Sondheim Working On A Revised (Gay) Version Of COMPANY- Page 4

[getatme]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 4:20pm

Max Von Essen is currently in California, so it would be quite a feat for him to be in this reading, too.

[getatme]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 4:20pm

Max Von Essen is currently in California, so it would be quite a feat for him to be in this reading, too.

[Idiot]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 5:43pm

"Shame about Daniel Evans, the prissy British Georges from a few years back, being allowed to screw up even more Sondheim leads"

He told you he'd call and didn't, right Roscoe?

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 6:06pm

I believe Andrew Rannells is in this, as well as Celia Keenan Bolger.

[karloskar2]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:05pm

Some people here seem to have very fixed ideas on how the role of Bobby should be cast. Daniel Evans is a remarkably versatile performer who will bring something new to the role, just as he did in Sunday, Merrily We Roll Along, Candide and Grand Hotel. Very unwise to dismiss him unseen. Having said that, my favourite Bobby so far was Adrian Lester, who was so completely adorable and funny and vulnerable that his limited vocal skill just made you love him even more.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:12pm

Yeah, Daniel Evans doesn't look a day over 45. I wish this had been done years ago, and seen Victor Garber's take on the role. He'd be a much more appropriate (aka less hammy) Joanne than Nathan Lane. I don't love the idea of reversed genders, that sounds kinda silly to me, but obviously I'm incredibly curious.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:20pm

I want to see Jack Nicholson play Joanne.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:25pm

I actually think Bobby Steggert would be ideal as Bobby.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:45pm

It's not actually "reversed genders" is it? That's the term everyone seems to be using, but...

Evans would be fine I think. I saw him on stage in Candide and thought he was perfect, though that was quite a while ago. If they're revising it enough that Bobby turning 35 is no longer the issue (and I doubt they are, but even by "gay male age" standards that seems less of an issue for a modern set show--if it's just about commitment issues as Sondheim says, than they could be any age) I would love to cast James Wolk. If he could sing. And if he weren't already in about 16 different TV shows.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:51pm

Well, if they take it out of 1970 for the time of the story, then 35 is silly. He should be 45.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:52pm

Qolbineau said, in reply to my post: ""Very basic issues, like Bobby seeing turning 35 as such a big deal"

Surely making the musical gay will make this issue more relevant than ever. Likewise about the whole theme of being ready for commitment. This sounds awesome!!"

Yeah I thought about that. I know gay men are meant to have an issue with even turning thirty, so there may be some truth there, but I still don't buy it--or at least I can't relate to it.

As for whoever said: "Broadway has become the gay ghetto - which is okay if you want to alienate 90 percent of your total audience.

A sad state of affairs."

Wow, one would think you were a critic of Broadway during the '60s when, at least for non-musicals, this was the standard complaint. Whatever.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 7:58pm

Oh, if he older now than I want Kudisch.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 8:05pm

"Well, if they take it out of 1970 for the time of the story, then 35 is silly. He should be 45." I agree. I think they should have done so back in 1995 as well--but it's even more of an issue now. I'm 33, and have seen a lot of my straight, and gay friends get married in the past few years, but it's certainly not the issue that it was, I imagine back in 1970--and that's something the past revisions, for all of their cosmetic changes, have failed to address.

[sondheimonmymind]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 8:22pm

I'm amused that so many are worried that the "gay subplot" for Peter and Bobby will be cut or not work anymore. If the genders of the couples are all being switched, it actually makes for an awesome opportunity for one of Bobby's female friends, married to a straight guy who's just too dull for her, to make a move on her beloved gay best friend.

All reservations withheld, the casting of this, the presence of Mr. Tiffany, and the participation of Mr. Sondheim has me highly intrigued above all concerns. And let's be honest -- it's Furth's book that is most problematic when the musical is performed today. I hope Mr. Sondheim is willing to (respectfully) re-examine the book in serious note.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 9:07pm

Furth's book--as the NPH concert proved and the Doyle "so serious" staging didn't--is pretty brilliant when played as a 1970s sitcom (and I mean that in the highest praise.) I wonder if Sondheim can adapt it, while keeping, as he seems to want to do, it as faithful as possible, make it work.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 10:12pm

"..., it actually makes for an awesome opportunity for one of Bobby's female friends, married to a straight guy who's just too dull for her, to make a move on her beloved gay best friend. "

So... What? They'd be a desperate housewife or another straight girl with an unrequited crush?

I think a revisal of Company would be great. But it would have to be a thorough one- rewriting a lot of the book. The show is very much rooted in the thought of its time. Simply flipping genders around isn't really enough to make it work.

But a musical that examines what it means to be in a relationship and what "committed" even means now would be great. Do gay couples need to follow heteronormative relationship patterns? What about straight couples who rushed into marriage? Or couples that just don't get married? Open relationships, three-person relationships, etc etc- all worth looking at.

I'm just not sure tweaking Company would be anything more than a one-off gimmick for a concert.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 10:34pm

"It's not actually "reversed genders" is it? That's the term everyone seems to be using, but... "

If I'm not mistaken, yes it is. All the characters in the reading are the opposite sex excluding Bobby. Hence the involvement of Celia Keenan-Bolger, Annaleigh Ashford, etc.

[kieranbec]

Posted: 10/16/13 at 11:10pm

The Peter scene could still work (and be pretty powerful) if Susan and Peter are a lesbian couple. Also, if Amy is still a woman, the proposal scene could be great.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:27am

All the characters in the reading are the opposite sex excluding Bobby.

So the women sing "Have I Got a Girl for You, Boy, Hoo Boy"? or "Have I Got a Guy for You, Boy, Hoo Boy"?

What the what?

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 7:09am

Whatever the motivation, this is just one more way of making sure Sondheim's name and work are pushed to the forefront of everyone's consciousness 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, (366 on leap years), just as his vast legion of dutiful devotees have been doing for 40 + years, as tirelessly and as feverishly as a swarm of worker ants.

Some years back, Neil Simon was taken sorely to task for rewriting his Odd Couple with female protagonists. I wonder if Mr. Sondheim will be met with a like reception here.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 7:29am

After Eight, the sex change brought nothing to the table of that Odd Couple. It sounds like Tiffany is interested in seeing if the changes here bring interesting insights. If they don't I imagine a production would be criticized here. It's not as if the Into the Woods revivals or the Sweeney Todd film were beloved here.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 10:24am

It's not really that weird. I think a lot of you guys are overreacting.

Turn the ex-girlfriends into ex-boyfriends, and turn Joanne into a man. It would be an interesting "Ladies Who Lunch" where male-Joanne has been in the closet all this time, or something. None of the other couples need to be turned gay. Have the ladies sing "Have I Got a Boy for You", etc. I'd be more interested in how they change Peter making gay advances towards Bobby.

I'm looking forward to new Sondheim lyrics. Please, let it be good.

I hope they set it in modern times, though. Now that gay Bobby has the right to marry in NYC, will he take it?

It might be terrible. That's why you do readings and workshops.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:14am

Somehow, I get the feeling Sondheim has only consented to this so that he can "prove to the world that Bobby being gay doesn't work," as he has so long insisted. (Sort of like Laurents' West Side revival -- sabotage what worked, or in this case might have worked with the right touch, and say you were right all along.)

Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:14 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 8:06pm

He wouldn't really do that, would he? (Well, yes, I guess he would...)

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 8:09pm

I doubt Sondheim would purposely try to sabotage his work, but I do think he would try almost anything for a buck.

Updated On: 10/18/13 at 08:09 PM