Company (2011)

To me, Sweeney Todd will always be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece. However, Company still shows a master at work, full of his challenging but truly inventive music(both in orchestral and vocal) and intelligently clever lyrics. While still demanding for the performers, in a way it is a little more accessible than Sweeney Todd. The story is also great in Company, it is always very entertaining, with truthful yet sometimes cynical observations on relationships, but it's also an emotional journey, with complex, deeply flawed and fully fleshed characters. This 2011 performance is a wonderful performance in every way. It looks good and stays true to Sondheim's idea of concept musical, and while some of the staging is somewhat minimalist it is very compelling as well and does a great job at making the characters and their relationships interesting and relateable. Sondheim's score is as you'd expect from him a powerhouse, it is very difficult to pick out a favourite song as they're all so good though The Ladies Who Lunch and Another Hundred People are definite contenders. The orchestra play magnificently throughout, and the conducting keeps things together without anything noticeable going awry. It was difficult to fault the performances either. Neil Patrick Harris' Bobby is sensitive and very charismatic, his rendition of Being Alive is emotionally heart-breaking. Patti LuPone comes very close to stealing the show with The Ladies Who Lunch bringing the house down, while her voice isn't the most beautiful it is still thrillingly volcanic and her acting is right on the money. Anika Noni Rose characterises beautifully and her Another Hundred People is exhilarating. The haunting simplicity of Christina Hendricks' Barcelona comes through too, Martha Plimpton has a beautiful voice and is an even better dancer, Kate Finneran is very funny in Getting Married Today and Chryssie Whitehead does Tick Tock so nimbly and so well that you are tempted to join her. All in all, a wonderful performance that succeeds hugely in every department. 10/10 Bethany Cox