Are You Sick, or Just Acting?

Last Friday night, during dinner in the garden at A.O.C., I was unexpectedly offered free tickets to a work of "experimental dance theater" called Traumnovela. Although common sense warned me that anything free is being given away for a reason, especially in NY, I daringly decided to give it a try. After some moules frites, a Magnolia cupcake (the sublime red velvet, which is rarely available except for on holidays), and a completely unintentional detour involving hitherto unknown corners of the West Village, I arrived at the Barrow St. Theatre. It was nearly showtime, yet the house doors remained closed due to "technical issues." Once the show finally began, it became clear that "technical issues" should have been the least of the cast and crew's worries. I'm not sure I've ever experienced such a strong urge to walk out of a performance, but I was honestly worried about embarrassing myself by bursting into laughter at an inopportune moment. The uniquely horrific combination of risque costuming, bizarre plot, unimaginative lyrics, fog machines and a sparkly unitard was unfortunately hilarious. My fears of mortification were put to rest when, about 20 minutes in, the actors abruptly left the stage. The audience was told that a member of the cast was ill and the performance would resume shortly. My companion and I were dumbfounded - was the sick actor the redhead who had earlier collapsed onstage and been replanted into her chair by a castmate? We had assumed it was all part of the show, but we didn't stick around to find out.

Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company

Ever since I saw Sweeney Todd last summer I've been curious to see how the same creative team (director John Doyle and music coordinator Mary-Mitchell Campbell) would treat the return to Broadway of Sondheim's 1970 show Company. I've always had a soft spot for the show's characters and tunes, although when I saw it in the past it seemed terribly dated. I'm not sure if they've succeeded in updating the current production or if I'm just getting old.

The story revolves around Robert, a thirty-something single New Yorker who is both supported and tormented by a cast of married couples. Raul Esparza is spectacular in the starring role, bringing a wry sarcasm to the character I haven't seen in previous productions. His performance is the one reason I would recommend seeing this show. I certainly wouldn't go for the music.

The creative team attempted to recreate the success of Sweeney Todd using the same gimmick. Like the previous production, the actors in Company were required to play instruments in lieu of a pit orchestra. Unfortunately they were not nearly as successful this time around. Part of the problem was logistical. In many cases, there was simply not enough time for the actors to sing and play, as in the horribly out of tune sax trio.