This year’s fall musical, “Company,” is one of the most character driven pieces Geneseo’s music department has put on in years.
Those working on the show have set a tremendously positive tone, and it’s plain to see that this experience is a great joy of which to be a part.
“Company” follows a young, jaded, single man named Bobby and his interactions with his married friends. The musical is composed of vignettes that reveal the complexities and attractive nature of married life.
Director and professor of theater and English Melanie Blood grew up loving the show and used the music before in many different contexts.
“You don’t really know where it’s going at first, but you’re hopefully enjoying each song,” Blood said regarding the special structure of the musical. “You see a piece here and a piece here, and eventually you see the whole puzzle emerge.”
This plan breaks the usual mold of drama, but in doing so it allows for the musical to do something new and inventive that is particularly satisfying when complete.
“The characters are really interesting in this [musical], and get a lot more depth than a lot of stories give,” Blood said.
Blood had nothing but praise for the talented cast, who have been working tirelessly at a hurried pace to prepare the show. The show had a rather untraditional rehearsal schedule as its first run-through took place after only five days. The passion and effort the cast has put into their character performance and learning Stephen Sondheim’s notoriously tricky music in such a short time only proves how dedicated and talented these students are.
Sophomore musical theater major Brett Hammes—who plays the protagonist Bobby—is a perfect example of a student’s dedication, showing such commitment by walking into the rehearsal before anyone else and repeatedly listening to the cast album.
Hammes shows nothing but admiration for his fellow cast members.
“They’re a whole bunch of talented and phenomenal people,” Hammes said. “Everyone is bringing their own outside experience, especially because not everyone is a musical theater major.”
Hammes suggested watching out for the dynamic scene between him and fellow cast members senior political science major Maria Cento and senior international relations major Matt Burley. The scene takes place on the morning of neurotic Amy and Paul’s—Cento’s and Burley’s characters respectively—marriage ceremony and ends on a completely unexpected note that even Hammes found to be shocking.
Another show stopping movement would be the unforgettable final number, the solo performed by the cynical, often divorced friend, Joanne, portrayed by junior music major Maria Floriano. Each actor shows something unique about the characters involved, which makes this show so unforgettable.
This show has something for everybody: a nontraditional plot, rich characters and excellent music and lyrics.
You can see “Company” from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m., with one performance at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 5 in Wadsworth Auditorium.u
The 2017 fall musical, “Company” (cast pictured above) tells the story of anti-social Bobby through multiple vignettes. Highlights of the show include an innovative plot structure, complex characters and fantastic music. (Annalee Bainnson/Photo editor)