Listen to Patti LuPone’s Powerful, Fiery ’The Ladies Who Lunch’ From West End's Company

Marianne Elliott’s gender-swapped production of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical opened in October.

Tony and Olivier winner Patti LuPone, who plays Joanne in Marianne Elliott’s gender-swapped production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company at the Gielgud Theatre, was a recent guest on Michael Ball’s radio show, The Michael Ball Show.



LuPone spoke with her former Les Misérables co-star about her decision to return to the London stage, as well as her affection for both director Elliott and Rosalie Craig, who stars as Bobbie.

Ball also previewed the forthcoming Company cast recording, playing LuPone's powerful rendition of “The Ladies Who Lunch.” Click here to listen to the song, which starts at the one hour and 33 minute mark.

About potentially bringing this production of the Sondheim classic to Broadway, LuPone said, “If certain members of the company go, then yeah [I'll go].”

HEAR PREVIEW OF SONDHEIM’S NEW COMPANY LYRICS

Joining LuPone and Craig are Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Gavin Spokes as Harry (who is married to Sarah), Richard Fleeshman as Andy (April in the original production), George Blagden as PJ (originally Marta), Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo (originally Kathy), Richard Henders and Jennifer Saayeng as David and Jenny, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Daisy Maywood (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk) as Susan, Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal, Jaimie Pruden, and Ben Lewis playing opposite LuPone as Joanne’s husband Larry.

The cast also includes Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, King Lear) as cold-footed groom Jamie (originally written as the female character Amy) and Alex Gaumond (Matilda, We Will Rock You, Sweeney Todd) as his devoted fiancé Paul. Sondheim and Elliott worked together on the script and re-imagined these two characters as a gay couple.

SEE WHAT ELSE IS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM IN LONDON

The creative team features choreographer Liam Steel, musical supervisor and conductor Joel Fram, designer Bunny Christie, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Ian Dickinson (for Autograph Sound), illusions designer Chris Fisher, orchestrator David Cullen, dance arranger Sam Davis, and casting directors Alastair Coomer CDG and Charlotte Sutton CDG.

