Favourite song from Stephen Sondheim's Company

well they had to get Stritch to come back anyway in the end

I've played for a few revues that did songs from the show, but my first time actually seeing it staged was last year, when a friend of mine played April in a community production at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in New Hampshire. For reasons that I don't fully understand (although I have some suspicions), the music was reduced to piano two hands, performed on a concert grand on stage. They also made Amy and Paul a gay couple, and the guy playing Amy/Jamie (also a friend of mine) couldn't sing, but got the manic energy down perfectly.

I love the pennebaker film and I watch this so frequently on youtube, or at least the highlights. the original cast recording is definitely the best version. Another Hundred People/You could drive a person crazy/Ladies who lunch all definitive versions. The deranged andrews sisters harmonies on you could drive a person crazy should literally pierce your eardrums and this is the only version that really goes for that (the 1996 London version gives pretty good as well) by contrast, Another Hundred people is so demanding and no other singer I know of has managed to avoid sounding too shrieking or strident or to balance the pathos, cynicism and romanticism in the lyrics - most settle for one register and battle through it. The film really gets across something very particular about the musical - its damp griminess; ugly, overdecorated park avenue apartments, synthetic fibres, midtown pianobars. The apalling makeup, the producer with the neckerchief. Sondheim is not at all handsome (I think he looks good in photographs from the period) and seems really slimey and imperious but also derangedly exacting and so identified with Bobby and Dean jones a brilliantly empty realisation of the character - but imagine anthony perkins (who was originally cast but dropped out during rehearsals), who I think could have brought out a nastiness in the character that the most anodyne productions gloss over. Nastiness is key to sondheim in general and Company in particular.

omg, how did I miss this? This is one of my favorite musicals!

"Being Alive" is too easy a choice, it's a song that speaks to me personally enough that I've performed it in public multiple times, but...I generally don't like to listen to it outside the show, because it's much more stirring when you get through the 2 hours of build-up to it.

I think "Sorry-Grateful" is my fav. love the melody and the lyrics.

I want to be in this when theater resumes. probably not as Bobby, that's already (kind of) my name and also it'll be kind of a mid-life crisis role.

i think you can watch the whole of the 1996 donmar version on youtube. its definitely the most enjoyable 'updated' versions (dir Sam mendes) even if you can't be arsed, the version of "side by side/what would we do without you" is worth watching.

Check this it's fantastic. No idea why it's been sitting up there on YouTube in full for for all this time but there it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGkj3ljFGs8

follies/company>>>>>>>>>>>>sunday in the park with george>merrily we roll along>a little night music> pacific overtures>assassins>sweeney todd>into the woods

omg, how did I miss this?

i missed it too, obviously, because The Ladies who Lunch is the fucking best and no one voted for it? ... Getting Married Today is also rad.

"derangedly exacting" nails my sense of Sondheim, but it can be argued that's how he got there.

Tony Perkins might've been a touch to old to play Bobby, I think it probably had something to do with his ups and downs of his relationship with S.S.

plax, did you see Marriage Story? Two covers from this show are in it.

heh maybe we should do an ILX compilation of Sondheim covers

also find it strange that Beth Howland is known for being the original Amy in this, and otherwise only for her one-joke character in TV's "Alice."

No I avoided marriage story but this is reason enough to give it a go?

Lol omg didn't even notice ladies who lunch didn't get a vote, that's just off

Side by side and little things you do together are also without votes

reason enough, no, but I ilked it

"Being Alive" too gay for me even when Adam Driver sings it

How about Judd Hirsch, then?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VqPeZdq1An4

Hey, look what Criterion's doing:

https://www.criterion.com/films/30212-original-cast-album-company

And of particular note:

New audio commentary by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim

Dooooooope!

Aw man, two of my three favorite songs from this didn't get any votes! Glad "Being Alive" is up there, but can't believe that "Getting Married Today" and "Marry Me a Little" got zero votes.

Amazing!

Any bonus stritch they wanna throw in I'm happy to take

Sweeney Todd used to be my favorite Sondheim (and it's still close). but as I got older, this one took over....by a long shot.

and god do I love the Esparza recording.

"Getting Married Today" — Amy, Paul, Jenny and Company 0

HEATHENS

one of the funniest musical comedy pieces ever

and god do I love the Esparza recording.

― Feta Van Cheese (Neanderthal),

More than the original with Dean Jones and Elaine Stritch?

How does the opening number have 0 votes?? I fucking hate polls

Elaine Stritch *is* Joanne afaic, all other Joannes are imposters, even Patti LuPone!

LuPone's overrated, though I did like her in 2008's revival of Gypsy (directed by Laurents himself)

definitely thinking of heading to NYC in 2022 for the gender-swapped version with Katrina Lenk - she was marvelous in The Band's Visit

I actually had planned to see that revival on my last two consecutive birthdays, but was thwarted both times- the first time it was cause they pushed back the opening date, and the second COVID obv

a third delay will not stand

Yeah, it's on this year. I'll splurge on great seats and have a drink at the Seagram building first.

Ok, I probably won't *really* have a drink at the 4 Seasons or whatever it's called now but i am gonna check out this show for sure

Here's to the fleders who welch

my dad and mother watch a lot of SVU, I've been more interested in watching Raul Esparza. always want him to break out into "Being Alive" tho

Bought the Criterion Blu-ray recently and it's a blast, I just wish it were a little longer.

I work in sound so the footage of the 30th Street Columbia studio is total catnip, I'm in love with Pamela Myers also.

This is included in the extras -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUjg7xFsxJk

Did you just say “30th Street Columbia Studio”?

Uh yeah, why?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_30th_Street_Studio

Recently learned Elaine Stritch was the first actress to play Trixie Norton on the pre-Honeymooners Jackie Gleason Show.

!

Nothing, except I love old studio stuff, especially old NYC studio stuff, especially that particular studio.
xp

Wasn’t sure what that video was going to be but just watched a few minutes and loved it, hitting me in various levels. Seems to feature James Urbaniak, last seen by me on I come in peace... three times a night -- FOR ALL MANKIND (Apple TV Plus)

Weird results.

XXP - Ah I see, sorry I got confused and thought I had maybe made an NYC naming convention faux pas.

This Hoffman thread might appeal, James - https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/history-of-cbs-records-30th-street-studio-nyc-many-pictures.388186/page-15

also find it strange that Beth Howland is known for being the original Amy in this, and otherwise only for her one-joke character in TV's "Alice."

Need to watch more of those Documentary Now! episodes, such as the one mentioned here: Yacht Rock

The Stop Making Sense one, called Test Pattern, is a lot of fun.

Thanks, seems to be called “Final Transmission” though.

Oh lord, yeah, Test Pattern is the band, apologies

I've had the Pennebaker Company DVD on hold at NYPL for something like several years, the queue hardly ever moves and I've presumed it's lost. Hope to see it one day.

Think you can find it on YouTube. Might not get the extra commentary track though.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVjwyHrXgAEwb2w.jpg

somebody force me to care

the raúl esparza rendition of "being alive" is murdering me in my sleep

Someone to make you come through
Who'll always be there
As frightened as you
Of being alive