tell they were in awe.

It was a really special moment. The number was performed to perfection, and the audience really showed their gratitude. Doyle must keep the applause for the number.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:22pm

The only complaint I've seen that I don't understand, having seen the show in Cincinnati, is that Raul's Bobby is cold and emotionless. Perhaps it's my penchant for relating to antiheroes, but I felt that, while there's certainly a cynical and borderline-abrasive exterior to his Bobby, the depth of longing and hurt that lies underneath that was astoundingly obvious. Those choices were perfect in creating a character that's damaged, but that you can't help but root for to eventually find peace (whatever that ends up being for Bobby). I suppose many people are expecting a more carefree, conventionally charming Robert rather than one that's, outwardly at least, emotionally shut down.
Updated On: 10/31/06 at 12:22 PM

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:29pm

" You dont go to theatre to applaud an 11 o'clock number. Perhaps there can be anew interpretations you know!"

I agree!