Tuesday, February 25, 2020

LOGOS: Company (2020)

When I see the upcoming revival of Company this spring, it'll be the third Broadway production for me. This has always been one of my favorite Sondheim scores, and I really enjoy the psychology of the book. I'm hoping that this gender-reversed version will enlighten me even more about the very single Bobby/Bobbie. We have a lot in common. So when the newest iteration of the logo came out the other day, I studied it hard. I mean, I loved the title part of the logo already, but if this is the poster, I may just paper my apartment with it!

But let's take a look at that title-only part first. The use of a neon lights style here seems simultaneously very modern and timeless - and definitely urban. The color choices are also doing triple duty: the purple is feminine and strong (versus, say, pink), the bright blue with a red frame not only compliment the purple, they are definitely eye-catching. You see this in the visual cacophony, and your eye is still drawn to it. Even better, in many iterations, the "NY" seems somehow brighter - perfect for a New York set, New York production. And then there's that olive... The "Y" becomes a martini glass. Grown up, boozy, stylish...here's to the ladies who lunch. Everybody rise!


But that full treatment, right!? Each character in a separate little (NYC-sized apartment, maybe) box speaks to compartmentalization of our relationships. More importantly, each box tells us a lot about each character and their closest relationship - even the singles are telling. There isn't one pair or single that doesn't interest me here! And as a long-time fan of most everyone in the cast, this is a lot of fun to see them all in character at once.


Of course, the above-the-title stars are the biggest draw. A carefree and very tipsy Patti LuPone - dig that hairdo! - will certainly appeal musical theater fans, and a lot of gay men. The centerpiece photo - a very captivating Katrina Lenk - tells us everything we need to know. Here's a young, stylish woman bathed in red with an enigmatic expression, alone. Celebrating her birthday with a small cake and a bunch of shiny balloons (they even match the title!), she's alone. Surrounded by all of her friends, she's alone. Then there's the one red balloon drifting separately away. Maybe, in her red outfit, she sees herself in that single red balloon. She's alone, but alive.

Grade: A+

#2281

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