Discussion Board
"Company" at the Fringe
12 months ago I was able to recommend a Company production at the Edinburgh fringe. Sadly this year's offering - by local university group EULOG cannot be recommended. The main problem is the production because none of the principals are bad its just the whole thing is lack-lustre and tediously slow. Usually Fringe productions involve fairly heavy pruning because of limited time slots. This is one production which would actually benefit from some cutting or alternatively pacing the whole thing up. If you can imagine Harold Pinter on one of his slow days that about sums it up. Interestingly EULOG on their web site advertise "Company" by Stephen Sondheim. No mention of George Furth but too much GF played at this ponderous pace is the down side of this production. But there are other dubious production flaws - why have "Another Hundred People" sung from the back of the stage; why have the cast moving the furniture around during Bobby's big final number etc. etc. Unfortunately the cast are not miked so I for one (old and deaf as I am!) had great difficulty hearing several of the girls. The lead into "Barcelona" was almost completely inaudible for example. Anyone seeing a Stephen Sondheim for the first time would probably be put off - I hope I'm wrong about this.
On a positive note, we also saw a great production by "Take Note Theatre" of "I Love you, you're perfect, now change". (Beware of imitations, there are three productions of this off-Broadway hit on at Edinburgh) Incidentally there are two "Assassins" this year and one each of "Forum" and "Woods".
Have a good Fringe!
On a positive note, we also saw a great production by "Take Note Theatre" of "I Love you, you're perfect, now change". (Beware of imitations, there are three productions of this off-Broadway hit on at Edinburgh) Incidentally there are two "Assassins" this year and one each of "Forum" and "Woods".
Have a good Fringe!
RE: Company at the Fringe
Disappointing to read about that. Company really needs pace above anything else,doesn't it - reflecting as it does the frenetic pace of life in New York. It seems hard to imagine a performance done at a Pinteresque speed (and what happens to Not Getting Married Today?! Thankfully this isn't necessarily typical of productions at Scottish universities. My daughter went to see Company at her university (St Andrews) a few months ago and raved about it - in fact so much, she went to see every performance!
RE:
Ok, judging from the date of your post you must have seen it on opening night, which I think is a little harsh to judge them for because speaking as someone who's been involved with Fringe shows before, your first night is most likely your first night in the venue, not to mention your first night with lighting etc. so there are always plenty of teething problems.
I went to see EUSOG's "Company" on Sunday night and was absolutely blown away! Their Bobby was utterly outstanding and his "Being Alive" had me in tears. It was so moving and I found the show to be very well paced infact. Whilst I agree that there are some cast members who could do with speaking up a bit, they were still audible and that girl who played April, whilst quiet, was just perfect for the role.
I would highly recommend going to see this version of Company, which I actually consider to be superior to last year's "Company", whilst that was a professional production, their Bobby bored me to tears. It's a shame that you didn't enjoy it but perhaps it was just a bad night? I was incredibly impressed with the whole product. I certainly had my reservations about going to see it because I thought that it would be too complex a show to be done by university students but they pulled it off beautifully.
It deserves the five stars it's received, hands down.
I went to see EUSOG's "Company" on Sunday night and was absolutely blown away! Their Bobby was utterly outstanding and his "Being Alive" had me in tears. It was so moving and I found the show to be very well paced infact. Whilst I agree that there are some cast members who could do with speaking up a bit, they were still audible and that girl who played April, whilst quiet, was just perfect for the role.
I would highly recommend going to see this version of Company, which I actually consider to be superior to last year's "Company", whilst that was a professional production, their Bobby bored me to tears. It's a shame that you didn't enjoy it but perhaps it was just a bad night? I was incredibly impressed with the whole product. I certainly had my reservations about going to see it because I thought that it would be too complex a show to be done by university students but they pulled it off beautifully.
It deserves the five stars it's received, hands down.
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© 2004 Damon Jones, inSignificant Productions
© 2004 Damon Jones, inSignificant Productions