Company (St. Bart's Players)

See it if You want to support community theater or know someone in the cast. Or really love the play.

Don't see it if You want to be able to HEAR anything, the acoustics were terrible. The play was slow and at times stilted.

See it if you want a community theatre level [talent, design, intention] of a Sondheim classic, sound & lyrics elude the proceedings at times

Don't see it if you need your Sondheim well produced, cast & directed, or if you don't like Sondheim or musicals

Also The barn of St Barts makes the production & direction of sound & thrust staging difficult but Ladies Who Lunch & I'm Not Getting Married Today are standouts in the lazily paced/ intentioned evening.... Read more Read less

See it if you care to support a dedicated community theater troupe. Spotty performances, some quite good. At times, hard to hear in such a large space

Don't see it if you want a polished production of a Sondheim classic.

See it if you appreciate legendary Sondheim scores, including numbers popular today, or are nostalgic about your middle age single life in NYC

Don't see it if you dislike long musicals with minimal sets or stereotyping an attractive single white and white collar NYC male unable to commit to a woman

See it if you want to see a production of a great musical given it's all by a decent cast who work hard to perform with limited resources.

Don't see it if you are looking for a Broadway style production performed by semi professionals who do a decent job in a difficult environment.

See it if you've never seen a live version and/or enjoy community theatre, offbeat theatre locales or have never been inside St Bart's Church.

Don't see it if you're expecting a full-blown production, have trouble hearing or don't like echoing church acoustics or concert vesrsions of shows

Also In all fairness, any review of a first preview or final dress is tricky, especially when tech problems kick in, as they did at this performance: face mics not working, percussion miscues. Add in the echo effect inside this gorgeous church and the acoustics were uneven at best.

The St Bart's Players are the longest-running community theatre in New York; now in their 89th season, its members a talented, serious and committed group of amateurs – that, in the best sense of the word, as ones that love the craft.

That said, the singing here is uneven, at times even timid; they should just attack it. The staging, in a difficult space, is inventive, the choreography making good use of it. Strongest was the Tick Tock number, the girl playing Kathy terrific (no program so no idea of cast). Also of note were this production's rapidly articulating Amy and striking Joanne.

This Company may not be for everyone, but it's an honest attempt with some spirit of the original.... Read more Read less

See it if you are willing to give an off-off Broadway production a chance. The material is great but the execution is inconsistent.

Don't see it if you don't like Sondheim's work or want a Broadway caliber show. There are some standout performances in the cast.

See it if you're open to well-intentioned community theater & talent mix of hits & misses— Bobby & Marta are hits, & are (like me) a Sondheim newbie.

Don't see it if need excellent acoustics (faulty mics made actors unintelligible at times) & visibility, or demand uniformly strong performances.

See it if Nice stage and great setting in St. BART'S CHURCH a good orchestra in rear helped

Don't see it if Tired of a popular Sondheim classic.

See it if If you want to see a very good yet amateur production of a classic show with an incredible Bobby and Joanne with great directing.

Don't see it if If you want to see a professional show. This is a strong community theatre production. Or if you want to understand what's being said.

Also This show takes place in a church sanctuary. So the echo is overwhelming and it makes it very difficult to understand the actors. If I didn't already know the show very well, I probably wouldn't have known what was happening because of how echoey the dialogue was. So go see this show. It's affordable and strong for community theatre. But make sure you know the show well before you see it.... Read more Read less

See it if For the music to this show is quite amazing. the book falls quite flat.

Don't see it if The sound bounces around so much I'm wa surprised the actors could keep on the beat. Very exhausting to listen to.. Talent had its moments

See it if you'll see anything Sondheim or if you want to see what community theater looks like in NYC.

Don't see it if you want good singers that can handle the lyrics (the one exception is the actress playing Amy) or want actors that are properly miked.

Also They perform in a large cavernous church, so not even sure if proper miking would help.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Sondheim, you like Company, you don't mind seeing an amateur (but solid) production where the singing/acting is uneven at times

Don't see it if You are looking for a big musical with a gripping plot. You don't like uneven acting/singing. Bad acoustics are a deal breaker.

See it if You haven't seen Company performed live. If you like Sondheim. If you don't mind an ambitious show in a church.

Don't see it if You want a traditionally staged show. This, although well choreographed, has a community theatre feel, prob bc it's in a church and dated.

See it if Attended Dress Rehearsal. See it if you want to support a community theater ambitiously taking on this beautiful but difficult piece.

Don't see it if you expect professional actors or production values of Broadway -- But I only saw the open dress rehearsal, so it probably has improved.

See it if you're a big 'Company' fan and would like to support a community theater

Don't see it if you have a very low patience for bad acoustics. You can barely hear anything (and neither can the band).

See it if you LOVE the show Company and appreciate cool old churches.

Don't see it if you are hard of hearing or can't sit through mediocre at best performers making their way through Sondheim. Bobby was the strongest.

See it if you really really love the show

Don't see it if the church doesn't lend itself well to housing a musical; the acoustics are bad and even a few pews back it was impossible to hear it all.

See it if you like community theater; you're ok with a mixed-ability cast performing a score that occasionally seems beyond them (Amy was fabulous).

Don't see it if technical issues with sound design and near-constant balance problems between singers and orchestra would frustrate, you want a star cast.

See it if You're a Sondheim fan interested in a great staging of a wonderful show

Don't see it if You're hoping for elaborate sets/staging (not that this show ever really features that... )

See it if You love Sondheim and want to see one of his best works.

Don't see it if You don't like fractured, concept musicals that explore the intricacies of relationships

See it if You like classic Sondheim musicals.

Don't see it if You are looking for a high budget production.

See it if You want to support local theater and actors.

Don't see it if You're not familiar with the musical.

See it if you want to see a really amature production of this sow

Don't see it if you are expecting a really off Broadway production

See it if This was a dress rehearsal, so not in final shape. Still, far from the best version of this classic.

Don't see it if You don't like Sondheim, or you don't know Sondheim or if you're looking for a linear story with big production values.

Also Tough call, because this is a favorite of mine, and it was a work in progress. Voices weren't strong, especially for numbers that needed the range; a key song (Marry Me a Little) was cut. Sondheim loyalists will be disappointed, newbies may enjoy the music and lyrics.... Read more Read less