As a musical Director with nearly 30 years experience you'd think the most important thing to me would be the voice. NO! Combine a voice with the ACTING and you're there. And as an MD you witness people singing this in auditions with marvellous voices and you don't believe a word of it. Well believe me,when I saw Mr Lester do this it brought tears to my eyes because it was so BELIEVABLE and I made sure I thanked him for it.
His voice is so raw and vulnerable. You hear and feel every note reverberate into your inner being. Best performances are one’s that connect deepest with the audience. This dude killed it.
Looks like they pulled a random man off the street and just asked him to tell his story. Perfection. Probably one of the best acting performances I have ever seen.
really felt this one. others have nice voices but they just stand there looking at someone in the sky. this performance really shows what bobby is feeling.
First, I was stunned to see A.L. do this. Then, I was completely blown away by his performance. He doesn't just sing. He creates this song. I've never seen such a raw, emotional rendition. He GETS IT. Thank you, Adrian Lester!
I always knew Bobby was a a commitment-phobe, but this interpretation along with Lester's "Marry Me a Little" has given me much deeper insight into the character. Truly moving.
Underrated version. Really feel this gets across the story better than other, gets across the two halves of the song. I feel I could send it to friends who know nothing about Company and they would get it
He overdoes the "twangy" sound at the start, but he's superb. He exploits the piece to the "max" and I think thats what Sondheim wanted. He makes some of the other versions sound almost robotic.
Best acted version, which best serves the play. Lester was also an amazing Hamlet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2001), though he had to compete with an electric orange carpet, the glare from which nearly put everyone to sleep. Why Peter Brooks thought that a groovy idea is a mystery.
Saw the West End transfer and the 10th anniversary concert. I have never heard an audience roar, but that happened after his rendition at the 10th anniversary. The ultimate Bobby.
This perfomance is amazing even if his voice isnr the best because of the emotion however his voice at parts did remind me of kermit xP maybe its cause he wsstrying to do a new york sccent idk
He is the BEST Robert of any COMPANY production. Even better than Dean Jones and Raul Esparza! Yea, I said it! WHY? Because I believed in his character!
Meh the beginning his voice was a little too sharp for my taste, but when he had his breakdown and really didn't care what came out and just decided to be honest, it was fantastic.
Carl Gonzales I didn't see this production, but I'm guessing Lester is playing Bobby as somewhat drunk as he goes into the top of the song and that makes a lot of sense. As a dramatic performance of this great song, it's nearly perfect.
His performance is very interesting, emotional, and different from the norm. He brings much-needed humor to the role. But he forces the wrong vowels in an effort to sound American. He does sound a bit like Kermit the Frog at times. Nobody told him that affluent Manhattanites don't speak like Kentucky farmers' wives. But then again American actors are notorious for bad British accents or using the wrong accent for the role. I remember seeing Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS at the National Theatre in London once, where this whole middle class midwestern family talked like Chicago thugs from a 1930s gangster film lol. There are countless British accents and countless American ones. Too many actors think one will do for all roles. :)
![Praxis • Being Alive [from Company] • arr. Lance Fisher/David Breen • 2023 Quartet Quarterfinals](/img/n.gif)
As a musical Director with nearly 30 years experience you'd think the most important thing to me would be the voice. NO! Combine a voice with the ACTING and you're there. And as an MD you witness people singing this in auditions with marvellous voices and you don't believe a word of it. Well believe me,when I saw Mr Lester do this it brought tears to my eyes because it was so BELIEVABLE and I made sure I thanked him for it.
Makes me cry everytime I sing along with him.
His voice is so raw and vulnerable. You hear and feel every note reverberate into your inner being. Best performances are one’s that connect deepest with the audience. This dude killed it.
Looks like they pulled a random man off the street and just asked him to tell his story. Perfection. Probably one of the best acting performances I have ever seen.
really felt this one. others have nice voices but they just stand there looking at someone in the sky. this performance really shows what bobby is feeling.
Even the way she says, "want SOMETHING!" it just sets the stage for the rest of the song. Brilliance in two words on her part!
