Playbill UniverseRead Reviews of Marianne Elliott's Reimagined Revival of Sondheim's Company in the West EndFrom making Bobby into Rosalie Craig's Bobbie to adjusting dated lyrics, what did critics think of the new take on the classic?
By
Mark Peikert
October 17, 2018
Rosalie Craig and company
Brinkhoff/Moegenburg
Director Marianne Elliott’s gender-switched production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company officially opened at the Gielgud Theatre October 17 following previews that began September 26. The production has now extended to March 30, 2019. Read what critics thought of the new production below.
The company is led by Rosalie Craig in the central role of Bobbie (bachelor Bobby in previous productions)—a single woman who is celebrating her 35th birthday with her married friends—with two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Gavin Spokes as Harry (who is married to Sarah), Richard Fleeshman as Andy (April in the original production), George Blagden as PJ (originally Marta), Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo (originally Kathy), Richard Henders and Jennifer Saayeng as David and Jenny, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Daisy Maywood (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk) as Susan, Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal, Jaimie Pruden, and Ben Lewis playing opposite LuPone as Joanne’s husband Larry.
The cast also includes Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, King Lear) as cold-footed groom Jamie (originally written as the female character Amy) and Alex Gaumond (Matilda, We Will Rock You, Sweeney Todd) as his devoted fiancé Paul. Sondheim and Elliott worked together on the script and re-imagined these two characters as a gay couple.
The creative team also features choreographer Liam Steel, musical supervisor and conductor Joel Fram, designer Bunny Christie, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Ian Dickinson (for Autograph Sound), illusions designer Chris Fisher, orchestrator David Cullen, dance arranger Sam Davis, and casting directors Alastair Coomer CDG and Charlotte Sutton CDG.
The producers of the London revival are Elliott & Harper Productions, Catherine Schreiber, Grove Entertainment, Jujamcyn Theaters, LD Entertainment, David Mirvish, Aged in Wood Productions/Ricardo Hornos, Bob Boyett/Tom Miller, Bruno Wang Productions/Salman Al-Rashid, Across the Pond Theatricals/Trio Theatricalsand Greek Street Productions/Christopher Ketner.
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Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone Take the Stage in London's Gender-Swapped Company
Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone Take the Stage in London's Gender-Swapped Company
