Boston area fans of the work of Stephen Sondheim are in clover this season. Lyric Stage has just opened their 2016-2017 season with a rousing production of "Company," and The Huntington Theatre Company is about to raise the curtain on "Sunday In The Park With George." Lyric's Producing Artistic Director, Spiro Veloudos, has long championed Sondheim's musicals, and has been Boston's premiere interpreter of those works of art. As Director of this production, Mr. Veloudos has assembled a cast and creative team that have all of the complex elements of this show working together in perfect harmony. In many ways, this is the most cohesive production of "Company" I have witnessed.
Scenic Designer, Janie Howland, uses every inch of the intimate Lyric space to great effect, with movable boxes and multiple levels of elevation and manifold nooks and crannies that provide places for quick entrances and exits that keep the pace of the show moving briskly. Costumes by Rafael Jaen help to define each character, Lighting by Frank Meissner, Jr. modulates the shifting moods, and Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will perfectly balances the musical elements with the dialogue. Musical Director Catherine Stornetta does her usual outstanding job of leading an orchestra that underscores the powerful vocals of the cast members. Choreography and Musical Staging by Rachel Bertone is crisp and relevant to the telling of the story of Robert and his Company of friends.
Any production of "Company" rises or falls on the shoulders of the actor who portrays the protagonist, Robert/Bobby, whose 35th birthday is the occasion for the gathering of his company of friends. John Ambrosino is the most thoroughly convincing Robert I have seen in many years of enjoying a number of very good productions of this musical. From his first entrance, he uses his eyes, his facial expressions, his physical presence, and his voice to project the ambivalence that is the essence of this character. On the surface, he has it all - good looks, a nice apartment, great friends, freedom to date beautiful women from around the world. But something is missing. That missing element becomes expressed explicitly in the hauntingly beautiful number "Someone is Waiting." Mr. Ambrosino's voice has great range. His use of dynamics is particularly effective, especially when his judicious use of pianissimo causes us to lean forward to catch just what Robert is struggling to express. His rendition of the eleven o'clock number, "Being Alive," contains all of the pathos and longing that Sondheim envisioned.
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| John Ambrosino as Robert "Company" by Stephen Sondheim Lyric Stage Company of Boston Through October 9th Photo by Mark S. Howard |
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The Husbands
"Company" by Stephen Sondheim
Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Through October 9th
Photo by Mark S. Howard
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- "You Could Drive A Person Crazy," with Maria LaRossa, Adrianne Hick and Carla Martinez singing of the frustrations of three women who have dated Robert/Bobby, but have failed to convince him to settle down. It has often occurred to me that this song is to "Company" what "Adelaide's Lament" is to "Guys and Dolls."
- "Getting Married Today" is a very challenging patter song, sung at supersonic speed by bride-to-be or not-to-be Amy (Erica Spyres). She is supported with the hilarious coloratura counterpoint sung by Jenny (Teresa Winner Blume) and anchored by her fiance, Paul (Tyler Simahk).
- "Side by Side by Side" is a wonderful production number that allows the entire cast to strut their stuff with panache, fueled by the lively choreography of Ms. Bertone.
- No production of "Company" is complete without a show-stopping rendition of "Ladies Who Lunch." The irrepressible Leigh Barrett sends up a version that would make Elaine Stritch proud! She definitely manages to "Rise" to the occasion!
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Leigh Barrett as Joanne
"Company" by Stephen Sondheim
Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Through October 9th
Photo by Mark S. Howard
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Lyric Stage Website
Enjoy!
Al
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