Sondheim's Company on PBS Wednesday

[josher]

The 2006 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company" will be shown on most PBS stations at 9 PM on Wednesday.

I can't wait.

 

[glo-unit]

Yay, I've been wanting to see more Sondheim after I got into Sweeney Todd. Which reminds my I should check on the copy of Into the Woods I tried to put on reserve.

 

[Angelfan]

It won't be as good as the 90s London revival which is now the definitive version for me.

 

[josher]

It won't be as good as the 90s London revival which is now the definitive version for me.

I've seen quite a few clips of that on YouTube.

I get what they were trying to do, but I didn't enjoy it much.

It has Stephen's OK though, so he must have liked it.

 

[jarcom]

I saw the original Broadway version in New York in the 70's.....walked out of the theatre and went to the box office for a ticket to see it again the next night......orchestra ticket for 9.90..........things sure have changed....it is a GREAT musical

 

[Angelfan]

I get what they were trying to do, but I didn't enjoy it much.

It was brilliant! Ok so it's the only version I've seen but I've heard most cast recordings and the 90s London cast is the best I've heard.

 

[josher]

It was brilliant! Ok so it's the only version I've seen but I've heard most cast recordings and the 90s London cast is the best I've heard.

I don't want to get into a pissing match over "this" production versus "that" production, but the woman in the London revival couldn't hold a candle to Elaine Stritch's performance of "The Ladies Who Lunch" in the original production. (I did see that production several times and also have the Original Cast Album, and I've seen the London performance on YouTube.)

But everyone's has their own musical tastes and that's fine. It'd be pretty dull, if we all liked the same things.

The big criticism of the 2006 Broadway revival was that the director (who also directed the smash revival of Sweeny Todd with Patti Lupone) used the same shtick he used in Sweeny, i.e. having the cast play musicals instruments. The critics said, "Been there, done that."

 

[josher]

I've just learned that some stations are playing it on a dfferent night.

One JUBer told me that it's showing on Saturday night where he lives.

 

[Joshua_me]

The 2006 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company" will be shown on most PBS stations at 9 PM on Wednesday.

I can't wait.

*Woot* !!

And another great big smooch for the PM, josher....

Very thoughtful.

 

[josher]

^^You're quite welcome.

I appreciate all the smooches I can get at my age.

 

[Angelfan]

I prefer Sheila Gish's version of Ladies Who Lunch to Elaine Stritch's.

As for John Doyle's use of actors performing the instruments he's doing it again with Merrily We Roll Along.

 

[glo-unit]

You could always borrow my copy of the original cast DVD of Into the Woods. I got it from half.com.

Thanks anyways, but it's already on the shelf.

 

[Spellbound]

I'm watching it right now and liking it. Not too crazy about the lead though.


With the corporate takeover of Broadway, the declining quality of original shows, and high price of tickets these days, its just not affordable for working class people, students, and other people who can't dish out $100+ for a good seat to go see a show. Because of that, I wish more Broadway shows were available to the public like this. I know they're all taped for archival purposes but rarely released on DVD or broadcast on TV.

 

[thackftl]

I watched this last night. Hated, hated, HATED the actors playing instruments. I found it incredibly distracting to have someone sing a line and then play a riff on the flute. Don't get me started on how horribly the trio on "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" played their saxophones!

My annoyance of this "trick" disappeared over the course of the show, however. I wasn't digging Raul Esparza in the role of Bobby. I found myself not liking him for most of the show. I will, however, give him credit for showing the transition that the character makes during "Being Alive".

I think if I had payed over $100 to see this production on stage, I would have been disappointed. But, that's just my take on it.

 

[prettyboysing]

I'm watching it right now and liking it. Not too crazy about the lead though.


With the corporate takeover of Broadway, the declining quality of original shows, and high price of tickets these days, its just not affordable for working class people, students, and other people who can't dish out $100+ for a good seat to go see a show. Because of that, I wish more Broadway shows were available to the public like this. I know they're all taped for archival purposes but rarely released on DVD or broadcast on TV.

They aren't all taped for archival purposes, but a high percentage are. There are so many discounts for Broadway theatre, it really is doable for most audiences. For example, TDF memberships are very easy to come by. I'm a big proponent that live theatre should be experienced live with few exceptions.

 

[Spellbound]

True, but can you really not deny that the quality of shows has severely gone down-hill?

 

[sonny10305]

I watched this last night. Hated, hated, HATED the actors playing instruments. I found it incredibly distracting to have someone sing a line and then play a riff on the flute. Don't get me started on how horribly the trio on "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" played their saxophones!

.

I'm watching it right now and liking it. Not too crazy about the lead though.


.

Agreed, I have seen this show many times and this is not along the best.

I want to share a clip of Carol Burnett singing "Not Getting Married"
which she absolutely nailed. I don't recall who sang it on last nights show but I did not think she did a very good job of it.

 

[Spellbound]

I thought The Ladies Who Lunch was butchered. BUT I'm so used to Elaine Stritch singing its just too strange hearing anyone else perform it.

 

[prettyboysing]

True, but can you really not deny that the quality of shows has severely gone down-hill?

In some ways. But, I think there are a lot of wonderful things happening on and off-Broadway these days. There is some crap and even more mediocrity, but I think that's always been the case.

I do feel like producers have tipped the scales and are trying to use their business brains too much over their artistic. They're scrambling to find the right "formula" for shows and not trusting the audiences enough to think a little bit. They'd rather loose money trying to capture the Mama Mia lightning in a bottle. Meanwhile, Lincoln Center is giving us a South Pacific with a 50-member ensemble and a 30-strong orchestra that they're paying for with all of the money they made (and are making) from Light in the Piazza.

When I heard the final rehearsal of In the Heights, the first thing I noticed was how much they expanded the orchestra from the off-Broadway production--especially knowing how easily they could have opted for two synthesizers. It was wonderful to hear and hopefully audiences will notice the difference and start demanding more of this.

I loved Xanadu and I feel there really is a place for this on Broadway, but I am getting a little tired of hearing "oh, it's just fun and that's all it's trying to be."

That said... I don't think that filming and making these shows more accessible is the answer to this one either. If anything, it would fuel the flame.

 

[prettyboysing]

I love Carol Burnette in almost everything she does, but this is my favorite "Not Getting Married: