Company

 Company
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
July 6, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Company

Director Marianne Elliott has successfully transported Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company into the 21^st Century.  The Broadway revival examines the phases of life and relationships, and gives you pause to ponder what it takes to get through them.  You think about who you have to become to find happiness.  You wonder why the things that work for someone else are not right for you.  The choreography by Liam Steel is sharp, witty, and fast paced.  His movement and staging further explores the dichotomy in Mr. Sondheim’s lyrics, the deep and personal dive in Mr. Furth’s book, and Ms. Elliot’s bold, neon-light interpretation of the piece.

It’s Bobbie’s (played by Katrina Lenk) thirty-fifth birthday.  Her friends are throwing her a surprise party.  She’d rather be alone.  All her friends are married.  Bobbie evaluates her life by looking at her own reflection through the eyes of her friends and their relationships.  They want her to get married, yet all of their relationships bring up a fear of commitment.  There are three men she has been seeing: PJ (played by Bobby Conte), Theo (played by Manu Narayan), and Andy (played by Claybourne Elder).  Each one brings out a different aspect of her personality and desires, but none of them gives her what she really needs.  It is her friend, Joanne (played by Patti Lupone), who finally pushes Bobbie to take an honest look and accept herself as she is. 

Katrina Lenk & the Cast of Company
Photo courtesy of Company

Katrina Lenk brings a vibrant perspective to the role of Bobbie, who was originally written as a male character.  She has a strong, beguiling presence and a superb singing voice.  Her character’s search is sincere, even though it is more motivated by the people around her than from her individual need.  This creates confusion for the character, which is genuinely portrayed.  It is through the search itself that she discovers her own need.  It is an interesting interpretation and journey, with a palpable ending.  Her rendition of “Marry Me a Little,” which is added to the end of Act I, is stunning.  

Terence Archie Patti Lupone, & Katrina Lenk
Photo courtesy of Company

Patti Lupone holds nothing back as Joanne.  She tells it like it is, and does not allow Bobbie to evade the issue at hand.  She holds up a clear mirror for Bobbie to take a cold, direct look at herself.  Her performance of “The Ladies Who Lunch” is honest and sad, yet grounded in a will to survive. 

Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber are hysterical as Sarah and Harry.  Matt Doyle and Jacob Dickey (understudy) are neurotic and romantic as Jamie and Paul.  Jeff Kready and Nikki Renée Daniels are endearing as David and Jenny.  Rashida Scott and Javier Ignacio (understudy) are full or surprises as Susan and Peter.  Terence Archie is grounded and solid as Joanne’s third husband, Larry.  

Claybourne Elder plays the flight attendant, Andy, for every possible laugh.  His timing is perfect.  He plays the character with a superbly dry balance of naivete and brazen sex appeal.  Bobby Conte’s interpretation of “Another Hundred People” is unique and effective.  Manu Narayan portrays Theo with a refreshing and heartbreaking sincerity. 

Bobby Conte & Katrina Lenk
Photo courtesy of Company

The set, designed by Bunny Christie, depicts numerous NYC apartments that inhabit the action.  The geometric spaces create stringent, realistic limitation.  The structures move and connect in unexpected ways and at unexpected times.  Lighting, designed by Neil Austin, creates an open, vast atmosphere that closes in on the tight, crowded living spaces.  He then illuminates them with neon lights boarders to highlight the intimacy of the action. 

Company is closing on July 31.  If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to get your ticket right away.  It is playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. 

Domenick Danza

The Band’s Visit

The Band’s Visit

Ethel Barrymore Theatre

February 4, 2018

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

I’ve heard over and over that The Band’s Visit is not a conventional musical.  Now that I’ve seen it, I understand the meaning of that statement.  This show is in a league of its own and is not to be compared to other musicals.  The score, by David Yazbek, takes you deeper into the heart and mind of each character.  The book, by Itamar Moses, captures the rhythm of the Israeli and Egyptian cultures depicted in the story.  David Cromer’s direction lures you into the deep longing and desire of the characters through careful timing, aching looks, and cautious physicalization.  Through fluid movement and gesture, Patrick McCollum’s choreography creates an emotional pulse that causes connection and delicately moves the action forward.

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

When eight Egyptian members of the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra are scheduled to perform in Israel, they accidentally find themselves in the wrong town.  Dina (played by Katrina Lenk) offers to put the musicians and their leader, Tewfiq (played by Tony Shalhoub), up for the night.  The connections made in this one short evening change the outlook of all involved.  To paraphrase Dina, “the most beautiful moments in life are those that are unexpected.” 

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

Katrina Lenk and Tony Shalhoub are mystical.  Their intimacy reaches all the way to the mezzanine.  The entire cast works brilliantly as an ensemble, drawing the audience in for their individual, honest, and emotional stories.  Stellar performances are delivered by John Cariani (as Itzik), Ari’el Stachel (as Haled), Adam Kantor (as Telephone Guy), and Daniel David Stewart (as Papi).

The Band’s Visit is a must see!  It is personal, intimate, and poetic.  It will hopefully be at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a long time running.

Domenick Danza