Artist:
Company
Genre: Ballet
Background:
Company was originally a superb collection of one-act plays very well written by George Furth. Actually, it was molded into a very good musical by legendary director Harold Prince, with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. On the rare suggestion by Prince, Furth thoroughly reworked his one-acts and converted it into a libretto that articulately examined the so called pros and cons of marriage. It was all done to thoroughly tie all the necessary acts together.
The play deals with the complicated relationships between Robert, who is a single man and he is celebrating his 35th birthday. On the other hand there are five married couples. These married couples are his best friends. The only complicated situation comes as all the friends observe the situation of each others very minutely as some of them are married or getting married. All are impatient and they all are very eager for their bachelor and confused friend to follow forth. Now comes the time to take decision; but Robert isn't ready to make the lawful commitment yet.
Robert firmly believes that there is some special girl and she is desperately waiting just for him, and he would continue to live like as he has been doing and he will amuse himself with the various women who come to New York daily. All goes well and in between all his dear friends plan affairs, fight, talk of divorce, and ultimately take refuge in alcohol. Now all this gives enough reasons for Robert to really question whether he ever or actually wants to get married. Time goes one and by the time Robert learns the hardest fact of life that in spite of all his friends' awful misgivings; and ultimately arrives at the final conclusion that there is no real point of “Living” if you just cannot share your precious life with someone else.
"Company" hit the Broadway at the famous Alvin Theatre on April 26, 1970; the then production starred Barbara Barrie, Dean Jones, Charles Kimbrough, Elaine Stritch, and Beth Howland. Company was the very first musical that amazingly dealt with more profound adult problems through its soothing music. There are some very soothing numbers like "The Little Things You Do Together," Being Alive," "Sorry-Grateful", "Another Hundred People," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Getting Married Today", and the title song. This musical has won the prestigious New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The show provides very thrilling experience with soothing music.
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