Stephen Sondheim has been described as one of the most important figures to touch American musicals, reinventing the genre. The composer and lyricist forged a new path in Broadway, creating realist musicals that dealt with unexpected themes for those times. “Company” is a prime example of Sondheim’s attempts to change the palette of musical-goers, and boy, is this musical a tasty one.
Taking a group of one-act plays written by George Furth that depict one lead hanging out with a couple, both Furth and Sondheim reorganized the plays, deconstructed them and rebuilt them as scenes of one project with songs to go along with it. “Company” not only displays structural superiority, but it shines in its writing and lyricism. “Company” is not for the faint of heart, so put on a bib and let’s dig in.
The plot
“Company” was an attempt to portray real adult relationships and adult problems, which went against the grain of the escapism art that flooded Broadway in the 1970s. It is a compilation of vignettes about the lead character Robert, also known as Bobby, who contemplates marriage while being around his several married friends and his three girlfriends. The musical depicts a semi-linear story about yearning, dating life, the ups and downs of marriage and growing older. Most of all, “Company” tackles the struggle of finding something, or someone, in a city as big as New York.
The structure
The story structure of “Company” takes you through the many emotions surrounding the subject matter and does so with ease. Almost every vignette is accompanied by a song. Although the story is nonlinear since nothing in the plot changes drastically from point A to point B, the progression of Robert’s thoughts are what make for a powerful story. The viewer takes this journey with Robert as he chases an answer to his romantic longing. Thanks to the excellent and honest writing of both Furth and Sondheim, the audience is able to understand the story and empathize with Robert.
The music
The music is strong in this piece. There are tunes you can hum, metaphors to make you cry and one-liners that truly crack you up. Sondheim’s songwriting is conversational and witty, honest yet truly representative of the character’s own beliefs. The numbers go from big and loud ensemble pieces to somber one-person ballads. The music provides what the scenes don’t: the window into the feelings of the characters. It’s a first-person point of view into what’s really going on behind the decisions and lives everyone has made for themselves. The music stands out and stands strong as a literary device on its own.
Means of digestion (Where to find it)
The show went through a revival in London in 2018 and included characters who were gender swapped — namely “Bobbi,” the now female lead — and was very progressive. It has been on hiatus since the pandemic, but there are still means of digesting this musical. You can find the book online at most e-shops as well as the recording of the original cast. The 2007 revival and the 2018 revival are also on most music streaming services and you can even find a DVD version of the 2011 revival on Amazon. Bring a box of tissues and some popcorn because this musical will take you everywhere.
