Oregon daily emerald., July 10, 1972, Page 3, Image 3

Company gives good performances
"Company,” a zestful musical-comedy concerning marriage, its
trials and tribulations, opened Friday at the Carnival Theatre.
Though seemingly lacking a little in story line and character
development, the play was highly entertaining and offered many
excellent and delightful individual performances.
The characters consist of Robert (or Bobby), three girlfriends,
and five married couples who are Bobby’s friends and “company.”
Perhaps the problem with character development is that there are too
many characters present to allow time to develop individual
characters fully. Although the play is highly entertaining and
amusing, something seems missing. The something perhaps is a
clearer idea of what the characters were telling the audience about
themselves. Even so, there are several excellent individual efforts.
Good performance
Joseph Zingo, in the lead role of Bobby, was one of good per
formances. Bobby is a 31 year old bachelor with a group of married
friends who constantly invite him to their house for “company.” Zingo
comes off very well as the slightly confused innocent who can’t quite
'igure out from his friend’s erratic marriages whether marriage is a
good or a bad thing. Mis little boy's speaking voice contributes to the
portrayal of a character who at 31 is still searching for perfection in
marriage. Zingo sings pleasingly and shows that he is a talented
dancer as well.
[ Review^
Unfortunately, the male performances, with the exception of
Zingo, are not outstanding enough to compete with several strong
performances by the actresses. The men do not seem to develop their
characters to the extent of the roles of Marta, Joanne or Amy,
Sandy Puckett in the role of Marta, one of Bobby’s girlfriends,
does an excellent job as a crazy kook who thinks she is the pulse of
New York and that 14th street is the center of the universe. She sings
"Another Hundred People Just Got Off of the Train” with the
fascination of someone totally in love with New York City and totally
in love with herself She has a very good voice and seems to be
completely into her character.
Joanne, played by Chilton Peterson, gave another excellent
performance. Joanne is thrice married, cynical, and loves making
sarcastic cuts and jabs at any available victim. Peterson uses well
that expressionless grin of actresses, and a superior attitude in
playing the role of Joanne, who in the end shows herself to be as
unhappy in her role as she shows others to be in theirs.
Finally, Katie Axtell brings a confused gentleness to the role of
Amy, who can't decide to marry the man she has been living with for
so long that a wedding ceremony is an embarrassment Amy keeps
insisting that she's not getting married. Her panic in facing a
marriage is aptly portrayed by Axtell, whose wide-eyed expressions
show her feelings clearly.
"Company” presents the question of marriage, whether it is
worthwhile or a waste of freedom, and uses its central character,
Hobby, as the means to an answer Bobby visits his friends in the
process of discovering what marriage is about, and several
memorable scenes emerge from the play.
Karate
One such scene occurs when Bobby visits the home of a couple who
challenge each other to a Karate match. The result looks like a duel to
the death until Bobby acts as referee.
Another scene that comes off well is the morning of the wedding of
Amy and Paid Amy keeps insisting she won’t get married, while the
chorus sings its owr. version of a wedding march. Bobby contributes to
the scene by proposing to the unwilling bride, and in the process of
explaining that you have to want to marry "someone, not just
someone” (anyone), Amy decides to marry Paul.
“Company” is also worth your while. It's an entertaining play
that takes an interesting look at marriage and will keep you amused.
Bobby (Joe Zingo) and the cast sing the finale.
Photo by Nick Lacy
By Barbara Coleman
Photo by Nick Lacy
Joanne (Chilton Peterson) laughs at Susan’s (Judy Sullivan) expense
during a birthday party for Bobby.
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