skynyc

Sorry...I never know if I should post lousy reviews, don't want to spoil for those with tickets, or stop people from getting tickets and supporting live theater. I guess I classify it in the "managing expectations" category.

Sadly, this may be my biggest theatrical disappointment of all time. I enjoyed Beanie in Dolly and in a couple Youtube things, didn't see her Monica Lewinsky. I hoped that the producers had ensured she could pull it off. She really didn't, at least not last night. She had some pitch issues, and was not directly to deliver the lines well...many of her quips went flat. And her costumes were hideous. The original Fanny was quirky looking but fashionable. Most of Fanny's dresses here accentuated her weight, and were in hideous colors. The ensemble, however, had lovely costumes. Tap choreography was amazing and Jared Grimes as Eddie is a really highpoint. However the two other major dance numbers, Henry Street and Sadie, Sadie looked like they were onstage at a college production. Jane Lynch didn't disappoint, and Ramin Karimloo has nothing to sing to show off his voice. (And he had no chemistry with Beanie.) The set is a large floating turret, that kept making me think of the Tower of London and takes up the center third of the stage and makes the Ziegfeld numbers look small. I had spent a lot for me, getting front row mezzanine with the first discount code I found, so our seats were pretty idea. Despite my disappointment, I had a good night in the theater, with a friend on one side and three nurses visiting from Louisiana on the other side. They were enjoying it greatly and that was fun to see. They were also seeing Wicked, Hamilton, and Music Man on this trip, so their enjoyment would only improve.

I've now seen this production of Company four times. I had tickets for St. Patricks Day 2020, and obviously missed. These tickets were moved to April of this year, but I didn't want to wait until April when performances started in December, so I got it on TDF and enjoyed it. A friend came in over Christmas and really wanted to see it, so I went again with him...again on TDF. And in February when Patti LuPone was out, I went back to see Jennifer Simard play Joanne, which was very different and very enjoyable. Finally saw on my original tickets at a Saturday matinee and show was in best shape of all. Katrina Lenk sang the hell out of it, her best Being Alive to date for me, and Matt Doyle's breakdown during Not Getting Married Today was just heartbreaking. Claybourne Elder's dumb blond flight attendant is riotous, and his ripped torso in Barcelona is a treat to see. The moving of the COMPANY letters was such a clever directorial device, whomever the standbys in this show have to really know what they're doing. Someone above mentioned that Patti will be up against Sutton for the Tony, but I suspect the producers of Company will try to get Patti in the Featured category so as to not compete against Katrina. Tony nominations are another topic. LOL. I don't LOVE this show, but I do love this cast.

Saw this for the cast. As noted, Mamet is so difficult to get right, but I'd see Fishburne read the phone book, and Sam Rockwell is such a chameleon that I was very excited. Criss was charming and fun on Glee, charming and enticing in How to Succeed, charming and straight in Hedwig, and charming and terrifying in The Killing of Versace. And here he was the antithesis of all. So hangdog and insecure, you almost couldn't find him on the set. I was so impressed by his performance. Saw it a number of years ago with Cedric the Entertainer, John Leguizamo and Haley Joel Osment all of whom did service to the play, but this production shows how good Mamet can be. I got a $55 +points ticket through Audience Rewards, and had a great seat. One of the rare occasions at this theater, where you want to be along the sides of the thrust. MUCH of the action is close to the back of the thrusting stage.

I am seeing this tonight and word of mouth has lowered my once, very high anticipation. I do wish they'd brought the Paper Mill production from xx years ago with Leslie Kritzer in. She was phenomenal, and feel it would truly have been a repeat of a star-making moment. After a long hiatus, and lots of help reactivating my account, I look forward to rejoining the discussions here.

Oh, Unicorn...you rock. What a great "something for everyone" post. Both sets. A lovely diversion for a Sunday morning. Thank you!!!

If you haven't seen this, go in the next two weeks. Michael Urie will be taking it to Chicago and then LA... You definitely want to see it with him. Not that Chris Hanke won't be good, he probably will be...but Urie is AMAZING!!! Interesting that Hanke's last big NY role was as the villainous Bud Frump in the Daniel Radcliffe How to Succeed in Business...and he was replaced by.... Michael Urie.

There's always Julianne Hough... She can be his swing coach when go goes on Dancing with the Stars.