Fountain Hills Community Theater's Company
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 1/16/98
(out of )Ordinarily, as a critic, I attempt to keep my prejudices at home and to myself. When it comes to Sondheim, though, I must warn everyone involved about my almost obsessive admiration of his creations. This can sometimes work against a production, since my love of Sondheim, and especially the show Company, might cause me to be harsher than I would be for other shows. Even with my rigorous scrutiny of Fountain Hills Community Theater's production of this odd, difficult, jaded and wonderful show, veteran director Peter J. Hill has assembled a cast and crew that have in the very least met and generally surpassed my intense expectations and demands.
Company was first produced in 1970, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical that year. It is a series of vignettes and songs that follow the travails of Bobby, a "confirmed" New York City bachelor with aspirations to wedded bliss similar to the five couples with whom he has surrounded himself and become the odd-man-out. The play centers on a series of birthday parties, as Bobby finds himself getting older without getting closer to his dream. The dialogue is generally witty and urbane, the songs are typically Sondheim-esque, in that you either love his masterful lyrics and difficult rhythms and melodies, or you hate them. Unfortunately, the play is rarely produced, because of its mature themes and difficult score, but it recently underwent an overhaul, and it is this rewritten version, in some ways better and others lacking compared to the original production, which Director Peter J. Hill has decided to tackle.
The first impressive part of this musical production is how much Mr. Hill and veteran choreographer Noel Irick are able to accomplish with a cast of thirteen on a stage that could barely hold a dozen. Mr. Hill's direction is the ultimate success of this show, and his many directorial touches and flourishes enhance what could be a muddled evening. Knowing the show as well as I do, and being aware of a background situation concerning the loss of a cast member, I'm even more impressed with the handling of the last-minute departure and subsequent revisions to the show and songs, which are virtually seamless. Mr. Hill and Ms. Irick's professionalism, coupled with the amazing handling of a three person band (a record low number for a Sondheim show!) by Warren Cohen, make for a production which would be the envy of some professional companies.
The thirteen person cast is generally impressive, though it does have some tradeoffs and hesitations. At the center of the show, Royce Lee Briggs has a great voice, but plays Bobby a bit too effeminate for my tastes, although this may be a thematic choice decided on by Mr. Briggs and Mr. Hill. Standouts in the ensemble include Patsy Johnson as the boozy, jaded Joanne, who belts a wonderful number near the end of the show; Jamey Hood and Alex Gonzales as soon-to-be-married Amy and Paul, with a wonderful vocal performance by both which counterbalances Mr. Gonzales' awkward dancing; Beau Heckman's forced tee-totaling Harry, who acts, sings and dances his usual, wonderful performance; and Tim Shawver as the swinging Peter, whose skills will guarantee him parts in many shows to come. Even those with weaknesses in one area of their performance balanced them with superlatives in others. Lee Struck's acting in the role of Joanne's put-upon husband Larry made up for his vocal problems, just as Lisa Martina's very strong dance and acting as one of Bobby's love interests, Kathy, balanced her singing hesitations.
Mr. Hill's set, lighting and sound design were also very impressive, and his use of multiple doors and child-like boxes to become the various locations in Bobby's life was a clever touch. Rollis Martina's costume design gave the show its '70s retro feel, useful considering how rooted the show is in the '70s, and desperately in need of being updated.
For those who worship Sondheim as I do, this is a very worthwhile
production of a rarely produced masterpiece. For those who have
been put off by Sondheim's style, this production may be the bridge
to better understanding his dry, contemplative tastes. In other
words, everyone should see this show.
Production Details:
Company (Rewritten Version) Music and Lyrics by Stephen
Sondheim, Book by George Furth
Fountain Hills Community Theater, Fountain Hills
837-9661
January 9th-February 1st, 1998