Company, the musical comedy masterpiece about the search for love and cocktails in New York, is turned on its head in Elliott's revelatory staging, in which musical theatre's most iconic bachelor is now a bachelorette. At Bobbie's 35th birthday party, all her friends are wondering why isn't she married? Why can't she find the right man? And, why can't she settle down and have a family? This whip smart musical comedy, given a game-changing makeover for a modern-day Manhattan, features some of Sondheim's best loved songs, including "Company," "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Side by Side," and the iconic "Being Alive."
It’s still the same show, but in attempting to stage it in present day, they only shine a spotlight on how dated the show really is. Which is only worsened by some very outdated attitudes on Bobbie’s supposed need to get married. Honestly by the end I wasn’t sure what she wanted or why, and for a show about a character growing, there wasn’t much growth.
While the cast is featured throughout the show, a few had some of my favorite moments of the night. The first comes from Matt Rodin, who plays Jamie, a role reimagined for this production as a gay man getting ready to be married. At times, his take on the character has the audience in tears laughing, especially during the show-stopping 'Getting Married Today.' Another fantastic performance I have to talk about is Judy McLane as Joanne. Her interpretation of the character is a little softer than past performers, yet still gripping, especially during 'The Ladies Who Lunch.'
1970 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1971 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
1972 | West End |
London Production West End |
1978 | Off-Broadway |
Equity Library Theatre Revival Off-Broadway |
1980 | Off-Off-Broadway |
Off-Off-Broadway Revival Off-Off-Broadway |
1987 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
1993 | Broadway |
Reunion Concert Broadway |
1995 | Broadway |
Roundabout Revival Broadway |
1995 | West End |
Donmar Warehouse Revival West End |
2002 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Sondheim Festival Production Washington, DC (Regional) |
2004 | Los Angeles |
Reprise! Concert Los Angeles |
2006 |
Cincinnati Playhouse Revival |
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2006 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2007 | New York |
New York Concert New York |
2017 | Regional (US) |
Barrington Stage Company Revival Regional (US) |
2018 | West End |
West End Revival Production West End |
2021 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2023 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
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