Company | Raul Esparza | Broadway Live On Stage

Company | Raul Esparza | Brilliant performance of brilliant, sophisticated musical theater

DVDs:

Company

	Company Raul Esparza IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT, 2008 average customer review:based on 45 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Broadway Live On Stage

I loved Company when I saw it on Broadway, but the concept, with the actors working with musical instruments in hand during the performance, was distracting and took away from the show. But here, with the camera able focus on individual players, one at a time, it works. It works better than it did on Stage. Raul Esparza is terrific throughout, and the Sondheim score is, at turns, beautiful, funny and relevant throughout.

This is a real triumph and a real gift from PBS.

Brilliant performance of brilliant, sophisticated musical theater

"Company" is musical theater for a sophisticated audience - filled with the bitingly clever lyrics and musical complexity that typify the best of Sondheim. "Company" consists of a series of vignettes exploring the nature of relationships seen through the eyes of 35 year old, single Bobby - and the truthfulness expressed will certainly resonate with people of a similar age.

The production is striking with director John Doyle employing his trademark schtick of the performers singing, acting, AND performing the music (for another example of this you should listen to the excellent Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)). Raul Esparza as Bobby leads an incredibly talented cast.

The extras are excellent and consist of:
- A lengthy interview with Sondheim
- A revealing interview with Raul Esparza
- Interview with Director John Doyle

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Amazing.

There are not nearly enough video recorded broadway shows. This is one of the best available. Entertaining but not without some depth.

Sondheim's finest

Sondheim's finest musical has finally been recorded for posterity and this production by PBS is excellent. A number of camera angles provide a brilliant capture of the performance and give a feeling that almost surpasses sitting in the Ethel Barrymore theatre itself. The sound and picture quality are spot on and the only disappointing element (causing the loss of a star) is the lack of Extras. They amount to two poorly filmed interviews with confident star Raul Esparza and director John Doyle; and the surprising inclusion of an interview conducted with Sondheim by Jonathan Biggins for Foxtel and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation when he attended the opening of Kookaburra musical theatre's 2007 production of Company - which was far inferior to the main feature of this DVD and performed in the standard manner (i.e. without the actors also playing the instruments). Where are the 'backstage' extras - e.g. filming the cast in preparation in their dressing rooms, or any rehearsal footage? The path to putting this version on stage would have involved some interesting rehearsal processes to get the staging right with the inclusion of the instruments - a feature on this aspect would have been eagerly welcomed.
But never mind that, the performances captured here are magical and might I even say that this is the definitive version of Company? If it's not, it's darn close. You won't regret purchasing this title.

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