What do you guys think of COMPANY?- Page 3
What do you guys think of COMPANY?
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#50What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/9/13 at 7:07am
"Without company shows like Follies, Spring Awakening and the recent groundbreaking musical Fun Home would not be possible."
Mmm..... Three more reasons to hate it.
As we see, the inimical effects of destroying the ground are far reaching and long lasting.
#51What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/9/13 at 3:48pm
"I never saw "Ladies who lunch: as misogynistic. But then I never really saw it as being about "The ladies" as much as it was about Joanne herself.
I agree it isn't misogynistic. And it's not about working-class or lower-middle class women. Yes, it's about Joanne herself and women like her: those who can keep "house while clutching a copy of LIFE" because they have maids to do the heavy lifting. Joanne is making a scathing appraisal of the sort of woman who exists only to help her husband entertain business prospects. You know, the type who can devote an afternoon to choosing a hat.
Kad, the book for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is pretty fine, too.
darquek, Bobby is the anti-Ted Moseby. Ted is so anxious to fall in love and live happily ever after that he jumps too soon and too often. Bobby is so reluctant he jumps too late (as with Kathy).
Eric, the Philharmonic version was broadcast on PBS here last night. (Yes, I have the DVD, but whatever.) I actually lost count of the slang that was specific to the 1970s. I don't think Furth meant to be "ambiguous" about the time period in this particular version. It is 1970.
***
Why do you go to the theater, After Eight? I used to love action pictures until they jettisoned character and dramatic action in favor of random explosions. SO I DON'T GO TO THE MULTIPLEX TO SEE THEM ANY MORE.
It really is that simple. And there are countless film musicals from the 30s, 40, 50s and early 60s you could watch instead.
Updated On: 11/9/13 at 03:48 PM
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#52What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/9/13 at 6:35pm
^
It's not a question of what I watch or don't watch, why I go or don't go. I simply comment upon what was and what is, having observed both.
The OP asked for people's opinions of this show. I provided what was asked.
#53What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/9/13 at 11:17pm
After Eight, I'm not trying to dictate your theatergoing or your posting, but when you claim the last great musical was in 1963 (HELLO, DOLLY!) and the last worthwhile musical was in 1983 (LA CAGE), one has to wonder why you bother?
Your choice, of course.
jemjeb2
Featured Actor Joined: 6/28/05
#54What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 12:32am
"i never bought Carol Burnett in the role.". Agree. I enjioyed the production - thought it was great - not so much her.
But yeah - the original cast /production can't be touched. I only saw it once (and second acted once - those were the days!) and still visualize it when I listen to the album.
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#55What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 1:58am
For women who (might decide that they) want kids and a long-haul father figure for them, feeling/receiving pressure to 'settle down' by age 35 still makes sense, as things are getting towards the pointy end, biological clock-wise. So there's the perfect way to set Company in the present day. 
Updated On: 11/10/13 at 01:58 AM
#56What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 3:23amI really don't see the point of updating Company; is it necessary for a show to be modern to be current? Sure, when it premiered it was cutting-edge but it's so well-written that it can exist as a period piece while still being resonant. There's a reason people flock to Fiddler on the Roof and it's probably not because audiences are wildly enthusiastic about turn-of-the-century Russian culture.
#57What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 9:09am
I love COMPANY. It's one of my favorite musicals and even though the show premiered when I was only two, listening to the songs, reading the libretto and of course seeing it performed resonated with me in so many ways.
I related in some way to every character in the show.
COMPANY, for me in the end is about LOVE. Take that wall down and allow yourself to love and be loved. That's what life's about: LOVE.
#58What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 12:38pmLove it or hate it, COMPANY really is a landmark show. I saw it on opening night (Prince had several, to take the pressure off of having only one) and was unprepared by what I saw and heard. But I went back over and over, and loved it more each time (preferred the "whitebread" of Dean Jones to the edgier Larry Kert, and yes, the sultriness of Jane Russell worked very well, particularly after watching Stritch very drunk at several performances, wondering if she would get through her big scene). We did a brief revival of it in 1990, as a benefit for BC/EFA, and it was very exciting. The John Doyle production was not to my taste at all, much too grim, but really enjoyed the Philharmonic concert, and thought NPH and cast did a splendid job.
#59What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 1:23pm
"Eric, the Philharmonic version was broadcast on PBS here last night. (Yes, I have the DVD, but whatever.) I actually lost count of the slang that was specific to the 1970s. I don't think Furth meant to be "ambiguous" about the time period in this particular version. It is 1970. "
Well Furth had passed away by the time it was done, hadn't he? But regardless, what I meant I guess was they didn't make it too retro stylized -- unlike say, the revival of Promises Promises there is nothing there that screams obviously '70s.
#60What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 2:14pmI did see COMPANY on Broadway in the Summer of 1970, although not with Dean Jones, but with one of my all time favorites LARRY KERT...and it was my FIRST BROADWAY show seen in NYC...i was only 22 at the time and it got me to instantly be a SONDHEIMMANIAC!...I loved the original production and also loved the OBC ALBUM when that came out...in fact i loved COMPANY so much i ended up 'SECOND-ACTING' the show 9 more times that Summer...i thought NPH was not a strong enough singer to tackel the role for this recent COMPANY...I like NPH in almost every everything he does especially the TONY'S...but BEING ALIVE needs a real 'BROADWAY" voice which sadly NPH does not have...all that being said, i enjoyed the presentation and didn't hate the book as much as i thought i did on seeing this filmed production a second time...and i also loved PATTI even though she looked horrible in my humble opinion...
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#61What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 3:47pm
I just watched the concert again on Hulu. The reason it works so well is that the cast is uniformly superb and make each character lovable, wise and specific. The scenes all dazzle. Too often this book is played for callous smartass points, which might have landed in lesser hands back then, but now don't unless - as this company understands very well - they are played with true individuality, love and real wit. Chryssie Whitehead's Kathy is just one of the many perfect performances and is worth singling out because she's relatively unknown.
Surprisingly, the use of the chorus, wheeling loveseats around, and joining in Tick-Tock, was very effective.
The only weak point for me is that Anika, who is very strong and has great comic timing in Marta's book scenes, looks lost throughout most of the musical numbers, and doesn't hit her mark in Another Hundred People until the very end.
Ciaron McCarthy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/15/06
#62What do you guys think of COMPANY?
Posted: 11/10/13 at 10:01pmI am too young to have seen the OBC. However, has there ever been a more perfect cast recording? I mean, truly. Changed my life.