First, I was stunned to see A.L. do this. Then, I was completely blown away by his performance. He doesn't just sing. He creates this song. I've never seen such a raw, emotional rendition. He GETS IT. Thank you, Adrian Lester!
still the best damn version there is. i've shared this so many times already :') oh actors.
I always knew Bobby was a a commitment-phobe, but this interpretation along with Lester's "Marry Me a Little" has given me much deeper insight into the character. Truly moving.
This is the best version I’ve ever heard!!! The lonliness is palpable. It just shivers under your skin.
Wow, that was incredible well-done.
Probably the most believable and convincing performance of this song I've ever seen.
Well done, Mr. Lester.
Haven't yet seen a version of this piece I didn't like. Love the sprawling emotional range of this interpretation. Magnificent performance.
I have tears running down my face! The emotion in this performance is breathtaking!
Adrian Lester is magnificent in this. I was very lucky to see this performance.
Underrated version. Really feel this gets across the story better than other, gets across the two halves of the song. I feel I could send it to friends who know nothing about Company and they would get it
WOW!! superb acting and incredible voice to match.. what a treat !! thank you for posting!
This must be the definitive acting version. So deeply moving. Bravo!!!
He overdoes the "twangy" sound at the start, but he's superb. He exploits the piece to the
"max" and I think thats what Sondheim wanted. He makes some of the other versions sound almost robotic.
Wow. This is a song I’ve heard a million times and I have to say this is a really memorable interpretation
Fantastic, just fantastic.
such an interesting interpretation!
i always loved the vibe of this production the most, it feels homey but also makes you feel insane.
After Raul Esparza, easily my favorite Bobby
My absolute favourite performance of this song, Adrien nails it.
Is there a good reason why Adrian Lester's name isn't in the description?
Best acted version, which best serves the play. Lester was also an amazing Hamlet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2001), though he had to compete with an electric orange carpet, the glare from which nearly put everyone to sleep. Why Peter Brooks thought that a groovy idea is a mystery.
Beautiful, poignant song. The performances are amazing x
Honestly the best Bobby there's ever been.
elke keer weer, kippevel, omdat ik ooit zomergasten keek met Marc Marie.. het is zo bijzonder sterk hoe hij dit brengt
this is the best
I enjoyed his interpretation of the song.
Saw the West End transfer and the 10th anniversary concert. I have never heard an audience roar, but that happened after his rendition at the 10th anniversary. The ultimate Bobby.
Saw this on tv at zomergasten ;) So impressing
this is Actually beautiful...
i never liked this song until i saw this. oh my
This perfomance is amazing even if his voice isnr the best because of the emotion however his voice at parts did remind me of kermit xP maybe its cause he wsstrying to do a new york sccent idk
Still the best 'Bobby' in Company in my opinion - and the best production.
ADRIAN LESTER.
goose pimples.....................
Sondheim said he preferred actors who sing over singers who act. Case in point: Adrian Lester. Not a perfect voice, merely a perfect performance.
He is the BEST Robert of any COMPANY production. Even better than Dean Jones and Raul Esparza! Yea, I said it! WHY? Because I believed in his character!
Meh the beginning his voice was a little too sharp for my taste, but when he had his breakdown and really didn't care what came out and just decided to be honest, it was fantastic.
Carl Gonzales I didn't see this production, but I'm guessing Lester is playing Bobby as somewhat drunk as he goes into the top of the song and that makes a lot of sense. As a dramatic performance of this great song, it's nearly perfect.
His performance is very interesting, emotional, and different from the norm. He brings much-needed humor to the role. But he forces the wrong vowels in an effort to sound American. He does sound a bit like Kermit the Frog at times. Nobody told him that affluent Manhattanites don't speak like Kentucky farmers' wives. But then again American actors are notorious for bad British accents or using the wrong accent for the role.
I remember seeing Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS at the National Theatre in London once, where this whole middle class midwestern family talked like Chicago thugs from a 1930s gangster film lol. There are countless British accents and countless American ones. Too many actors think one will do for all roles. :)
sounds like kermit..
Magnificently acted. Not an overblown performance like the Raul Esparza
he reminds me of homer simpson