![\"The](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/web-Comp_Cast1.jpg\")
<\/a>The loosely strung story concerns Bobby, a 35-year-old bachelor whose birthday is celebrated by numerous married friends. Bobby has three girlfriends (played by Mary Joe Duggan, Ashlee Mayer and Katie Whalley) and a huge aversion to one-on-one commitment.<\/p>\n
Whether the deliciously clever content is more bitter than sweet is in the eye and ear of the beholder. The fact remains that for a Sondheim lover, the score is rife with such favorites as \u201cMarry Me a Little,\u201d \u201cThe Ladies Who Lunch\u201d and the penultimate \u201cBeing Alive,\u201d in which Bobby comes to terms with who and where he is.<\/p>\n
As played by Andrew Wells Ryder, a graduate of University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Murray\u2019s alma mater), Bobby is not a narcissist or a homosexual. He is merely reassessing life on the brink of middle age. Though Ryder\u2019s vocal quality can be beautiful, he tends to overstress in the big emotional moments; however, his appeal is great, a good match of man to role.<\/p>\n
Standout performances abound, especially that of riotously funny, impeccably timed Eileen Bowman, who plays Amy, the longtime live-in girlfriend of Paul (winning San Diego newcomer Matthew Naegeli). When it comes to the white dress and the ceremony, Amy declares in her big Act One number, \u201cI\u2019m not getting married today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda Libby, \u00fcber sophisticated as the much-married Joanne, brings the house down in \u201cThe Ladies Who Lunch.\u201d She\u2019s paired with the long-suffering Larry (David Kirk Grant). As Jenny, Athena Espinoza displays fine vocal and comedic gifts in a scene in which her husband David (Andy Collins, hirsute for the role) and Bobby are smoking pot. She claims not to be affected by her tokes but shows all the signs.<\/p>\n
As Marta, the most idiosyncratic of Bobby\u2019s girlfriends, Mayer makes an indelible impression with \u201cAnother Hundred People.\u201d Melissa Fernandes also scores with vocals, karate throws, cartwheels and brownie sneaking as Sarah, married to Harry (Andrew Oswald), who purports to be on the wagon. Likewise, Wendy Waddell beautifully realizes Susan, married to the latent homosexual and father of her children, Peter (K\u00fcrt Norby).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an amazingly talented and deep assembly. In addition to Murray\u2019s adept and sensitive text- and character-derived direction, the company is upheld by Music Director Patrick Marion\u2019s unseen, five-piece band, the choreography of David Brannen, the immaculate set design of Ryan Grossheim, Jeanne Reith\u2019s costumes, Peter Herman\u2019s wigs, Chris Rynne\u2019s lighting, and Ross Goldman and Matt Lescault-Wood\u2019s sound design. George Y\u00e9 is fight director.<\/p>\n
Sondheim fans will want to book return tickets. The uninitiated yet curious must purchase now before tickets become extraordinarily scarce. Sondheim, born in 1930, is the greatest American lyricist-composer of the century.<\/p>\n