Company

Unless they've totally rewritten the character you wouldn't want Andy/April in charge of your luggage never mind flying the plane or we'd all end up like that butterfly in story.

Anyone sat back row of this theatre? What’s the view like?

Interval and.... just wow.

I can’t get over how brilliant this was. From the opening number the audience was behind it, and the cheers just kept getting louder and louder.

I have three favourite moments:

1. The opening
2. Jonathan’s number
3. Patti’s number

Runner up: Richard’s part.

I now know three things:

1. I will see this again
2. I want a cast recording
3. I want a dvd

In all seriousness though, I just don’t get Rosalie. She isn’t bad but she’s not amazing. I’ve seen her in a number of things now and whilst technically right every time, she just doesn’t seem to bring out the warmth in a character. A one off I could understand, but I thought the same in The Light Princess, City of Angels and now this.

I just sat there at times thinking 30 years ago had they done the gender swap then, Patti would have had them eating out of the palm of her hand.

I didn’t know much going into this other than the gender swap and a few standards, but why did they change the girlfriends to boyfriends? I genuinely don’t see what difference it would have made.

As a massive Sondheim fan, I was so excited to see this. I've never seen Company performed beyond watching a DVD of a semi staged production by Neil Patrick Harris, but am v. familiar with the score and concept of the piece. I was so hoping to be blown away by this show but have to admit to not quite feeling it, and my company for the night felt the same way. We both felt that the songs and lyrics still sparkle, but struggled with some of the dated dialogue between the numbers. As the programme points out, the original production reflected the sexual revolution of the seventies, and I suspect it was genuinely fresh and exciting back then to watch scenes reflecting the hot topics of the day e.g. someone smoking their first spliff or openly discussing divorce... but for me some of the exchanges felt dated and staid and went on for a rather long time. So I wish they had reworked the book, and also been a bit braver with some of the numbers that don't quite work with the gender swap- particularly the laddish banter of 'have I got a guy for you'. But it was still great fun, loved what they did with side by side by side, and the night club scene towards the end! Going to disagree with Kevin- I thought Rosalie was great. I was less impressed with Patti- felt she shouted much of her number and didn't make much of an impression on me before that, but to be fair the book and score gives her little opportunity to. Loved most of the staging and direction, other than overly repetitive perplexing moment after Barcelona. It will be fascinating to see what the critics make of it- I suspect they'll applaud the design, cast and score but those that aren't Sondheim devotees might struggle with the linear structure and dialogue.

Apols that's what I meant!

Just got row p Rush Tickets. Pleased as a vodka stinger 😄😄😄

Row W of the stalls, view ok? I just checked the seating chart on your website theatremonkey and looks to be listed in white. Many thanks.

Tar for the knowledge @theatremonkey - s'pose I could have checked seating plans in hindsight.

I can’t say where they are for certain, but I was on TodayTix before on 10am and almost as soon as I refreshed the page they were all gone/in baskets

Managed to get a rush ticket yesterday (O24 in stalls) and thoroughly enjoyed it, if not as much to the lofty heights of Sweeney, Gypsy & Follies. Patti was sublime, and Rosalie Craig did an excellent job. I’m not particularly familiar with the book, and can genuinely say I wouldn’t have had a clue that there was a gender swap of the main role - in fact, I probably would have enjoyed it less with a male lead.

Staging is very surprising, and glad I wasn’t spoiled. Side by Side by Side a highlight. Four stars!