COMPANY

Reviewed by: Jim Briscoe on 18 July 2024
Venue: Little Theatre - Southport
Date: 3-6 July 2024
Type of Production:  Musical
A Stephen Sondheim classic

Directed by Stephen Hughes-Alty
Musical Director: Adam Dutch

Company … a musical performed by Southport Spotlights at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport on Thursday, 4th July, 2024

Company (the musical) was born out of a collection of one-act plays written by George Furth. At the suggestion and vision of the legendary Director Harold Prince, Furth re-worked his original one-act plays into a libretto and added an additional character called Robert in an attempt to link those plays together. Robert is a bachelor whose 35th birthday party brings all Furth’s original five couples together, in New York. We are taken on a journey; where we see the couples’ lifestyles through the eyes of a Robert … plus we also get to see and get to meet three single girlfriends of Robert who he cannot make commitments to. Stephen Sondheim was added to the creative team … this was the first of many successful collaborations between Sondheim / Prince. (PS… the original 1970 production of Company saw it nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards, winning six).

The Production Team … when you see names like Stephen Hughes-Alty (Director), Adam Dutch (Musical Director), Pippa and Chloe Morris (Choreographers) leading a production team, you just know everybody is in safe hands! They’d gathered an experienced cast, who were well rehearsed, the couples well matched, and a cast who worked tirelessly to support each other. As with any show directed by Stephen, it’s always going to be about detail and detail we got and more! I imagine this wasn’t the easiest musical to stage, congrats Stephen, job well done. Pippa and Chloe did a great job with some imaginative choreography which looked and felt just right for every situation, and which played to the strengths of the cast and the individual. I commented after the show about the balance between orchestra and singer(s) and the level of support offered by Adam and his orchestra to the entire cast. It was also great to see and hear ‘voices from the pit’, including that of our MD, an unusual occurrence, but further support for those on stage. It was also obvious that Adam had a great understanding of this complex Sondheim score, which he had successfully passed down to the cast. Be ever so proud all of you!

The Cast … I really did feel that this was very much an ensemble piece … a list of cameo roles rather than a cast list which resulted in there being no actual ‘showstealer’ just an ensemble of actors truly giving of their best, totally supporting each other at every turn and when that happens, I do feel it wrong to start suggesting that someone was better than some else! But, after saying that, I do feel it would be remiss of me not give a few ‘shout outs’, but before doing so, let me run through the characters and leading from the front and hardly ever off stage we had Phil Hunter, who did a great job portraying our lead ‘Robert’, the charismatic bachelor with an eye for the ladies but who lacked commitment it would appear! The five couples included ... ‘Paul’ and ‘Amy’ played by Matthew Higginson and Chloe Merone. Paul, the clingy, cool fiancé, living with Amy, the funny, overthinking bride to be. The question is, will they or will they not get married? Next couple is ‘Peter’ and ‘Susan’ played by Adam Allsopp and Pippa Morris. Peter, an Ivy League Graduate’, Pippa a ‘Southern Belle’ ... they appear to be the perfect couple, yet they surprise Robert with the news of their upcoming divorce! We then meet ‘Sarah’ and ‘Harry’ played by Jacqui Lewis and Jonathon Plunkett … Sarah the food loving karate kid who’s on a diet and Harry, the witty, recovering alcoholic, who still likes a tot or two! We then meet ... ‘David’ and ‘Jenny’ played by Chris Seery and Kerry Baratinsky. David, the very chic husband of Jenny the very uptight wife. Robert visits them at their home arriving with a ‘stash of marijuana’ which they share… they also grill Robert on his single status and David confides that Jenny only takes drugs to show her love for him. Our final couple … ‘Larry’ and ‘Joanne’ played by Graham Padden and Deborah Bloom. Larry is the oldest, most cynical man about town whilst Joanne is the most brassy, vulnerable, divorced divorcee... on her third husband. They take Robert to a nightclub where they get drunk and where Joanne bluntly invites Robert to have an affair with her. We then meet Robert’s Girl’s … ‘Kathy’ an ex-girlfriend, sweet, now a close friend played really well by Abi Gibbons. ‘April’ … is a ditzy Flight attendant, who sleeps with Robert, played with great aplomb by Helena Fletcher-Hill. Last of the trio, the streetwise, opinionated New Yorker… ‘Marta’ played amazing well by Toni Spofforth, loved her rendition of ‘Another Hundred People’. Last, but certainly not least, in the programme under the title - ‘The Vocal Minority’ we find Laura-Jane Palmer-Farrar and Chloe Morris, who worked together, ever so well with the entire cast.

