On July 30 – August 18, 2024 the Hollywood Pantages hosts the hit musical, COMPANY. Its original premiere was on April 26, 1970 at the Alvin Theatre, winning six Tony Awards. The music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, became an instant classic. In the recent iteration, COMPANY’S award-winning Director Marianne Elliott, collaborated with Sondheim, deciding before his death in 2021, that the lead character Bobby (he) might do well to be a Bobbie (she).
Britney Coleman, just off the Beetlejuice tour, was chosen to play the lead character, Bobbie, just turning 35. The quick witted, clever and beautiful, Coleman moves through this conflicting decisive moment with charm and wit, both physically and vocally. This decision to change the gender of the protagonist allowed other characters to be defined in a distinctive and contemporary way. Debuted in London’s West End (2018), it then opened on Broadway (2021) post-pandemic, where it captured five Tony Awards, including best musical revival.
Tyler Hardwick as PJ and Britney Coleman as Bobbie in the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
Elliott, the show’s brilliant director, (War Horse, Curious Incident of Dog in the Night Time) in her concept for the show, believed the gender changes would have more potency for today’s audience. Her ideas were clear. With script re-workings, she allowed the audience a kind of voyeurism into this personal story. She received the blessings of Sondheim himself with her rationale:
“because a male Bobby who is 35 now…lots of girlfriends…with lots of friends…[is] doing quite well. An apartment in the city…[he has] clearly got a lovely life…[and]nobody’s going to be pushing him into getting married. They’d probably just slap him on the back and say, ‘Have a great time.’
“But for a woman at 35, obviously, it’s quite a threshold. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on her from her friends to make a wish that she will actually “sort her life out” and settle down and get married and have a family, maybe.”(Elliott)
James Earl Jones II as Harry, Kathryn Allison as Sarah, Britney Coleman as Bobbie and Judy McLane as Joanne in the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
So with Elliott’s experience directing straight plays as well as musicals, and her astute connection to Sondheim and his work, she brings a new personal reality that works for this contemporary musical
Pairing with this story was the wonderful, well-thought-out Scenic Designs of Bunny Christie that replicated the postage-stamp size of a typical New York apartment defining the rooms in neon frames. The frames move stealth-fully passed each other as if panning through canyons of New York high rises of the upwardly mobile. Christie’s costumes are also indicators of a cross between the underdressed or overdressed New Yorker prepped to attend any event at will.
The music and words are biting and winsome with harmonies by Joel Fram that have a taste of Manhattan Transfer, with the excellent musicality and expertise of the cast that makes the exquisite and difficult seem like a piece-of-cake. Lighting Design by Neil Austin and Sound Design by Keith Caggiano focus the pools of light and sound towards a moody emptiness in a life of unfulfilled expectations.
Outstanding is “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” with a unique trio of “hunky boyfriends” with great voices who can really move. Jacob Dickey’s Andy -Flight Attendant, David Socolar’s, Jacob – Bobbie’s Best Friend, and Tyler Hardwick as PJ – resident bad boy, brilliantly Choreographed by Liam Steel, brought out the absolute best in movement design that is clever, tight, and oh so good. Hardwick’s PJ then comes back with Another Hundred People and its lament … a city of strangers with its biting lonely refrains and excellent staging.
Matt Rodin as Jamie and Ali Louis Bourzgui as Paul in the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
Getting Married Today finds pre-wedding preparations of a reluctant, manic, neurotic and expectant groom Jamie, played by a sharp-tongued Matt Rodin, whose hysteria and fear of commitment becomes an absolute show stopper. This is countered by the patient and sensitive Paul, the expectant groom, Jhardon DiShon Milton with whom the audience soon commiserates.
Derrick Davis as Larry, Judy McLane as Joanne and Britney Coleman as Bobbie in the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
The amazing vocalize of Marina Kondo, playing the priest for the wedding, shares her Wagnerian spirit as she drifts in and out of churchy vocal interlopings, receiving a long and appreciative “hand” as she is nearly dragged off the stage.
The long awaited and heartrending refrains of “Ladies Who Lunch” sang by the powerful actress/singer, Judy McLane playing Joanne, allows the audience to tearfully forgive her hard and controlling cover.
Britney Coleman as Bobbie (center) and the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo – Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
Backed by a terrific cast: Jessie Hooker-Bailey (Sarah), Matt Bittner (David), Derick Davis (Larry), Javier Ignacio (Peter), James Earl Jones II (Harry), Emma Stratton (Jenny), and Jacob Dickey (Andy) the final strains of Being Alive puts a period on the ongoing story of the uncoupled single at her 35th Surprise Birthday party. The surprise is a surprise. Britney Coleman tears the collective hearts out… when the candles go out.
This is absolutely a must see. Do not miss a truly great evening at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Hurry and get your tickets to see COMPANY, playing until Sunday, August 18, 2024. You will not easily forget this experience.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Hollywood Pantages website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Britney Coleman as Bobbie, Jacob Dickey as Andy, David Socolar as Theo and Tyler Hardwick as PJ in the North American Tour of COMPANY – Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.
