A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

NO STRINGS, GOOD TIMES: A few thoughts on the NY Phil's production of Company, which I quite liked:

• Because most of the performers are actors first and singers second, the book scenes actually worked better than the songs in many instances. This was particularly the case with Colbert, who knocked his comic scene out of the park (he plays the guy who has his wife, played by Martha Plimpton here, demonstrate "kara-tay" on him), but whose chunk of "Sorry/Grateful" was merely OK.
• However, two of the cast members known primarily for theatre work disappointed in their songs. I'm guessing that "Another Hundred People" is murderously hard to sing, but Anika Noni Rose seemed hoarse, and while her rendition was technically better, I preferred the passion Angel Desai brought to it in the revival a few years back. Patti Lupone did her thing as Joanne, particularly in "Ladies Who Lunch," which didn't do much for me--I found it over-enunciated and over-done, even though that mode kind of fits the song. That said, both of them got extended ovations from the audience at the song's end.
• Interestingly, even though it was only a semi-staged concert performance, the production included "Tick Tock," an instrumental dance number centered around a love scene between Bobby and April (played here by Christina Hendricks, though she doesn't dance it). This benefits Hendricks, not just because it gets her less clad (yes, there's a negligee involved), but giving her character another scene, and it's nice to see her playing something far more reminiscent of where she is at the start of "Our Mrs. Reynolds" than Joan Harris. She also gets to sing, and acquits herself decently.
• Because of where he's cast, Craig Bierko is largely wasted--his one "big moment" is a book scene in Act II that has not aged well (those who know the show can easily identify). He does what he can with the scene, but it's still one of the false notes in the show.
• Although she largely disappears in Act II (again, because of the structure of the show), Katie Finneran is the MVP of Act I, with her rendition of "Getting Married Today" and the subsequent book scene, which is really funny and effectively serves as a turning point for Robert.
• NPH has a hard job to do as Bobby--while he's the lead, he only carries three numbers in the show, and mostly has to function as a reactor to his friends. That said, it all comes down to "Being Alive." Most Bobbys treat it as a vocal showpiece, full of vibrato and big glory notes. NPH doesn't have that kind of voice, so he plays it differently--emphasizing the acting. The lyrics are repeated twice, with slight lyrical variations--the first time through, NPH chooses to read them cynically and bitterly, but progressing till he hits something, and there's a change until at the end, it's all about hope and joy. As Sondheim put it--the song "starts as a complaint but becomes a prayer"--and NPH nails that, making him quite worthy.

If you're a fan of Sondheim and/or NPH, the video will be worth seeking out, in part because the production will likely iron out kinks (best takes of numbers will be used and the sound mix will be balanced, I expect, eliminating the problem that sometimes happened with the orchestra being so large and effective as to swallow a performer's voice), but even on its own merits.