Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's legendary musical comedy
Company is about life, love and marriage, which seemed to have particular
resonance for the couple sitting in front of me as they nudged and smiled at
each other throughout the show. Clearly, Marianne Elliott's updated version of
this 1970’s musical comedy was spot on and fiercely relevant to today’s
audience.
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| Rosalie Craig |
Originally the plot revolved around Bobby (a single man unable
to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married
couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. With a simple,
clever tweak, Bobbie is now a woman, and with other minor appropriate gender
changes, the story is even more germane and pertinent to today’s society. As
the publicity for the show explains, this is ‘the legendary Broadway musical as
you've never seen it before’.
Unlike most book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated
plot, Company is a concept musical composed of short vignettes staged on Bunny
Christie’s stunningly-stylish, ever-evolving set, presented in no particular
chronological order and all linked by Bobbie's 35th birthday celebration.
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| Rosalie Craig and Richard Fleeshman |
Stepping into Bobbie’s heels is the sublime Rosalie Craig who is
the complete embodiment of this new-found leading lady – stylish, cool, witty,
assured, vulnerable, and relaxed - who adds enormous depth and pertinence to
Stephen Sondheim’s joyous score and George Furth’s sharply-observed book. Her
rendition of Being Alive is the stuff of West End legend!
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| Patti LuPone |
Talking of legends, the Company company is blessed with Broadway
royalty in the form of Patti LuPone. Completely inhabiting the iconic role of
Joanne, Miss LuPone has some of the funniest and most wicked one-liners ever
written as her hors-d'oeuvres and for her main course and dessert, obligatory
Vodka stinger in hand, The Ladies Who Lunch. What more could you ask for? This
is a performance of depth, experience and bravura, the like of which does not
come along very often and should not be missed at any cost!
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| Rosalie Craig, Alex Gaumond and Jonathan Bailey |
It is also imperative to make lavishly clear that the Company
ensemble is utterly exemplary and all add to the perfection of Marianne
Elliott’s vision. Jonathan Bailey as new character Jamie is a total revelation
and his rendition of Getting Married Today is a flawless show-stealer and must
be seen, and heard, to be believed! Richard Fleeshman as Andy is charmingly
adorable, albeit rather stupid, but gets two of the iconic songs in Barcelona
and You Could Drive a Person Crazy. Mel Giedroyc and Gavin Spokes as Sarah and
Harry, a couple of secret drinkers and eaters, were the embodiment of so many
couples that we all know and love. And this is where the couple in front seemed
to enjoy the most empathy!
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| Gavin Spokes and Mel Giedroyc |
Director and producer, Marianne Elliott has crafted a musical
masterpiece, clearly capitalising on a brilliantly talented ensemble and
creative team, whose love and respect for Sondheim and Furth’s Company shines
incandescently on stage at the Gielgud Theatre and is, without doubt, a quintessential
pleasure!
Company Sitzprobe
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