Just for fun: a poll of sorts. Of necessity, you must vote in the comments because I can’t set up an official Dkos poll for this one.
So: I will present three different versions of a few numbers from Stephen Sondheim’s Company, and you can tell me “Who Performed It Best?”
Enjoy!
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Monday Youffraita
I’m sticking with songs from Sondheim’s Company because (i) I love this show; (ii) the songs are just terrific; and (iii) versions abound on YouTube.
The Concept: It’s Bobby’s 35th birthday, he’s still single, and his married friends want to celebrate with him. If you don’t know this musical, you can stop looking for a plot right now. It’s more of a meditation on marriage, with a lot of great stuff for the ensemble to sing and do, by which I mean there’s plenty of story. There’s just no plot.
Let’s begin with “Side by Side.”
#1.A: The Donmar Warehouse revival opened around Christmas in ‘95. The taped version aired in ‘97. (Click to watch at YT — it’s well worth your time.) Sam Mendes directed, and Adrian Lester starred as Bobby [7:34]:
#1.B: The 2011 staged concert version with Neil Patrick Harris and the NY Philharmonic [10:08]:
#1.C: And the famous 2006 staging with Raul Esparza, where the ensemble was also the orchestra. [9:02]
Bobby’s friend Amy is supposed to marry her longtime boyfriend Paul. Of course she has cold feet, and one of Sondheim’s most challenging patter songs ensues, “Not Getting Married Today”:
2.A: 2006 [4:49]
2.B: 2011 [3:28]
2.C: 1996 [5:00]
And finally, the 11 o’clock showstopper, Bobby’s epiphany, “Being Alive”:
3.A: 1996 [4:35]
3.B: 2006 [8:15]
3.C: 2011 [5:25]
A little bit of background about each production.
The 1995-6 Donmar Warehouse revival:
A London revival directed by Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse opened December 13, 1995, and closed there March 2, 1996;[30][31] the production quickly transferred to the Albery Theatre, with previews starting March 7, opening March 13, and closing June 29.[32][30] The cast included Adrian Lester, as the first black actor to play Bobby in a major production of the show.[31]
en.wikipedia.org/...
The 2006 Broadway revival:
This production [directed and choreographed by John Doyle] opened on Broadway on November 29, 2006, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.[37] The actors themselves provided the orchestral accompaniment.[36] For example, Esparza plays percussion, Walsh plays Orchestra Bells and percussion, and Heather Laws (Amy) plays French horn, trumpet and flute.[38] The production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.[39][37]
en.wikipedia.org/…
The 2011 New York Philharmonic staged concert:
In April 2011, Lonny Price directed a staged concert production,[43] with Neil Patrick Harris as Robert [….] Paul Gemignani conducted a 35-piece orchestra, which used similar orchestrations to the first Broadway production. This concert followed a long tradition of Stephen Sondheim concert productions at the New York Philharmonic, including Sweeney Todd and Passion.[44][45]
en.wikipedia.org/...
So, what say you? Which version is best?
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