THEATER REVIEWS : ‘Company’ Lacks Bit of Charisma

GARDEN GROVE —  In the first act of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” Robert’s friends serenade him with a song called “Have I Got a Girl for You.” They’re all involved in relationships, marriages, etc., but poor Bobby is alone at 35, as he always has been.

There are reasons. He sees what all his friends are going through and he is terrified of commitment. But he’s attractive, intelligent. He has charisma.

In the Garden Grove Community Theatre’s production, his charisma is missing. Joe Fletcher sings well and has a nice comic touch, but he lacks the appearance and the pizazz that would puzzle Bobby’s friends as to his single status.

Given that Bobby is the central figure in this show, its satiric edge is somewhat softened. Fletcher’s Bobby gapes in awe at the relationships around him, and that’s about it.

Director Kysa Cohen might have energized Fletcher a bit. But otherwise, her guidance--including her often inventive choreography--has resulted in a snappy retelling of Sondheim’s ‘70s musical, with ‘70s attitudes that translate into today’s AIDS-conscious society. Cohen is right in her program notes that in spite of everything, things don’t change that much, particularly the human obsession with pairing off.

The couples that surround Bobby actually have more to do in the show than he does, and this cast does it well for the most part.

Kyle Myers as Harry and Marie Madera as his wife Susan, who can’t resist correcting him, make marital karate look like fun, and the bubbling joy that envelops Bonnie Chin and Billy Aniceto when they realize post-divorce that they still want to be together is infectious.

*

As Jenny and David, Rob Terrazas and Maria Ramirez have the firmest grip on the show’s pot era humor--Terrazas with his calm, protective, worldly facade, Ramirez with her slow realization that she actually is getting stoned. And Terrazas is the most capable dancer in a company that handles Cohen’s steps admirably.

Sherry Domerego, as Marta, stands out with an almost totally deadpan delivery that is very effective, and does a bang-up job with the difficult “Another Hundred People.” Most of the laughs are provided by Melissa Dingwell as the lint-headed stewardess, April.

The memorable “Ladies Who Lunch” is given impressive vigor by Lona Walker as Joanne, Bobby’s smoking, drinking, marrying friend who finally admits she’d like to get him into bed, but, in this instance, she doesn’t seem totally sincere.

* “Company,” Garden Grove Community Theatre, Eastgate Park, Garden Grove. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Nov. 14 and Dec. 4, 2 p.m.; Nov. 21 and Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 17. $10. (714) 897-4122. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Joe Fletcher: Robert

Rob Terrazas: David

Maria Ramirez: Jenny

Marie Madera: Sarah

Kyle Myers: Harry

Bonnie Chin: Susan

Billy Aniceto: Peter

Lona Walker: Joanne

Melissa Dingwell: April

Sherry Domerego: Marta

Chris Sands: Paul

Aimee Boice: Amy

A Garden Grove Community Theatre production, produced by Patti Toubail and Bob Kozlowski, of a musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, directed and choreographed by Kysa Cohen. Musical direction: Jo Monteleone. Set design: Martin G. Eckmann. Lighting design: Lee Schulman. Assistant director/stage manager: Mary Eckmann.