Reviewed by Nyla Arslanian
Having seen the original Broadway production in 1972, I was thrilled that the reimagined current production of Company was coming to the Pantages Theatre. For so many years, this show had always been one of my favorites.
Sometimes it does take a reality check to come to grips with the passage of time. That was my experience of this production.
The wonder and artistry of Stephen Sondheim' music and songs showed through and lifted my soul as they did those many years ago. However, in today's reality, Bobbie's concern for her 35th birthday and the far from idyllic lives of her married friends, seemed to miss the mark-or maybe with the passage of time, the concept seemed to me, overwrought.
Bobbie's dalliance with her flight attendant "squeeze," although played and sung to perfection, had me question why a woman, smart, attractive and successful, was hanging out with someone stupid just didn't fly (pardon the expression). This was perhaps the one situation where role and gender switching just couldn't bridge the gap.
The set design choice of illuminated boxes was at first hard to get used to, but when taken as only one element of the play, made perfect sense as all of the characters seemed to be living in the boxes their life choices had created for them.
Judy McLane's knockout "Ladies Who Lunch" had the audience cheering, but it was more for the performance value than how the entire scene fit into the play. Seeing Elaine Stritch in that role, she will always remain a tough act to follow.
Live performance especially at the spectacular Hollywood Pantages is always a grand occasion and Nederlander's gift bringing such shows is always a treat. Brittany Coleman as Bobbie held the show together and was outstanding as was every other cast member who were very much at home in their roles and giving the audience what it came for.
This reviewer now acknowledges that time does pass and unless such a theatrical undertaking is done as a "period piece," so we can see that times do change, musical artistry may be the most memorable and lasting piece of the past.
Company runs through August 18th, Tuesdays-Sunday at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/events/calendar