Audience Member
Few musicals give the fullness of energy a live viewing from the audience receives. The sparks fly, the bonfire rages on and you know, Damn! I love a Broadway production. This was as close to perfect as it gets for me. Great lead cast. Good supporting cast. Riveting production and more than I had imagined! Sondheim is a reinventor of the Musical genre. This is one of his top 5 best shows. Enjoy.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/20/23
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Audience Member
This is everything that is great about musical theatre. Innovative music, philosophical lyrics and book, groundbreaking directing and design, wonderful performances - everything melds together to form a thoughtful and entertaining look into "modern" New York and the plight of marriage.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
Full Review
Audience Member
"Company" is a great musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The story is presented as a series of vignettes that focus on different couples, all connected by the mutual and lonely friend Robert. I love the music. The film offers a lot of contrasting musical moments, from the impressionist chords at the end of the vocal Overture to the wordy Gilbert-and-Sullivan-like "Getting Married Today" and the emotional aria "Being Alive." Sondheim established a signature sound that is completely unique to this show and I could listen to the music all day. The plot, however, gets a bit darker than I was prepared for. I suppose that the steady theme of marriage discontent should have clued me in but I felt a slight disconnect between the upbeat songs and the progressively depressing subject matter. Still, the show has some great moments and the 2006 Broadway revival emphasizes them. The construction of the show is very cool, putting the pit instruments onstage in the hands of the actors. The choreography often features the instruments, almost as a piece of the character's personality (mellow trumpet, jazzy saxophone). The acting is superb, particularly Raúl Exparza as Bobby. His character begins so nonchalant that builds into an emotional crescendo at the end of "Being Alive." I was also blown away by Heather Laws as Amy, frantically spitting out all of her lyrics with perfect diction, and Barbara Walsh as Joanne during her emotive "The Ladies Who Lunch." Her voice got on my nerves a bit during her final scene, but I suppose that it perfectly embodied her drunken state. It is no surprise that this production won a Tony for Best Revival and we are so lucky to be able to experience this performance of "Company" far into the future!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The casting had to be a nightmare, but they nailed it. Magnificent performances, exceptional talent.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/18/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I picked this up from the library over the holiday break, thinking a light musical would be a good watch one evening. I was absolutely not prepared for the emotional weight of Raul Esparza's performance. Fantastic.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Being a major Sondheim fan, Company is definitely one of the genius's more complex and sophisticated musicals. It's one of the most complex, unique, and different musicals ever to hit Broadway period. Sondheim's music is challenging and interesting, and his score is aided by a remarkable cast (who play their own instruments in every musical number!) who rise to the occasion. Barbara Walsh's show-stopping rendition of "The Ladies Who Lunch" serves the show all the better, that particular song being a well-known highlight among theatre geeks. Heather Laws blows you out of the water as Amy, frantic and terrified. Her number, "Not Getting Married Today," stuns. But it is Raul Esparza as Bobby, our main character, who marvels and shines. Bobby is a 35 year old bachelor who continues to question the value of marriage among his dysfunctional married friends, and Esparza fills the role with all of the subtlety and distinction required. His voice is tremendous, and his big finale ("Being Alive") is not just impressive, but the marking of a musical theatre mastermind. You're not likely to find anything like Company when looking for a great musical. It's not "The Sound of Music" or "Hairspray," and that's why it stands out. It's a musical so modern, hip, and ahead of its time.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/30/23
Full Review
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