Stephen Sondheim's Company starring Neil Patrick Harris - Blu-ray Forum

bluskies · 12-29-2012, 09:28 AM

I just finished watching this recent Blu-ray release. Stephen Sondheim's Company has been around since 1970 in various incarnations, and each has brought forth something marvellous. It wasn't that long ago that we had the John Doyle version, but this new one is even better than that one.

At first thought, I wouldn't have considered Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby, the bachelor and friend to several married couples, but he is exceptional in the role. In his personal search into being single or being married, Bobby experiences marital squabbles and bliss through his married friends, best summed up by the song, "Sorry/Grateful." Little by little, his hot bachelor nights with women like stewardess April leave him more than a little dissatisfied...until he realizes what he wants, revealed through "Being Alive."

The cast is uniformly terrific. Patti LuPone brings new dimension to Joanna, and especially in her rendition of "The Ladies Who Lunch," a song that has been too long associated with the screeching of Elaine Stritch. Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton are a delight as a couple trying to one-up each other. And Christina Hendricks as the stewardess April, a role completely unlike her part on Mad Men, is hilarious.

Picture quality is excellent, a joy to watch.

Likewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is sensational.

Extras are non-existant on the disc, which is a complete shame because I would have loved to have seen behind-the-production footage for this presentation. There is a 4-page liner notes which may explain it. It states that the cast, due to their commitments in different parts of the country, never got together until the day they opened.

A great concert experience, and a must for every fan of Stephen Sondheim. Very highly recommended.

12-29-2012, 09:28 AM	#1
bluskies Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2007 4K collection:287 Blu-ray collection:1848 DVD collection:235 Blu-ray reviews: 73	Stephen Sondheim's Company starring Neil Patrick Harris I just finished watching this recent Blu-ray release. Stephen Sondheim's Company has been around since 1970 in various incarnations, and each has brought forth something marvellous. It wasn't that long ago that we had the John Doyle version, but this new one is even better than that one. At first thought, I wouldn't have considered Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby, the bachelor and friend to several married couples, but he is exceptional in the role. In his personal search into being single or being married, Bobby experiences marital squabbles and bliss through his married friends, best summed up by the song, "Sorry/Grateful." Little by little, his hot bachelor nights with women like stewardess April leave him more than a little dissatisfied...until he realizes what he wants, revealed through "Being Alive." The cast is uniformly terrific. Patti LuPone brings new dimension to Joanna, and especially in her rendition of "The Ladies Who Lunch," a song that has been too long associated with the screeching of Elaine Stritch. Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton are a delight as a couple trying to one-up each other. And Christina Hendricks as the stewardess April, a role completely unlike her part on Mad Men, is hilarious. Picture quality is excellent, a joy to watch. Likewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is sensational. Extras are non-existant on the disc, which is a complete shame because I would have loved to have seen behind-the-production footage for this presentation. There is a 4-page liner notes which may explain it. It states that the cast, due to their commitments in different parts of the country, never got together until the day they opened. A great concert experience, and a must for every fan of Stephen Sondheim. Very highly recommended.

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