COMPANY
Brentwood
Operatic Society at the Brentwood Theatre
05.11.11
Phone
rings, door chimes, in comes Company !
Sondheim's
classic concept musical, now over forty years old but still pertinent
and edgy, was given an audacious make-over in Emma Jane Sweeney's
impressive production for Brentwood Operatic.
A
bare black cabaret stage with stools, band behind a gauze, and the
amazingly confident performers moving around the auditorium, never
missing a beat or a note.
It's
bachelor Bobby's 35th
birthday, and those “good and crazy people”, his married friends,
have organised a surprise party. As ever, he's on the outside looking
in, or rather, in this brilliant, bold staging, he's in the middle,
and they're all addressing the three sides of the audience. Other
clever moments were the karate moves, the umbrella bouquet and the
superbly sustained Side by Side sequence.
Samuel
Gilmore-Cousins was a decidedly detached Bobby, laid-back and casual;
he delivered his big numbers with élan. But there were no passengers
among the five couples and three girlfriends in Bobby's life. Space
only to mention a brilliant Sarah from Nina Jarram, some great vocals
from Abby Lowman, and a perfect performance from Samantha Thompson as
the dumb blonde flight attendant who leaves Bobby's bed, bound for
Barcelona.
The
musical side was just as polished as the dramatic, with a great band
under MD Ian Southgate. This score has some of Sondheim's best
numbers, and we had slick, professional renditions of the “Crazy”
trio, Marry Me a Little, City of Strangers, Being Alive, and of
course the title song:
No
strings, good times, just chums, company !
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