1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 25, 2016 10:19:11 GMT
Love the show Company. The last time I saw it (at the Harold Pinter/Comedy Theatre I think) starred Adrian Lester (sublime), the late Sheila Gish and Sophie Thompson. Adrian was the first black actor to play Bobby at the time. The production was fabulous.
Now of course we have this oh so fashionable gender swapping thing happening again. It's ridiculous! The Sondheim Society have approved this apparently and so I presume Stephen himself has. I know he has always resisted a gay version of the show and refuted the idea that Bobby is secretly gay in the actual piece.
As Ryan said above - there will be deals a plenty for this as it will not appeal to the general public. I'll go if I can get a cheap seat, but not a fan of Rosalie Craig I'm afraid.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 10:25:41 GMT
As Ryan said above - there will be deals a plenty for this as it will not appeal to the general public. It's the third production of a five-show season, following a play by Simon Stephens and a new version of Oedipus. I think that the intelligent audience will be able to cope with a Company reconfigured to make sense today with a Bobbie whose body clock is meaningfully ticking. |
|
|
|
Company
Nov 25, 2016 10:29:57 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 10:29:57 GMT
Love the show Company. The last time I saw it (at the Harold Pinter/Comedy Theatre I think) starred Adrian Lester (sublime), the late Sheila Gish and Sophie Thompson. Adrian was the first black actor to play Bobby at the time. The production was fabulous. Now of course we have this oh so fashionable gender swapping thing happening again.. It was the Donmar production which you saw at Albany/Noel Coward Theatre. As did I! And where as yes I think gender swapping casts are in vogue at the mo I think it's far from ridiculous. Won't it be marvellous to look back in a decade or so and go 'wow, do u remember when all those fabulous women played those fabulous parts in the west end?? Wouldn't happen now!' |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 10:35:00 GMT
The Sondheim Society have approved this apparently and so I presume Stephen himself has. I know he has always resisted a gay version of the show and refuted the idea that Bobby is secretly gay in the actual piece. Unless Bobby in this show turns out to be a lesbian of course. Won't be much of a secret then . . .  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 10:38:42 GMT
Love the show Company. The last time I saw it (at the Harold Pinter/Comedy Theatre I think) starred Adrian Lester (sublime), the late Sheila Gish and Sophie Thompson. Adrian was the first black actor to play Bobby at the time. The production was fabulous. Now of course we have this oh so fashionable gender swapping thing happening again.. It was the Donmar production which you saw at Albany/Noel Coward Theatre. As did I! And where as yes I think gender swapping casts are in vogue at the mo I think it's far from ridiculous. Won't it be marvellous to look back in a decade or so and go 'wow, do u remember when all those fabulous women played those fabulous parts in the west end?? Wouldn't happen now!' Personally I'm holding out hope that in a decade or so we'll be going "remember when people made such a fuss about all those fabulous women playing those fabulous parts, when it's just the norm now"?  |
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Nov 25, 2016 10:42:01 GMT
Personally I'm holding out hope that in a decade or so we'll be going "remember when people made such a fuss about all those fabulous women playing those fabulous parts, when it's just the norm now"? ![;)]() In a decade or so - I'll be dead. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 10:48:44 GMT
Says it all really.
|
|
1,103 posts
|
Post by mallardo on Nov 25, 2016 11:06:58 GMT
I wouldn't even change Bobby's flames tbh. Present Bobbie as a "cool girl" and a lesbian, leave the rest of the show the same (except Peter would now be asking about heterosexual experiences), shine some uncomfortable light on internalised misogyny and people's fetishisation of their gay friend Bobbie. Also my goodness but the scene where Kathy announces she's moving back up to Cape Cod to get married to a man would be a treat! Please let them at least leave Kathy female!
Some intriguing points, Baemax, but you're talking about an essentially different show.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 11:09:29 GMT
OR AM I? *laces fingers together, peers over the top of them, waggles eyebrows in your general direction*
|
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Nov 25, 2016 11:24:57 GMT
What really grinds my gears (it's probably risky enough just saying it!) is that if, for whatever valid reason, I actually end up not enjoying it, I feel like it'd be pretty risky business to actually publically say so!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 11:28:00 GMT
I don't see why, people have felt pretty free and easy to spread their negative opinions of Glenda Jackson's Lear all over the board. Valid reasons will always support valid critique.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 11:31:22 GMT
What really grinds my gears (it's probably risky enough just saying it!) is that if, for whatever valid reason, I actually end up not enjoying it, I feel like it'd be pretty risky business to actually publically say so! Not really. Well, unless you were just going to say "I hated it because of all these women in the cast. Why don't they just get back to the kitchen?" or the like. In which case, yes, you'd deservedly be on very thin ice. |
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Nov 25, 2016 12:10:24 GMT
Haha. And yes fair comment about Glenda Jackson! Well I hope so - I might all work & I might enjoy it! It's an interesting enough concept to get me to see it, but I do just wonder 'why?'.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 12:41:26 GMT
|
|
4,961 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 25, 2016 13:35:56 GMT
Could someone copy and paste the text - as I refuse to open the daily hate website
Please and ta
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 15:21:57 GMT
No. Breach of copyright.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Nov 25, 2016 15:23:37 GMT
Love Company and will definitely see this. Now top of my list for 2017
As an Opera lover I'm amazed about how the 'fans' want every production preserved just as THEY imagine the composer wanted it done. (Thats said you do get too many downright 'Silly' Opera productions).
Keen to see this it will help us see how times have changed, Or not.
However I do feel the arrangements have always seemed like weak Disco, admittedly of their time. I hope they will be simalarly bold with those.
Yes I think they can have some fun with this...
