Company

the dvd was in excellent condition....but the actual production was very amateur..not very entertaining....great show..bad production

I watched the PBS HD broadcast of this amazing production of Stephen Sondheim's Company with Raul Esparza, and when I saw that it was available on Blue-ray DiskCompany [Blu-ray], I knew I had to have it for my collection.

If you're looking for one word: genius.

If you're looking for a few more, however....

This is perhaps Stephen Sondheim's greatest work. Arguable, but certainly a matter of opinion. His lyrics are incomparable, and the tone of the music is conversational - perfectly suited to George Furth's casual-style book. The emotional release in Being Alive sends a timeless message, not only in context of the show, but outside it as well. Any composer or lyricist who can make a song apply so perfectly both inside and outside of a show is, without doubt, genius.

Now - the direction. Everyone has their opinion on John Doyle's actors doubling as musicians. In Sweeney I found it to be distasteful. Instead of that, however, it simply suits this style of show. It's all a concept show, and it all takes place in Robert's head. Robert's singing songs about marriage in his head, why would it be inconceivable for him to imagine his friends playing instruments in accompaniment to his musings? Not only does it make sense, it just works. The staging could almost not be better. The acting and singing is fantastic. I could ask for a little more as far as instrumentals - meaning better - but I won't.

The entire show, you feel the build. You feel this build in tension, and then you get a complete release of it all in Being Alive. Having just watched Passion, that is something you don't get from that show. Company is a complete release, a definite end to the story being told. But at the same time, the story does not end. Sondheim and Furth supply closure without closing. This is enhanced particularly by John Doyle's cut of the finale.

Lastly, Raul Esparza. No more words need to be said, but I'll say them anyway. His interpretation of Bobby is sublime. Unreal. The motif of the entire play is the theme of the opening number, and Raul captures that chaos in his acting. You can see that Bobby is in constant thought, and it puts you into his shoes - you start to see what he sees, in order to grasp what he might be thinking about. The way he is able to contain his voice in "Someone is Waiting" is perfect. There could not have been a better actor found, I think, to play Bobby in this revival.

Overall - near perfection on stage. The staging of Being Alive is the embodiment of theatre. I say it every time I watch it. I'm more and more captivated each time.

Well, FINALLY!! An actual "Broadway" type performance captured on the modern entertainment medium of DVD!!
This is really not only a breakthrough in home entertainment but without doubt, the finest performance of a Stephen Sondheim classic it has ever been my pleasure to watch! It ranks with "Into the Woods" as a masterpiece in production values. Now, perhaps, Broadway will wake up to the fact that there are a vast number of us out here who can't ever hope to see an actual original performance of a show but who would be absolutely beside themselves to obtain these shows on DVD and applaud them in the confines of their own home. All it should take are a couple of cameras, a competent sound man and a professional director to transfer the show onto the digital media. And if the producers are worried it would result in fewer audiences attending the live performance, well then - wait until the FINAL NIGHT OF THE RUN and offer discounted prices to the live audience attending.

Live Theatre is chemistry between the audience and the actors
Very evident in this DVD.