Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: Lapsedfan 12:55 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| Although I have dozens of OCRs in my Spotify library, I rarely think to listen to them. But this morning, to accompany my walk, I queued up Company. Boy, it's celebrating its 50th birthday this year and that show is still fresh, even with the topical references. I've listened to this show hundreds of times and I always get goose bumps throughout the opening number. The contributions of Jonathan Tunick, Wally Harper, and Hal Hastings cannot be over-praised. Thrilling work! | |
| reply to this message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: hugoP 10:41 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Lapsedfan 12:55 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| I think the Company OBC is one of the greats. I usually love hearing revivals and updates and new approaches, but I still think the original 1970 COMPANY has never been topped or improved in subsequent productions, revivals or revisals. The original orchestra feels both big and Broadway but it captures something about the music of its time and place. I haven't liked the productions that 'updated' COMPANY and tried to make it work in present day...especially the newest version, which was the last thing I got to see on stage before COVID hit. That production, like a lot of the other COMPANY productions I've seen, had some strong performances, some neat ideas (the all-male YOU COULD DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY actually worked, and was my favorite number), and was completely underwhelming. Case in point: listen to ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE on the OBC....and then the subsequent renditions from revivals. As good as the voices might be on most of those records, the OBC version is a glorious steamroller of a song. The revivals often turn it into a plaintive lament. Just not the same, and nowhere near as exciting. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 02:56 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Lapsedfan 12:55 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| Just a note that little work of Wally Harper's is heard on the recording. He still received credit on the title page for the dance arrangements, but the list of musical numbers credited David Shire with the dance arrangement for "Tick Tock." When the number was in danger of being cut in Boston, it was greatly reworked, and Shire was brought in to create a largely new dance arrangement (some of which may have been taken from an unused overture put together by Sondheim, although that's not certain). I don't know why they didn't have Harper do a new arrangement. I'm sure he could have. Maybe they just wanted someone new to give a fresh perspective. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: dczoo 01:16 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Lapsedfan 12:55 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| It's my favorite Sondheim score and yes, that opening number always makes my heart beat faster, even in the musically tepid most recent London production. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| "tepid" is so the right word | |
| Last Edit: DistantDrumming 11:15 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 11:15 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Company OBC, first listen in a while - dczoo 01:16 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| One listen to that underwhelming London revival cast recording was enough for me. I'll stick with the OBCR and the excellent NY Phil concert. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: Delvino 06:48 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Company OBC, first listen in a while - dczoo 01:16 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| That busy signal so defined its vibe, the aural disconnect a metaphor for trying to reach (emotionally) unavailable or isolated people, so distinctively urban, so unlike anything else before or since. As someone doesn't feel the material (Furth in particular) updates successfully, I stick with the OBC. I agree about its evergreen nature: one reason it feels so fresh is that period-specific flavor. I'm always transported, never a bad thing. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 07:41 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 07:40 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Delvino 06:48 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| Yes - I've never understood the need to update the show. I don't think it loses any impact by being set in 1970. The majority of shows aren't set in the present day (or re-set in the present day), and they work fine. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 08:10 pm EDT 07/01/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Chromolume 07:40 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| This is an interesting phenomenon with shows where the original production is set "now", meaning the contemporary moment they were written. Note that the only really long running show that fits in this category is A Chorus Line. But I suppose due to the universality of the themes and setting (an audition on a bare stage) the original production was never updated over the years, was it? And the revial was not updated either. I'm not sure if people grumbled about that, or just grumbled that the staging and costumes were a replica. I think shows like Company have an odd trajectory where for awhile they are still contemporary. I'd imagine seeing the show anytime in the 70's you'd still feel pretty close to it. But at some point--and who knows how to decide--it has to flip to becoming a period piece set in 69/70. Follies has a similar problem, which is further exacerbated by the fact that it references a very specific time between world wars when the Follies type entertainment existed and frames the characters nostalgia accordingly. The events of the party have to be taking place in the early 70's, not 1992 (just picking a random date). But oddly, nothing that actually happens at the party is terribly specific to the 70's. It's very abstract and dream like. I saw Avenue Q later in its run off-Broadway and had the some challenges. While they don't say "this story is set in 2003", it definitely no longer felt contemporary. Certainly the idea of a mixtape has been out for some time. I suppose it could be changed to "playlist" ? who knows. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Company OBC, first listen in a while | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 08:49 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Company OBC, first listen in a while - Chromolume 07:40 pm EDT 06/30/20 | |
|
|
|
| The advertisement for the revival sounded EVEN BETTER. I cannot wait to see it. His GREATEST score?? I don’t know. FOLLIES has so much. But COMPANY has such vigor and life. Open it, please!!! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.127108 seconds.