Marriage may be daunting to some, but the UTSA Lyric Theatre’s matrimony interpretation felt more like a show-tune panic attack with hats and jazz hands. The cast brought a musical out of retirement and made it their own.
From April 10 to 13, UTSA’s Lyric Theatre hosted a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” at the Wonder Theatre, starring some of UTSA’s most talented students.
The cast includes Dylan Ramirez as Robert — the lead character — Ally Bermea as Sarah, Aiden Milliron as Harry, Zada McElroy as Susan, Luis Sanchez as Peter, Bernadette Fernandez as Jenny, Michael Reyes as David, Alex Sanchez as Amy, Dorian Speights as Paul, Marlina Gamez as Joanna and Justin Chappel as Larry. The creative team for the production includes Troy Peters as the conductor, William McCrary as the director and Michelle Pietri as the choreographer and costume designer.
Set in the 1970s, Company brings comedy, romance, vulnerability and New York to a resonant level. It seeks to show mature relationships through a quirky and frail lens.
On the night of Robert’s 35th birthday, he struggles to think of something to wish for while blowing out his candles. Robert’s supportive married friends surround him, and as he observes their relationships, he questions whether he should be content living vicariously through them or if he should have a wife of his own.
The show features dinner parties, first dates and deep conversations as Robert interacts with his hilarious and honest friends to try to understand the advantages and disadvantages of marriage. As Robert contemplates what he thinks marriage should look like, he discovers what it means to feel alive.
The audience is captivated as soon as the opening act starts, and the lights turn on. The set is astonishing; the design is well put together from various living room, bedroom and bar scenes. The orchestra entertains, and it makes the performances all the more enjoyable. The costumes, designed by Pietri, are accurate to the 70s time period, adding to the play’s overall atmosphere.
One of the best performances is when Amy overthinks her wedding day and feels as if it is not the right next step for her. The song “Getting Married Today” is spectacular. It shows a parallel of what Paulv is feeling compared to Amy. Sanchez sings and talks very fast as she explains her inner thoughts. Alex impressively sings, and the crowd is in awe at her quick and controlled voice. The performance includes the other characters as church singers ready to bless the bride on her wedding day. The entire comedic performance is full of talent.
Along with “Getting Married Today,” another performance that just wows the crowd is Ramirez’s performance of “Marry Me a Little.” The performance portrays the desperate need to have someone in life to share the little things with. The emotion is raw, and Ramirez does an amazing part of showing the audience what the character is feeling.
Another performance full of emotion and vulnerability is the final song “Being Alive.” Robert’s friends surround him, and they ask him to wish for something. The portrayal has a sense of yearning from Robert’s part and is a perfect way to end the show. The emotion sends chills down the audience’s spines, representing reasoning from Robert’s friends.
With humor, heart and vulnerability, UTSA’s Lyric Theatre production of “Company” brings a sense of relatability to a wonderful show and brings a new meaning to “alone is alone, not alive.”
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