Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
February 18, 1993
Section: Life
Page: B7
Music overpowers ‘Company’ singers
In Review
David Burke
A few days after Feb. 14, and Millikin University offers its own Valentine to love, marriage ... and making your own choices.
It’s Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” an ensemble piece about a bachelor trying to make up his mind about whether or not to get married, and if so, to whom.
As the New York bachelor, Robert, Joe Machota is the constant throughout the show. He’s not spectacular as Robert, but then again with the material Sondheim has written, you don’t know a whole lot about the 35-year-old bachelor.
The cast includes many familiar faces for those acquainted with Millikin musicals, as well as some talented newcomers.
There’s Harry and Sarah (Brendan McNab and Julie Cardia), the recovering alcoholic and chocoholic; Peter and Susan (Salvatore Ingurgio and Laurie Georgelis), who -boom -decide to get divorced; David and Jenny (Bill Ashdown and Angel Barrette), who do reefers on the living room floor; Paul and Amy (Ted Hesse and Linda Parsons), whose feet get arctic cold on their wedding day; and Larry and Joanne (Janna Cardia and Eric Mahlum) -he’s her third husband.
To this mix, add three girlfriends: Marta (Suzanne Spinosa), the Noo Yawker; Kathy (Tamara Walker), the free spirit; and stewardess April (Angela Berra), who just may be the reason for dumb blonde jokes.
All do a fine job, none incredibly overshadowing the other. There are some charming moments however, especially Spinosa’s “Another Hundred People,” and Parsons’ “Getting Married Today.” The two songs have the Sondheim mile-a-minute delivery which each singer controls well.
The trouble with “Company” is with the music, particularly the orchestration. Not that it isn’t good. Maria Klott directs a sixpiece
orchestra that performs the music exquisitely. The trouble is, at times it drowns out the singers.
Perhaps it’s because the orchestra is in the balcony of Albert Taylor Theater, and music wafts over the audience. Millikin musicals in Albert Taylor over the years have had a band backstage or to the side, which has worked effectively.
It’s tough to bring out this criticism -kind of like saying there’s too much frosting on your birthday cake.
But when the lyrics explain so much about each of the characters and the audience can’t hear them, the message is lost.
As both director and choreographer, Lynne Synder does a fine job of keeping the pace, and shifting moods from raucous to melancholy to sensual.
————————--
David Burke is a Herald & Review staff writer.
‘Company’
Cast
Robert........Joe Machota
Marta.......Suzanne Spinosa
Kathy.......Tamara Walker
April.........Angela Berra
Sarah.........Julie Cardia
Harry.......Brendan McNab
Susan.......Laurie Georgelis
Peter......Salvatore Ingurgio
Jenny.......Angel Barrette
David........Bill Ashdown
Amy........Linda Parsons
Paul..........Ted Hesse
Joanne.......Janna Cardia
Larry........Eric Mahlum
Crew
Director.......Lynne Snyder
Musical director....Maria Klott
Lighting.......Doug Molash
Costumes......Mary Spencer
Set designer.....Erik Bolling
Produced by the Millikin University theater department at Albert Taylor Theater. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Performances continue at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $5 for the general public, $4 for students and senior citizens, available at Kirkland box office, 424-6318.
February 18, 1993
Section: Life
Page: B7
Music overpowers ‘Company’ singers
In Review
David Burke
A few days after Feb. 14, and Millikin University offers its own Valentine to love, marriage ... and making your own choices.
It’s Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” an ensemble piece about a bachelor trying to make up his mind about whether or not to get married, and if so, to whom.
As the New York bachelor, Robert, Joe Machota is the constant throughout the show. He’s not spectacular as Robert, but then again with the material Sondheim has written, you don’t know a whole lot about the 35-year-old bachelor.
The cast includes many familiar faces for those acquainted with Millikin musicals, as well as some talented newcomers.
There’s Harry and Sarah (Brendan McNab and Julie Cardia), the recovering alcoholic and chocoholic; Peter and Susan (Salvatore Ingurgio and Laurie Georgelis), who -boom -decide to get divorced; David and Jenny (Bill Ashdown and Angel Barrette), who do reefers on the living room floor; Paul and Amy (Ted Hesse and Linda Parsons), whose feet get arctic cold on their wedding day; and Larry and Joanne (Janna Cardia and Eric Mahlum) -he’s her third husband.
To this mix, add three girlfriends: Marta (Suzanne Spinosa), the Noo Yawker; Kathy (Tamara Walker), the free spirit; and stewardess April (Angela Berra), who just may be the reason for dumb blonde jokes.
All do a fine job, none incredibly overshadowing the other. There are some charming moments however, especially Spinosa’s “Another Hundred People,” and Parsons’ “Getting Married Today.” The two songs have the Sondheim mile-a-minute delivery which each singer controls well.
The trouble with “Company” is with the music, particularly the orchestration. Not that it isn’t good. Maria Klott directs a sixpiece
orchestra that performs the music exquisitely. The trouble is, at times it drowns out the singers.
Perhaps it’s because the orchestra is in the balcony of Albert Taylor Theater, and music wafts over the audience. Millikin musicals in Albert Taylor over the years have had a band backstage or to the side, which has worked effectively.
It’s tough to bring out this criticism -kind of like saying there’s too much frosting on your birthday cake.
But when the lyrics explain so much about each of the characters and the audience can’t hear them, the message is lost.
As both director and choreographer, Lynne Synder does a fine job of keeping the pace, and shifting moods from raucous to melancholy to sensual.
————————--
David Burke is a Herald & Review staff writer.
‘Company’
Cast
Robert........Joe Machota
Marta.......Suzanne Spinosa
Kathy.......Tamara Walker
April.........Angela Berra
Sarah.........Julie Cardia
Harry.......Brendan McNab
Susan.......Laurie Georgelis
Peter......Salvatore Ingurgio
Jenny.......Angel Barrette
David........Bill Ashdown
Amy........Linda Parsons
Paul..........Ted Hesse
Joanne.......Janna Cardia
Larry........Eric Mahlum
Crew
Director.......Lynne Snyder
Musical director....Maria Klott
Lighting.......Doug Molash
Costumes......Mary Spencer
Set designer.....Erik Bolling
Produced by the Millikin University theater department at Albert Taylor Theater. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Performances continue at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $5 for the general public, $4 for students and senior citizens, available at Kirkland box office, 424-6318.
Copyright, 1993, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL