Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA 'Company' is one of my favorite musicals. Stephen Sondheim's 1970 musical about single New Yorker Bobby, and his relationships with his other friends. 'Here's to the Ladies Who Lunch' 'Another Hundred People' 'Being Alive' 'Marry Me A Little' among other songs. And I have a personal connection to the show. I played 'Peter' in the 1996 West Coast premiere of the 1995 Broadway revival version of 'Company' at Laguna Playhouse. <- that's a mouthful! Played 'David' in their 1997 production of 'Company' at West Coast Ensemble in Hollywood. This 'Great Performances' is a filming of the latest version of 'Company' -- [ran late '06 to mid '07] with the actors also playing musical instruments. I didn't like it. The book, music and lyrics is already cynical, glib, and sarcastic. So when it's directed to be so serious, with performers not talking directly to each other, and everyone wearing black, and walking around on this claustrophic set, I just found it to be dreadful. 'Company' is a funny show -- and for some reason this production just sucked the humor right out of it. And when exactly did it happen that actors who can't sing very well get to appear as leads in musicals? Must have missed the memo on that. I'll take the Dean Jones, Elaine Stritch version any day of the week. Blecch!
Originally Posted By DAR So what you're saying is that you and PBS differ greatly on the term "Great Performances". I've actually never heard of this, is there any other filmed version of this. Then again I don't visit the theatre too often except tonight, going to see The Lion King.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I think the same director did this as the recent B'dway Sweeney Todd revival. If not the same director, then the same gimmicks of having the actors play the instruments, minimalist staging, and not a lot of actor interaction. The critics loved it. I liked some of the performances, but overall it left me flat. And ST is probably my favorite musical ever; the original Cariou/Lansbury production is still in my top 5 theatre experiences.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^^You're right, Dabob2, it's the same director. I also prefer the original 'Sweeney Todd' to the revival / minimalist version. The 'Company' on 'Great Performances' was just this side of an 'in concert' version.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal Unfortunately I didn't see it. Company is one of my favorites, too. I'ts disappointing when s theater company changes things so drastically in a classic theater piece. San Diego Musical Theater is doing Bye, Bye Birdie! soon and although I love that musical I am hesitant to see it because I'm afraid it will disappoint. That said, I'll see it and still be thrilled to hear the songs! "Clear the hall, 'cause I'm not getting married! Thank you all, but I'm not getting married. And don't tell Paul, but I'm not getting married to-daaaaaaaaay!" Classic. I will keep my eyes open for an encore presentation. I'd like to see it, even if it was butchered. Maybe I can close my eyes and just listen!
Originally Posted By TheRedhead It's way past my bedtime to make a truly coherent post, but here goes. I saw this on B'way and loved it. I watched a couple of the numbers on PBS. I don't think it entirely captured the feel for of the live show - the quicky edits make it seem like everyone is mugging and sneering, and the overhead shots make it look like the cast is moving about a human chess board. It comes off much colder on tv. But here's the thing: COMPANY has not aged well. The SONGS are absolutely brilliant, up there as Sondheim's best. There has never been a musical so insightful about the nature of relationships. But. The BOOK is OK in some parts, but dreadful, unfunny, clunky, and painfully dated in most. But there's an even bigger problem with the show - there's nothing that really connects the songs to the book. The whole show comes off rather disjointed: skit, song, skit, song, skit, song. What the show really needs is something that connects the two seamlessly; some theme that brings it all together. I have seen four professional productions of the show - the mid-90's revival and the recent Kennedy Center concert were two that failed miserably, mainly because the material was simply presented. Nothing more. And it was flat and boring. The other two, for me, worked brilliantly, and both times I reconsidered where to place this show among Sondheim's greatest. Sam Mendes directed a London production, the theme being that all of these numbers were like some kind of coke-induced fantasy. The disjointed nature worked so well it was scary, and I loved it. The second was this John Doyle version. In Sweeney Todd, yeah, the unstrument schtick felt like a gimmick. But in Company, it provided a theme, a thread, a spine. The whole idea that these people spoke through their instruments, and the whole idea that communication and connection could be represented by committing to playing an instrument. That was the leap. When he sits down and starts hammering on the piano, it was this blissful moment of Bobby finally doing SOMETHING, leading right into, what I think is, the greatest song ever written for a musical, "Being Alive." It also helped that he put a lot of attention on April, who it turns out is more important to Bobby than anyone else, even though her part is usually treated as an afterthought comic-reliefer. Now I have to get up in four hours. Thanks Jim!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^^Great perspectives, there, The Redhead. Thanks for adding your comments. Now go to sleep!
