Someone to hold me too close...
Nov. 11th, 2006 11:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wonderboynjI had the chance to see John Doyle's new production of Company on Halloween.
Mr. Doyle was responsible for last year's production of Sweeney Todd, which was notable for the fact that the company also doubled as the orchestra. Well, it was also notable for Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, who were both excellent.
Company uses the same routine, although the cast is a little larger. I do have to say that I thought Company was excellent.
It's a musical about relationships, and the fact that 35 year old Bobby isn't in one. In today's society, I think most people who see the show will perceive Bobby as being gay. At one point in the show he talks about having decorated his fabulous apartment himself. Stephen Sondheim has adamantly denied this as being Bobby's problem. In fact, he refuses to allow productions that even cast one of the married couples as a same sex couple.
My chief complaint about the show is it's staging. The characters spend lots of time doing the same things over and over. Most of them walking around a square set in the center of the stage. It ends up that quite a few people sing with their backs to the audience, which gets a bit annoying.
This may have been the first time I have seen a show where I knew every song, and that's from versions not including the cast recording(s). The show features songs such as "Marry Me A Little", "Getting Married Today", "The Little Things You Do Together", "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive."
Barbara Walsh, who was a good friend of my mother John Story, was excellent as Joanne, though it was difficult not to Elaine's voice in Joanne's singing and speaking. She delivered a biting "The Ladies Who Lunch.:
Raul Esparza's show stopping version of "Being Alive" marks the first time ever I have gotten goosebumps during a show.
Interestingly enough, the show's whole theme and that penultimate moment coincides with what's happening in my life right now, feeling very lonely and getting a little tired of sleeping alone :)
Now if I can just find "Someone to hold me to close"
Mr. Doyle was responsible for last year's production of Sweeney Todd, which was notable for the fact that the company also doubled as the orchestra. Well, it was also notable for Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, who were both excellent.
Company uses the same routine, although the cast is a little larger. I do have to say that I thought Company was excellent.
It's a musical about relationships, and the fact that 35 year old Bobby isn't in one. In today's society, I think most people who see the show will perceive Bobby as being gay. At one point in the show he talks about having decorated his fabulous apartment himself. Stephen Sondheim has adamantly denied this as being Bobby's problem. In fact, he refuses to allow productions that even cast one of the married couples as a same sex couple.
My chief complaint about the show is it's staging. The characters spend lots of time doing the same things over and over. Most of them walking around a square set in the center of the stage. It ends up that quite a few people sing with their backs to the audience, which gets a bit annoying.
This may have been the first time I have seen a show where I knew every song, and that's from versions not including the cast recording(s). The show features songs such as "Marry Me A Little", "Getting Married Today", "The Little Things You Do Together", "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive."
Barbara Walsh, who was a good friend of my mother John Story, was excellent as Joanne, though it was difficult not to Elaine's voice in Joanne's singing and speaking. She delivered a biting "The Ladies Who Lunch.:
Raul Esparza's show stopping version of "Being Alive" marks the first time ever I have gotten goosebumps during a show.
Interestingly enough, the show's whole theme and that penultimate moment coincides with what's happening in my life right now, feeling very lonely and getting a little tired of sleeping alone :)
Now if I can just find "Someone to hold me to close"
