company or grey gardens?

[bwaykaykrazy]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:40pm

if you got to see one of these shows.... which one would you choose?

grey gardens or company?

:)

(which one do you think has a better chance for a tony nom.)

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:43pm

Go see GREY GARDENS. As much as I love COMPANY, this current production leaves a lot to be desired.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:44pm

They both have chances for Tony nominations.

Neither show is perfect, by any means. If I preferred COMPANY it is at least partly because it has a much better score than GREY GARDENS.

GREY GARDENS has a couple of very good performances in it. The movie is better, rent it and save yourself the ticket price.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:47pm

They'll both be nominated for Tonys. Christine Ebersole will win in her category, but Raul might have some competition.


But see Company. It's a better show, and I can't imagine liking a production more than this one.

Though, really, I'd urge you to see both. Christine Ebersole's performance is one of the best performances I've ever seen on stage or elsewhere; it's not to be missed.

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:50pm

Pleeeeeeeeeease.

Grey Gardens without a doubt. The COMPANY revival is the usual B-cast of a classic show whose score is superb and whose book is creaky.

[azeller]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:54pm

Grey Gardens!

I've seen both and LOVED Grey Gardens. Company wasn't a favorite.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 08:54 PM

[BobbyErikValjean]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:57pm

I've never seen Grey Gardens but I LOVE Company.

[redfuzzycow]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 8:59pm

company company company!!!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:00pm

The shows themeselves are not competing with each other for big awards (since one is a revival and the other new), and are both very likely for several Tony nominations.

Finally having seen both, I would still urge you to see Company. Grey Gardens is fascinating and quite well put together. Ebserole's performance is fantastic, and probably the reason to see the show. Yet... as much as I enjoyed it, I can't see myself ever feeling compelled to return. I've been able to return to Company several times with just as much catharsis and not an ounce of boredom. I can't really imagine loving another production as much as I do that revival. It's high on the list of most beautiful things I've ever seen. You won't want to have missed it once it's gone, whenever that ends up being. I think the only levels on which the two are truly comparable is in terms of their lead performances, both outstanding.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 09:00 PM

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:05pm

company

[keen on kean]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:06pm

I second everything LuvtheEmcee said - Company is an amazing experience. Don't miss it.

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:13pm

Ooh, tough. I think Grey Gardens is a better show overall, but I prefer Company's score. I think it comes down to what you're in the mood for that day - they're both dark shows sprinkled with comedy (with Company having a bit more of that), but would you prefer to see a show offering an in-depth look at the pitfalls of familial relationships (Grey Gardens) or a show about the positives and negatives of romantic relationships (Company)?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:16pm

If you want an in-depth look at the pitfalls of familial relationships, rent the movie of GREY GARDENS. If you want a rather uninspired musical based on a fascinating and original film, see the musical of GREY GARDENS.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:17pm

Completely irrelevant, but Grey Gardens totally wins for best poster. It's so pretty.

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:19pm

I've never seen the film, so it's very possible it's better in comparison, but I was blown away by both the performances and the story that I saw on stage today. I found the dynamics between all of the characters - not just Little Edie and Edith - extremely intriguing and captivating. The score itself is not amazing (as I said, I prefer Company's score), but it works perfectly within the context of the show.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:19pm

Yet... as much as I enjoyed it, I can't imagine ever feeling compelled to return. I've been able to return to Company several times with just as much catharsis and not an ounce of boredom.

Might this have something to do with the fact that you are a huge fan of Raul?

I tend to think that sort of fandom can effect how often one goes to see a show.

I say see both show if possible. I have no vested interests with any of the performers in either of the shows.

