Company, which began as a series of one-act plays by George Furth, became the highly successful musical of 1970 with the addition of Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics. It ran just over 700 performances, then moved on to London. The story is just as topical today as it was 37 years ago. Under Rick Shaffer's direction, Company is running on PowPAC's stage in Poway.
Opening with Bobby (Dave Rivas) celebrating his 35th birthday with his friends, Company explores the relationship of five couples along with Bobby's relationship with three single women. Bobby learns about the ups and the downs of marriage. Should he, at the advanced age of 35, consider wedding one of his girlfriends? And, thus, the plot thickens.
There's Joanne (Debbie David) and her older husband, Larry (Joel Colbourn). Joanne can be one of the most obnoxious of the group, but don't let her first-act brashness fool you. Her "The Little Things You Do Together" is both satirical and telling. Her husband seems to always remain in the background, letting his trophy-wife hog the spotlight. Appearances aren't everything.
Sarah (Jessica Brandon) and Harry (Marc Loveless) have Bobby over for a taste of their life. Sarah and Harry are both on the wagon. Hers is food, his is drink. A truly strange couple, ideally suited to each other, who don't reveal their true nature to Bobby.
Furthering Bobby's marital education are Susan (Linda Snyder) and Peter (David Garstang). They announce their pending divorce to a shocked Bobby. As with each of the couples and most marriages, there is much more than their first revelations. Poor Bobby's confusion mounts.
Jenny (Pamela Fadden) and David (Brett Daniels) invite Bobby over for a hit... of primo pot. What David says about Jenny doesn't seem to gibe with the truth we see in their apartment. What we see of David is a truth that even Jenny doesn't know nor does Bobby care to know.
Finally, we visit Amy (Meredith Russo) and Paul (Craig McCobb), who are about to get married. Or are they? Amy is in a state of panic, wedding veil properly affixed, but still in pjs. Her trepidations about the pending nuptials is fast approaching critical mass. Stoic Paul appears to be used to her indecision.
Then there are the loves(?) of Bobby's life: Kathy (Shannon Jacobson), a truly romantic girl from Cape Cod who wants to settle down, and she means it; April (Bonnie Nicholls), a mid-westerner totally out of place in New York City; and Marta (Karin Reed Bamesberger), a very hip New Yorker who almost knows what she wants. The three actresses' "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" gave us an insight into each's relationship with Bobby. Bamesberger's "Another Hundred People" is a show-stopper.
Company's director cast well and choreographer, Alisa Williams, gives us some very nice moves. Rivas's Bobby is delightfully confused. Brandon and Loveless are quite amusing. Snyder and Garstang are convincing in a rather strange relationship. Fadden and Daniels, whose characters are the least lovable, pull off their roles well. I don't have a clue as to how Russo produces her rapid fire lyrics. McCobb's level-headed Paul is a nice balance to her. Debbie David gives her character real style, while Colbourn appears almost stoic.
Company is a big show on a small stage that still maintains an intimacy with the audience. Bobby does learn that "The unlived life is not worth examining." A nice evening's entertainment. The director's use of tableaus works quite well.
Opened:
March 9, 2007
Ended:
April 1, 2007
Country:
USA
State:
California
City:
Poway
Company/Producers:
Poway Performing Arts Company
Theater Type:
Regional; Community
Theater:
Poway Performing Arts Company
Theater Address:
13250 Poway Road
Phone:
(858) 679-8085
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Rick Shaffer
Review:
Cast:
Dave Rivas, Jessica Brandon, Mark Loveless, Linda Snyder, David Garstang, Pamela Fadden, Brett Daniels, Meredith Russo, Craig McCobb, Debbie David, Joel Colbourn, Shannon Jacobson, Bonnie Nicholls, Karin Reed Bamesberger
Technical:
Choreographer: Alisa Williams; Stage Mgr: George Daye; Set, Sound & Costumes: Rick Shaffer; Lighting & Sound: Chad Oakley, Properties: Debbie David & Raylene Wall
Critic:
Robert Hitchcox
Date Reviewed:
March 2007
