What: This week, the New York Philharmonic is presenting a special four-performance production of Stephen Sondheim's Company. The cast includes Neil Patrick Harris, Katie Finneran, Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, Christina Hendricks, Craig Bierko, and Martha freakin' Plimpton. The show is happening even though I am not in NYC right now. This seems like a terrible, terrible mistake. Luckily, I can calm myself with the practically perfect Broadway revival from 2006, starring the practically perfect Raúl Esparza. He makes me want to cry, he's so good.
Comparable to: In 2005, John Doyle directed a revival of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. He introduced the innovation of having the actors double as the orchestra. It was so remarkably effective that he did it again when he directed Company. Again, remarkably effective!
You might not like it if: You think all musicals = sweetness and light. This one has its darkness, but it's true, true, true.
How to get it: It was recorded live for PBS's Great Performances series and is available on DVD. You can also watch it instantly on Netflix.
Connection to previous Wreckage: Bryan Fuller devotees might recognize Raúl Esparza from his role on Pushing Daisies as Alfredo Aldarisio, would-be suitor of Olive Snook. (One of the very terrible things about the cancellation of Pushing Daisies is that he and Kristin Chenoweth never got to do a duet.) My other favorite TV show from Bryan Fuller is Wonderfalls (Rec. #2).
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