COMPANY to 13 June 2009

COMPANY
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by George Furth

Union Theatre 204 Union Street SE1 0LX to 13th Jun 2009
Tue- Sat 7.30pm. Mat Sat and Sun 3pm.
Runs 2hr 40 mins One interval.

TICKETS: 0207 261 9876
www.upandcoming.webeden.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 25 May 2009
An immeasurable joy complete with some of Sondheim’s finest music.

The Union Theatre manages to fit as much under its Southwark railway arch as any of its bigger relations, with their bigger budgets, bigger stages and matching seats can and they don’t even have their own piano; although you can help them, one key at a time, to rectify this.

Dealing with Bobby’s life once all his friends have married, Company starts at his surprise thirty fifth birthday. He is cynical about marriage, feeling comfortable in his bachelorhood and intent on remaining the company his friends have around. A series of unconnected evenings spent with his paired friends and meetings with past girlfriends unsettles him and he begins to doubt his once comfortable life. Bobby soon realises that his views on marriage have left him, instead of living, missing out on life. There is little else to the story, but little else is required; this is Sondheim and Furth and their musical study of one mans relationships is an immeasurable joy.

Company is strewn with memorable numbers within which Sondheim sketches Bobby’s friends, lavishing the show with some of the finest songs in musical theatre culminating in the inspiring Being Alive. With the Union Theatre’s flair for fielding serious talent time and time again, each number is delightfully staged and magnificently performed. Michael Strassen’s direction makes the most of the fantastic, compact space and with little set tells a story and brings Bobby and his friends to life.

Lincoln Stone has one of those unforgettable names and his Bobby is certainly one of those unforgettable performances. He is cynical, cool, funny, compelling to watch and vocally dazzling.

So many of Sondheim’s songs stand on their own, covers abound but it is in the context of their show that their real impact can be realised. Lucy Williamson’s Ladies Who Lunch, an introspective view of Joanne’s existence, is magnificent and memorable and show stopping, much like Williamson herself whose energy and passion through this number stops the show. Marisa Leigh Boynton’s manic bride Amy achieves unbelievable vocal feats with her hilarious Getting Married Today.

I was just a few moments into the opening number before I knew I was back and safe in the hands of the finest writer of musicals, well certainly those dealing with the realities of relationships. The Union Theatre’s Company certainly is more must see Fringe Theatre. Book a ticket before the rush and while you are there sponsor a piano key.

Robert: Lincoln Stone
Sarah: Samantha Seager
Harry: Tom Hyatt
Susan: Jenny Layton
Peter: Steven Craven
Jenny: Jane Quinn
David: Nigel Pilkington
Amy: Marisa Leigh Boynton
Paul: Paul Callen
Joanne: Lucy Williamson
Larry: Gido Schimanski
Marta: Samantha Giffard
Kathy: Katherine Eames
April: Lucy Evans

Director/Staging: Michael Strassen
Musical Director/Orchestrations: Michael England
Set Designer: Neil Lamont
Lighting Designer: Steve Miller

2009-05-26 15:34:23