Wednesday, January 28, 2015


Comments for Company should be posted here.  Below are some links to websites where you can find or listen to the original cast album:

Link to original cast album

Link to iTunes version of the original album

 

15 comments:

  1. Company has ALWAYS been my favorite Sondheim musical. I just love the story and Bobby's journey. The 2006 production featuring Raul Esparza III, literally changed how I viewed Sondheim. The very beginning of Company is one of my favorite builds into a number period. The following scene that ties into "Little Things You Do Together" is wonderfully constructed. The karate and fighting is so creative, especially in the 2006 production, having them across the stage and yet so specific about the injuries and "mutilations" of their faces. Someone is Waiting is one of my favorite pieces, as well. I love the wordplay, and Bobby's desire for a woman who has qualities of all of his friends. And then his encounter with Amy, Kathy and April. How fleeting love is (Kathy and Bobby had both considered marrying the other, but now Kathy's marrying someone else), how much we'll settle (April's not the brightest bulb,) as well as get with people we really don't belong with (Marta and Bobby just don't mesh.) I LOVE GETTING MARRIED TODAY. Oh it makes me laugh every time I listen to it. It's interesting listening to how various performers approach the role. Heather Laws in the revival gave Amy a little more craziness whereas Beth Howland was a little more reserved. Also, um, Marry Me a Little is nearly perfect. I love it so much. I think the transition from Side by Side by Side into What Would We Do Without You was wonderful, and gives us a definite change for Bobby. I love Barcelona, too. Especially the ending, cause how can you not? Haha. I really enjoy The Ladies Who Lunch. Elaine Stritch is incredible. She's one of those performers I wish I could have seen before she passed. Barbara Walsh is incredible in the revival, but Stritch is hard to beat. Being Alive is hands down my favorite song from a musical. Without question. Everything about it makes me ache with joy and sorrow, but it's so good.

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  2. I do not connect with show as much as you have expressed Nathan. Although, Sondheim does a great job with the rhythmic changes throughout the score. I agree with the wonderful transition from "Side By Side By Side" into "What Would We Do Without You" giving Bobby more depth and a change. The Lyrics are used really well with the rhythms of the songs. I have not seen this musical performed so the Concept musical idea with many vignettes is a little hard to follow when only listening to the score. I enjoyed getting to listen to the original cast album but this is definitely not one of my favorites.

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  5. "Company" is a show that I find a deeper appreciation for after every viewing. As a young adult, with every passing year I learn more about what a relationship means. This show highlights the trials and tribulations. Sondheim’s untraditional plot structure has never presented a barrier in my understanding of his show. In fact, I think this unique approach serves to heighten its dramatic impact. “Being Alive” is certainly Company’s most widely recognized song. However, I have always been partial to an early song in Act 1 entitled “Sorry-Grateful.” This song is the perfect portrait of a marriage. Part of you regrets that you have permanently tied yourself to this one person, but there is another part of you that will always be happy that you did.

    Landon - I would encourage you to watch an actual production of this show. There are plenty of video recordings online, as well as a fantastic production on Netflix.

    - John Stafford

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  6. I watched the 2011 performance with Neil Patrick Harris and really enjoyed it. There was a purpose in each of the scenes and songs, that even though it didn't have the traditional flow you got the key points in Bobby's life and things still made sense. I'm going to agree with Nathan that Being Alive and Marry Me A Little are wonderful and probably my favorites. Even though we aren't 35, there's still a connection with some of the topics and moments and it really makes one think about their life too. I like when a production can both take me out of reality for a while and also make me think about it and choices people make. In the movie we watched Wednesday, Sondheim said he wrote the music as a sentence would go with voice inflections and I could really see that once I was looking for it and it is done so well it truly seems natural and I wouldn't have caught that if he didn't mention it. This show was wonderful and I would definitely watch it many more times.

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  7. I didn't enjoy the score in the beginning of listening to it and at times I found the songs kind of annoying but in the middle and in the end I felt that the songs were perfect for the show. I am not too familiar with Company, minus what we have gone over in class, but at the end of the score I got the feeling of a complete understanding of the story. Being alive was my favorite song by far from the score.

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  8. To be honestly , I dont really enjoy this musical, i felt a little bit bored after i listened this musical, the only one i like is" the little things you do together". But i guess maybe i am not in that level ,so i can not taste the special of this musical.Rhythm of most songs in this musical sounds simply,lack of the mystery's feeling.For example,my favorite musical is West side story, they connected the mordern music with musical, with i think is wonderful and special!

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  9. I thought this was a fun Musial to listen to but can I just say did anyone else hear city on fire from Sweeny Todd in the song hundred people. I did and I thought it was so cool at each Musial influences each other. In the opening I defiantly felt like the composer was trying to set you up in a dream.

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  10. "Getting Married Today" and "Being Alive" were probably my favorite songs from this musical. "Getting Married Today" was just a rhythmic joyride for me. And "Being Alive" was a very powerful song to me and I enjoyed listening to it the 13 times I did.

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  11. "Getting Married Today" and "Being Alive" were probably my favorite songs from this musical. "Getting Married Today" was just a rhythmic joyride for me. And "Being Alive" was a very powerful song to me and I enjoyed listening to it the 13 times I did.

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  12. I love Sondheim's style...it always keeps you on your toes. So, naturally I liked this score. I would prefer to see it than to listen to it, though. Since it's comprised of a variety of vignettes, it would be easier for me to understand that way. And yes, Rochele, I definitely heard what you were talking about in "Another Hundred People"...especially since she says "city" the same way. :)

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  13. I love this soundtrack! I think I will try to watch a performance after listening to it, it is just so interesting. I had heard "Being Alive" before, and actually sang it a few times with my voice teacher, it is probably my favorite track. I think I understand it even more the older I get. I also really loved the contrast in "Getting Married Today"

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  14. So the opening was so creepy and different. I didn't get a chance to watch the musical, just listened to the soundtrack but what a weird yet intriguing playlist. It made me think of That 70's Show with its beat and brass instruments. You Could Drive a Person Crazy cracked me up so much!! The speed of the song was important to get across that she couldn't get the words out fast enough. Another Hundred People I think is my favorite song it really puts society into perspective how we're all a city of strangers.

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  15. In the class, I watched the clip which showed that the main character, Robert, sang 'being alive' passionately. His voice was so powerful and impressive that I remembered this song. This musical was pretty challenging against past style of musical which usually has a happy ending. Compared to past musical which usually described romantic marriage life, this musical described marriage life in the realistic view. The interest thing was that titles of the songs imply the whole story of this musical.

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