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Company |
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Published: 2008-05-20 |
List price: $24.99
Our price: $10.99
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As of: November 20th, 2008 02:55:33 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 A definitive production of a Broadway classic...
The Blu-ray rendition of Stephen Sondheim's, COMPANY is a jewel of a production. Not only are the video and audio worthy of blu-ray and true high def - but the performances, concept and photography are first class. This is a musical that never had a wide audience due to its quirky approach, lack of a recognizable plot and sparse productions across the country. Having said this, COMPANY never received its due as the quality piece it is. This blu-ray production is perhaps the definitive COMPANY and what the original should have been. Any Broadway lover will delight in this version. The performances are first class. The musical numbers unique and delightful. The direction is well paced and methodical. If you missed it on Broadway (I didn't), you can enjoy it now in this stellar production. I find myself enjoying COMPANY more than I did in New York. The reasonable price for the disc is another appealing factor. The powers that be are missing the boat by not presenting more blu-ray Broadway musicals. The revival of SOUTH PACIFIC would be an obvious choice for a blu-ray feature. The fear that video presentations of B'way shows reduce attendance at live performances is old hat and can't be substantiated. Meanwhile, many classic, live performances are fading away without an opportunity at a second life via blu-ray.
 Performances A+. Show C+.
The point for having the performers sing, act AND play instruments is lost on me. They look a bit foolish carrying and playing these musical instruments on stage. Is it to be cheap? Well, that is cheating the audience. However, their work in singing is first rate. Excellent actors (except the lead) staged badly and one truly boring set to look at for 2 hours. I blame the director for the minuses. The lead, Raul Esparza, is very good, not great. Any of the rest of the cast is better. The songs go from GREAT to WTF? Actually, there is not much really to sing about since there is not much of a story. It is a character study of a 35 year old man growing up emotionally in one night. Hardly exciting material. In the end, a very mixed bag.
Different but good.
I have seen this play many times, on stage and on Public TV. This is a good adaptation and the cast does an excellent job with it. Some may have trouble with the lack of true "set" as it is all played on one large platform in the middle of the audience. But all the charm of the show still comes through with the excellent portrayals by the cast. I love that the cast is also the orchestra and chorus.
Bobby Baby, Bobby Bubbe, Bobby...
I have always thought that Company was one of Sondheim's more intellectual musicals, where among the rest of the plays dealing with the complexities of marriage, it seems to capture the most distilled sense of what it means to be married. This being said, i never thought it would go beyond a cursory look of how dysfunctional marriages tend to be. The original production explored this issue with a fair amount of restraint, but this new production got so raw, you tend to forget that they're actors onstage. This production touched a nerve, to the point i internally debated turning it off for a while. I think that's what's interesting about the way this was done; beyond the actor/musician thing, and the multiple vantage points, everything seemed to be so REAL. As much as i am tempted to shower Raul Esparza with praises (which he obviously deserves), this is more the ensemble's triumph.
See this show, and be prepared to ask a lot of questions regarding your own relationships after.
Brilliant performance of brilliant, sophisticated musical theater
"Company" is musical theater for a sophisticated audience - filled with the bitingly clever lyrics and musical complexity that typify the best of Sondheim. "Company" consists of a series of vignettes exploring the nature of relationships seen through the eyes of 35 year old, single Bobby - and the truthfulness expressed will certainly resonate with people of a similar age.
The production is striking with director John Doyle employing his trademark schtick of the performers singing, acting, AND performing the music (for another example of this you should listen to the excellent Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)). Raul Esparza as Bobby leads an incredibly talented cast.
The extras are excellent and consist of:
- A lengthy interview with Sondheim
- A revealing interview with Raul Esparza
- Interview with Director John Doyle
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