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My friend and I went together to go see The revival of the play “Company” recently. I was very “meh” on it. As talented as everyone was, I was not excited by the story or the characters. Sometimes, no matter how good the cast is, it can’t carry a boring plot. I thought it was odd, meandering, and it jumped about in a way that wasn’t fun or interesting but was (for me) disjointed and just unnecessary. There were a few good songs, but overall I didn’t find the score to be “wow”. I didn’t love the first rendition of the play, which I am too young to have seen when it was out originally, but have heard the songs numerous times. “Company” did all sorts of new and “first” things when it was first produced, but that was 50 years ago in the 70’s. I thought it was weird and stale.
My friend chose this one, and she was really pleased by it. She and I are from different generations, so that might have something to do with it- she had seen the first/original play play, done with a male lead. I liked the performers, I just wasn’t caught up with the story, the characters, or the music. They can’t all be winners- and that’s in addition to they can’t all please everyone. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea. Seeing Patti LuPone live is always exciting and a pleasure and worth going for in itself- the play is still running, but won’t be for long.
Info on the play via Wikipedia–
Company is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The original 1970 production was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, winning six. Company lacks a linear plot, depicting instead a story occurring in the mind of the central character, a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a 35th birthday.
Company was among the first book musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage, and divorce.
Info on the new version via it’s website–
Tony Award® and Grammy Award® winner Katrina Lenk and two-time Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone join forces in Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy.
It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, Why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in 21st-Century New York could drive a person crazy.
Two-time Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) helms this revelatory new production, at once boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious. COMPANY features Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning songs You Could Drive a Person Crazy, The Ladies Who Lunch, Side by Side by Side and the iconic Being Alive.
It will be closing soon- if you want to see it, you’ll need to hurry. https://companymusical.com
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