MY ‘Shout outs’ ... where to start is the major problem ...

i) A show highlight for me was the song ‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy’ sung by Kathy, April and Marta aka Abi Gibbons, Helena Fletcher-Hill and Toni Spofforth. The scene, intertwined around within the song, sees Robert sharing that he isn’t resistant to marriage … ladies respond ... ‘That’s not what you said’ … sung with passion, great harmonies and great movement, loved it! Summing things up, the ladies tell us that ‘Bobby’s my Hobby - I’m Giving him Up’; amazing scene/amazing song, be ever so proud!

ii) I mentioned this at the after-show meet and I still don’t know how Chloe Merone managed to fit all those words into ‘Not Getting Married’. Not only did she get them in, I understood every word! With vocal support from hubby to be Paul (Mathew Higginson), Kerry Baratinsky, the Company, it hit the rights notes for me!

iii) Also mentioned at the after-show meet… scene wrapped around Sarah aka Jacqui Lewis showing her karate skills, hammering husband Harry aka Jonathon Plunkett to the floor, had me and audience in stiches. (Note to Self: never say anything bad about Jacqui ... final move brought tears to my eyes) - HILARIOUS!

iv) Another highlight/Another song/’Another Hundred People’ sung to perfection by Toni Spofforth aka Marta. What made this a favourite was the interactions during the song up between Robert / Kathy, April and Marta about their lives, their involvements - funny, cathartic, so emotional … just loved it! Honestly, I could go on… so many good things came out of this musical!

Staging/Set/Tech … Andrea Claire (Stage Manager) and Paul Shacksmyth (DSM) oversaw all things on stage. Staging/set were minimal – a cut out New York Skyline stood tall across the rear of the stage, photographs of cast members/couples were brought in and taken out appropriately (very effective). Moveable sofas were used to create the various areas/moved continuously by cast members … worked seamlessly, allowing the production to flow with relative ease! The lighting plot designed by Andrea Claire added to the mood, but did have one or two small issues on the night. Sound was crisp, also adding to the mood, designed / operated by Simon Miller.

Orchestra … Adam Dutch (Musical Director), Keyboards: Ben Attfield, Corey Gerrad, David Wall, Reeds: Sarah Dutch, Emily McArthur, Susan Goffee; Trumpet: Cliff Ray; Trombone: Sam Olsson; Bass: Theo Tambourini-Kay; Drums/Percussion: Mark Bottomley … sensational sound, sensational support for this complex Sondheim Score

Costumes and Props were under the watchful eye of Tanya Steel. Costumes were apt and appropriate for the era / Props used were of good quality and used effectively.

It’s always interesting during the interval and as the audience leave at the end; to keep an ear to the ground, you get a feel of what the audience felt and thought ... the word ‘bitty’ cropped up on a number occasions about this rarely staged musical and I do understand why. I see a great number of plays, where several episodes of a TV series have been brought together, they can be bitty! But I felt this storyline was strong enough to be enjoyable, the characters created were real, the relationships between the five couples brilliantly portrayed and the cast, just gave us everything and more. Sondheim… the word ‘marmite’ often crops up when people talk about him, I think he's one of those people you either like or loathe ... I thought most of the songs were wonderfully staged, superbly sung, and as stated previously, dealt with outstandingly well by Adam and orchestra!

Thank you so much for inviting Susan and I, for your hospitality throughout and for allowing me to speak to the cast (apologies for the almost loss of voice, rhinitis is a curse) ... we thoroughly enjoyed the show ... look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

Stay safe, keep well… ‘Stronger Together’ Jim Briscoe NODA NW District 6 Rep