Company @ Union Street Theatre

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#1 Reich

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Joined: 13-February 07
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Location:London

Posted 31 May 2009 - 09:46 AM

I can’t believe how good this production is. Possibly the best one I’ve ever seen. It flies along with brilliant speed and pacing.

Not a weak link in the cast. Lincoln Stone as Bobby and Lucy Williamson as very young looking Joanne are wow. Although I do prefer my Joanne’s to be a bit older! However how she belted out the Ladies who Lunch and Vodka Stinger will become a legend for me.

Bobby is very brooding and melancholic until Side by Side when he turns into some smiling puppet and then we see why his friends love him. Michael Strassen has created two very different worlds and for most of the production we are in the head of Bobby. We view his friends as he views them, lovely but quite freaky and a bit bonkers. Strassen also very subtly juxtaposes the concept of marriage with images of Eve and forbidden fruit and the Crucifixion.

Top marks also for the five piece band who sound great and the chorography which is stunning.

I will be going again

“The staff are really exited too. Everyone’s giving me a little, doing a little that, when I walk past in the corridor, eyebrow raise thing, when usually they look away.”

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#2 Guest_hanna_*

Group: Guests

Posted 01 June 2009 - 04:24 PM

I enjoyed the production, but wasn't as blown away as I wanted to be from the reviews. I think there were actually quite a few weak links (mainly the men, a couple were really quite bad) and felt the cast was a bit too young so the story lost something. I also thought there were a few big mistakes in the direction - 'Getting Married Today' lost a lot of impact by bringing on the whole cast at the end, and the director used a tiny part of the stage so it looked strangely cramped. On the other hand, there is some real talent in the company, particularly the actor who played Joanne, who sang superbly, and Lincoln Stone. Worth seeing if you're a fan, but I'm still waiting for a great production of this show!

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#3 Guest_Guest_abalafae__

Group: Guests

Posted 01 June 2009 - 08:52 PM

Saw this a couple of times last week and loved it. Lincoln Stone is amazing as is the rest of the cast... Although Lucy Williamson is definately wortha mention as Joanne! I'd love to see this transfer, the cast have worked so hard and it really shows!

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#4 Guest_M_*

Group: Guests

Posted 02 June 2009 - 03:04 AM

I've ordered 3 tickets for the last performance to celebrate the end of AS levels!
I'm really looking forward to it because I love Company even though I only really got into it a few months ago. I'm sad to hear they brought the entire cast on at the end of '(Not)Getting Married Today'. I loved the revival's staging of it where Amy, Bobby and Paul sat down at the end. To the poster who said there were a few weak links, who would you say they were and did it spoil your enjoyment of the show?
I'm taking my mum and my sister who are complete Sondheim/Company newbies and I really hope they enjoy it. Hell, I hope I enjoy it! I'll be disappointed if Being Alive doesn't leave me in tears because I just have a feeling it will be beyond incredible live.

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#5 Guest_SJ_*

Group: Guests

Posted 02 June 2009 - 08:32 AM

I saw this after it first opened and I loved it, on a limited budget I think it is extremely well done. 'Being Alive' will leave you in tears - Lincoln Stone plays Bobby with lots of emotion, but Lucy Williamson bought the house down with 'The Ladies who lunch.'
I thought she was fantastic, her performance stood out for me.
If you love Sondheim and 'Company' I think you'll love this!

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#6 Guest_Hanna_*

Group: Guests

Posted 02 June 2009 - 10:33 AM

QUOTE(*M* @ Jun 2 2009, 03:04 AM)

To the poster who said there were a few weak links, who would you say they were and did it spoil your enjoyment of the show?

Hi - no, I really enjoyed it overall and think it deserves supporting. I don't really want to name names, but I just felt all of the male performers (apart from Lincoln Stone) were a good level below their female counterparts in terms of vocal ability and acting. I also felt that sometimes actors weren't helped by the directing, for example the scene with Bobby and Kathy that can be so moving didn't have much impact because they both just ended up shouting at each other for most of it. I think the actress who played Marta also deserves a mention for a brilliant 'Another Hundred People' and the actor playing Amy was very good, although I have heard much better vocal renditions of 'Getting Married Today'. Overall very tight musical direction though, and some brilliant vocal performances.

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#7 Guest_Guest_Sam__

Group: Guests

Posted 03 June 2009 - 09:31 AM

I saw this last night.. WOW!! I absolutely loved it. Without doubt the star of the show is Lucy Williamson, who's acting and singing were faultless. Lincoln Stone is also very good, as is Lucy Evans who plays April. I thought the cast in general were a good team actually. Its very cleverly done, and Michael England MD ing.. right there!! Fantastic!! This is an amazing opportunity to see theatre at its best.. I urge you to go!

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#8 Guest_Guesthayley_*

Group: Guests

Posted 03 June 2009 - 10:05 AM

REEEEEALLLY hope this can transfer I think it would sit fantastically in the West End right now....

Amazing cast, fantastic direction and I love the tempo of it, it's lively young and just right for now if u get me

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#9 Guest_M_*

Group: Guests

Posted 04 June 2009 - 04:46 PM

QUOTE(Guesthayley @ Jun 3 2009, 10:05 AM)

Oooh, I haven't seen it yet (9 more days, if I can count lol) but I'd love it if it transferred! The WE has a woeful lack of Sondheim... that said, I still haven't seen ALNM! :blush:

OTness... I think I might actually need to sign up to WOS, I'm not liking this guest business!