Pardon me, is everybody here? Because if everybody's here, I
Want to thank you all for coming to the wedding, I'd appreciate
Your going even more, I mean you must have lots of better things
To do, and not a word of this to Paula, remember Paula, you know,
The woman I'm gonna marry, but I'm not, because I wouldn't ruin
Anyone as wonderful as she is--
Thank you all
For the gifts and the flowers,
Thank you all,
Now it's back to the showers,
Don't tell Paula,
But I'm not getting married today.
Listen, everybody, look, I don't know what you're waiting for,
A wedding, what's a wedding, it's a prehistoric ritual
Where everybody promises fidelity forever, which is
Maybe the most horrifying word I ever heard of, which is
Followed by a honeymoon, where suddenly he'll realize he's
Saddled with a nut, and wanna kill me, which he should--
Thanks a bunch,
But I'm not getting married--
Go have lunch,
'Cause I'm not getting married--
You've been grand,
But I'm not getting married--
Don't just stand there,
I'm not getting married--
And don't tell Paula,
But I'm not getting married today.
Go, can't you go?
Why is no-
Body listening?
Goodbye
Go and cry
At another person's wake
If you're quick
For a kick
You could pick
Up a christening
But please
On my knees
There's a human life at stake!
Listen everybody, I'm afraid you didn't hear, or do you want to
See a crazy lady fall apart in front of you, it isn't only Paula
Who may be ruining her life, you know we'll both of us be losing
Our identities, I telephoned my analyst about it and she said to
See her Monday, but by Monday I'll be floating in the Hudson with
The other garbage--
I'm not well,
So I'm not getting married--
You've been swell,
But I'm not getting married--
Clear the hall,
'Cause I'm not getting married--
Thank you all,
But I'm not getting married--
And don't tell Paula,
But I'm not getting married today.
Go, can't you go?
Look, you know
I adore you all
But why
Watch me die ,
Like Eliza on the ice?
Look, perhaps
I'll collapse
In the apse
Right before you all,
So take
Back the cake,
Burn the shoes and boil the rice.
Look, I didn't wanna have to
Tell you, but I may be coming
Down with Hepatitis, and I
Think I'm gonna faint, so if
You wanna see me faint, I'll
Do it happily, but wouldn't
It be funnier to go and watch
A funeral, so thank you for the
Twenty-seven dinner plates,
Thirty-seven butter knives,
Forty-seven paperweights,
Fifty-seven candleholders--
One more thing--
I am not getting married!
But I'm not getting married!
Still I'm not getting married!
See, I'm not getting married!
That I'm not getting married
Today!
Still sung by Amy of course.
|
|
617 posts
|
Company
Nov 25, 2016 15:44:10 GMT
via mobile
Post by loureviews on Nov 25, 2016 15:44:10 GMT
Now that's what you call copyright infringement!  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 15:53:13 GMT
Could someone copy and paste the text - as I refuse to open the daily hate website Please and ta Basically says that it's not as believable in 2016 that a man in his thirties would have all of his friends pressuring him to get into a relationship. However, it is more believable for a woman, due to the notion of the 'body clock' etc., so they believe it will make the material more effective to switch genders for the main character. Sondheim wasn't enthusiastic at first but then they sent him a video of what they'd done and he really enjoyed it/Rosalie and gave them the permission. |
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 25, 2016 16:05:09 GMT
I can see why Sondheim might be reluctant to go with such a radical re-arrangement of his score. Because it is a lot more than just swapping the casting - it fundamentally alters the vocal balance of the show. Not necessarily a bad thing - but has to be done with care.
I recall that Sondheim and his collaborators shied away from making references to bisexuality in the original script - which was their original intention (something that was 'restored' in the Donmar production with Lester)
I am still not quite seeing the reason why this change is that desirable. It feels more gimmicky to me. But am open to being convinced.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 16:24:04 GMT
I am still not quite seeing the reason why this change is that desirable. It feels more gimmicky to me. But am open to being convinced. The nub seems to be that Marianne Elliott has said she believes that the original plot was credible to its original audience but today many people just respond to it in puzzlement that Bobby's friends think it so imperative that he should marry. However, by presenting Bobbie on the brink of losing her biological ability to easily start a family, Marianne Elliott has persuaded Sondheim that the show can once more be believed by its audience, as originally intended. This seems to me to be a restoration of the show, and not a gimmick. |
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 25, 2016 16:34:24 GMT
I can't see it as a restoration - it is a reinvention. And there is nothing inherently wrong in wanting to reinvent it.
However I have never watched a production of Company and felt that the pressures on Bobby felt outdated. Clearly Elliott and her team do.
I will await further casting news to see how this all plays out as I imagine it will need other changes (more than Andy)
|
|
181 posts
|
Post by caa on Nov 25, 2016 17:16:25 GMT
I wonder which theatre they're planning to put this as well as the other plays, I imagine it'll be somewhere like the Gielgud or the Harold Pinter. Other theatres could be maybe the Garrick or Vaudeville but the season seem to me to appeal to a non West End Audience. |
|
7,060 posts
|
Company
Nov 25, 2016 17:24:37 GMT
via mobile
Post by Jon on Nov 25, 2016 17:24:37 GMT
I wonder which theatre they're planning to put this as well as the other plays, I imagine it'll be somewhere like the Gielgud or the Harold Pinter. Other theatres could be maybe the Garrick or Vaudeville but the season seem to me to appeal to a non West End Audience. Vaudeville is a bit too small and the Garrick has just finished a year long season with Kenneth Branagh so I'm doubtful they'll commit to another year long season |
|
1,103 posts
|
Post by mallardo on Nov 25, 2016 17:27:09 GMT
So now Company is a show about motherhood?
|
|
