theatrical thoughts :: company

company
ethel barrymore theatre :: new york, ny
attended :: november 9, 2006 and january 16, 2007

wow! wow! wow! color me shocked beyond shocked! i have to admit that i had my doubts going into the preview performance of stephen sondheim's latest remount of 'company'. i mean - on my ipod i have the 1970's cast album - i listen to it here and there - and of all of the 'classic' musicals - it's never really hit me to the point where i was jazzed and connected. this show is known for it's music - you may not know the show - but you definitely know the music. at first i was like - 'why on earth would they do this show - again'. i mean come on - the last time they did it was in 1995 and let's say for lack of a better word - it flopped. it opened and closed with only 60 performances. this latest revision starring raul esparza is truly one not to be missed.

let's think about it for a second - raul esparza (tony nominee and drama desk winner - both for 'taboo') and barbra walsh (tony and drama desk nominee - both for 'falsettos') team up with tony award and drama desk award winning director (both for 'sweeney todd') john doyle and put on a spectacular presentation of one of sondheim's most known shows. the most remarkable part about it is the rest of the cast - virtually everyone else in the ensemble is an unknown.

like 'sweeney todd' - john doyle uses the actors as musicians for the music behind the musical. interesting transitions by the actors coming on and off of the set and perching themselves on clear acrylic cubes make for an ultra modern feel on what is a fairly minimalistic stage. the only distracting point was the fact that many of the stage directions called for the cast to jog on what seems to be a track that runs around the perimeter of the stage itself.

raul esparza's performance was nothing less than spectacular. he effortlessly sings this music ('being alive' and 'mary me a little' being 2 of the highlights) as if he were the man always meant to sing the songs. his sarcastic take on the role of bobby - the 35 year old single guy surrounded by his married friends and their lives - fits him spot on.

barbra walsh - who plays the aging (gracefully) friend - joanne - brings a different kind of 'bitterness' to the role that was made famous by the incomparable elaine stritch in the original cast. again - an effortless performance when she belts out the anthem 'the ladies who lunch' - which will forever be owned by ms. stritch - but barbra gives her a run for her money in this unforgettable remake.

other highlights include the playful saxophone trios brought to life by elizabeth stanley (april), kelly jeanne grant (kathy), and angel desai (marta) in the song 'you could drive a person crazy', to the tongue tied amy (played by jane pfitsch in previews and then returning to the role after maternity leave - heather laws) crying over marriage in unforgettable 'getting married today.' i was fortunate to see both actresses in the role and i personally liked jane's performance better but either way - such a delightful scene to watch and enjoy.

obviously i liked the show - i went to see it twice - but i highly recommend anyone to go see this show - it's a hit - you'll love it - and it remained as fantastic from the previews into the run. both times - the audience was overjoyed with applause and occasionally - a few 'bravos!' came trumpeting over the claps. it's truly not to be missed.