Company - Broadway tour at the Orpheum

 

A perfect production of a wonderful Sondheim show!

When Company first opened in 1970, it was lauded as being the first "concept" musical. It tells the story of Bobby who on his 35th birthday starts to really take stock of his life and what he wants in it. The scenes and songs are all vignettes with his married friends, and they certainly set the tone of the show but don't really provide a direct narrative, no straight throughline of story. Especially as the show starts and ends on his birthday...his 35th birthday.

This fantastically reimagined production by Marianne Elliott (three time Tony Award winner), changes the gender of the main role from Bobby to Bobbie. Bobbie is now a woman on her 35th birthday, also taking stock of her life and what she wants from it. This production turns the 35th birthday party into a fever dream where Bobbie can look back at moments in her life, moments that have led her to this specific birthday, and this specific moment. I have seen a few other productions of Company, and they are all good but felt more concept than real. For some magical reason, this production feels real. The mood is set at the top when Bobbie enters, and listens to voice mails from her friends wishing her a happy birthday. Then you hear then all sing "Bobbie" as they walk on stage in fog and dim lighting...and you are off on a great journey. 

Bobbie, as played impeccably by Britney Coleman, leads us through her thoughts and memories as she slowly discovers if she really does want a relationship, a marriage, or family. She is supported by an incredible cast playing her married friends - each couple playing their story in a truthful, honest, and often times very funny way. The song "Not Getting Married Today" is so over-the-top visually that it plays perfectly with the dream/memory aspect of this production. And it also brought the house down. 

There is a reason why this production won five Tony awards in 2022. Go see it while it is here in town. You won't regret it!

Photos by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade