There’s a big basketball thing happening, and there is green beer a’plenty this week/end. Mixed in all the Hoop-La is a fun, poignant, respectable version of Sondheim’s COMPANY at the PNC Arts Annex. TheaterLab Dayton‘s enchanting stroll down the ins and outs of relationships has some real ‘moments’ that only live theater can provide. Centered around the internal conflict of ‘Bobby, Bob, Robert’ (Bobby Mitchum should be beaming about his performance as the lead!) and his desire to just feel something with someone, we meet some truly endearing couples…you’ll pick your favorite of the bunch, maybe the one you relate to most!
The show, odd for a Broadway Musical, really is about everyone and everybody, and nobody and nothing. The first act sets us up for what is to be the path to self-realization that nearly all of us face at one time or another. The energy of the show truly ‘builds’ throughout. Sondheim’s purposeful meandering between ‘happiness. craziness, and longing’ in relationships is a ride…so, relax and GO! The energy ‘pops’ when the maniacal Amy (Kara Hancock) gets to ‘Not Getting Married Today…’ an anthem for the ages. Her soon-to-be? husband, Paul (Joshua Silver Hughes) desperately seeks to save the day, and through it all Bobby watches as yet another ‘version of the ideal couple’ bounces recklessly down the aisle?? Hmmmmm.
Before we get there, we get to know the floundering other couples….the competitive neurotics, Sarah and Harry (played giddily by Allie Haines and Garrett Young); the ‘perfect couple,’ Susan and Peter ( played with complete charm by Danielle Ruddy and Derick Latimer), ; the drunk and do-gooder, Joanne and Larry, (brought to life with convincing chemistry by Lindsay Sherman and David Moyer), and the staid and plain Jenny and David ( solidly played by Abby Hoggatt and Philip Drennen ***Sidenote, Hoggatt’s voice in ‘Not Getting Married…’ is not to be forgotten!) 
And, there are the girlfriends (Rachel Hertenstein, Brooke Cierra & Jackie Randall) that pop in and out and bring to life ‘Another 100 People & You Could Drive a Person Crazy….’ as well as pepper the plot with more trouble and tribulation for Robert.
The Second Act really picks up the pace and we dive through Bob’s ‘headwinds.’ ‘Side by Side by Side/What Would I Do‘ has moments where a solid wall of beautiful voices resonate in the theater! Bravo! And through it all, we just keep rooting for LOVE…be it in ‘Barcelona‘ or at a cocktail party thrown by the ‘ladies on their own behalf.’ All roads lead to the subtle yet impactful ending….on the tail end of the quintessential ‘Being Alive.’ (That song still grips the heart!)
Directed by Mackensie King, with a sort of relaxed, casual appeal, you can see she trusts her cast. King sets a tone, and the cast moves forward with it! King put it like this, ‘This cast is beyond talented. Each one has really taken the time to dig deeper into their scenes, and figure out how their characters relate to the others.’
And the audience will connect…as Moyer put it ‘Through the laughs and the tears, I hope the audience finds that many times there is perfection in the imperfections. We don’t all fit the same mold, or follow the same rules. Your happiness is what you make of it, and ultimately finding that happiness is up to you, no one else.’
‘It feels like people-watching because you are getting a glimpse into the idiosyncrasies of other people’s relationships. We can nitpick at the things we think are crazy or endearing or loving, but really we all have them, and none of us in our relationships are perfect, and there’s beauty in that.’ Latimer added.
COMPANY delivers, sometimes boldly, other times with more fragility….but I guess that’s love after all!
See COMPANY
at the PNC Arts Annex.
Fri, 3/18
Sat, 3/19 at 2pm and 8pm.
Call 937-228-3630 or Daytonlive.org for tickets