The Company has the stronger score. The supporting cast of Company is rather weak and colorless other than possibly for Barbara Walsh.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:20pm

While Grey Gardens is worth seeing for it's performances, all of which are fantastic, I find Company to be a better all-around show. To me, Grey Gardens is several great performances, but not one great, cohesive show. I'd recommend Company. It's something you won't want to have missed.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 09:20 PM

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:23pm

As a sidenote, I would see Company more than once (and will be doing so) while I probably won't return to Grey Gardens, but for me, that doesn't have too much to do with how much I enjoyed the shows themselves or is in direct correlation to the quality of the shows. I enjoyed both of them about the same but think Company has that greater "repeat value" due to its score. On the flip side, I saw High Fidelity three times - not because it's anywhere close in quality to Grey Gardens or Company, but because for me, it had a high repeat value and was pure fun.
Updated On: 2/18/07 at 09:23 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:25pm

Uuum, somewhat, but that's not the compulsion in its entirety. I mean, of course it's a factor. It's probably impossible for it not to be, or not to impact how many times you see something.

However, while I readily admit that, I think don't think it's fair to assume that that's the only I reason I've seen it several times or the only thing going on in my love for the show and therefore the only reason I support it so much, liked Grey Gardens less, whatever. I also think it's unfair to assume that support of a performer and love of a production are mutually exclusive -- why can they not co-exist? Why does it have to be that choosing one over the other is done solely because of a vested interest in a performer? A factor is a part of the whole and a great performer does always not a great show make. Saying you think this person should choose both should be done because you think them of equal quality, not only because you have no loyalties to a performer in either. The performers are only part of the shows they're in.

I think Doyle is a genius, the show itself is a masterpiece, and I've been very moved by the entire production. Raúl alone could not, brilliant as he is, keep me as enthralled as I have been with that thing; he is far from the only beam of radiance within it.

When I saw Grey Gardens, there was this guy in front of me who had seen it nine times. And I was sort of like "okay, that's cool," because yes, I do have "repeat offense" habits and everyone's entitled to their own preferences. But when it was over, I was sort of baffled as to why you would want to see that nine times. I felt like I saw it, enjoyed it and was fascinated by the characters, but since I didn't deeply connect with it, that was as far as my journey with it would go (save for viewing the film, which I will eventually do) -- whereas Company seems to lose very little for me with repeat viewings. I think that's what happens when something really speaks to you, fan of the leading man or not.

I think that's fair, no?

ETA -- sorry, that was long. This is something that's been on my mind lately.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 09:25 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 10:47pm

Grey Gardens! Company is a staged concert with the gimmick of actors playing their own intruments.

[mikem]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:33pm

Both shows are well-done, but I would personally go for Grey Gardens. I think I may have seen Company on an off night -- Raul had unexpectedly been out earlier in the week and I think he was still sick, and Barbara Walsh seemed to be searching for the right notes in the first half of Ladies Who Lunch (which may have been a character choice, but not a choice I personally would have wanted her to make -- she was distractingly off). I found the 3 numbers I had most been looking forward to(Getting Married Today, Ladies Who Lunch, and Being Alive) all had less impact than I had thought they would. I enjoyed the production, but not nearly as much as I had hoped to.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:41pm

Company, definitely.

Wait, on second thought, Spring Awakening.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:43pm

Def GREY GARDENS.

COMPANY is a classic show and score but this production suffers from lack of good singing and acting in favor of musicianship.

They are both on TKTS everyday so if you can see both, DO IT!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:46pm

They're both also pretty easy to rush if you're a student. I got third row seats at GG at about 6:30 on a Friday night -- $25! That's even cheaper than TKTS.

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:57pm

Right now, I'd say Grey Gardens, but if there was a cast change, I probably would go with Company. The chemistry between Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson is what makes Grey Gardens amazing. It's a one of a kind emotional experience that is very hard to surpass, and is one of the most moving performances I have ever seen. It's hard to find two actresses who can connect with each other as well as they do. To me, a lot would be lost from the show if the actresses don't connect with each other, no matter how good each is in her individual role. Company is one of those shows that can withstand cast replacements well. I feel it could be played by any combination of actors and still maintain the same feeling I experienced when I saw it.

Updated On: 2/18/07 at 11:57 PM