"Company" Review

I am cleaning out the draft cue and found this review I had started for the Lincoln Center production of Steven Sondheim's Company. I saw it on a movie screen so I figured I should have a review prepared, haha.

(I moved the more personal version of this to My other blog.)


I recently saw Lincoln Center's production of Steven Sondheim Company. The cast included Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") in the lead as "Bobby" as well as Christina Henricks ("Mad Men"), Steven Colbert ("Colbert Report"), Jon Cryer ("Two and Half Men") and Patti Lupone ("Evita", "Sweeney Todd"). The show was staged in a concert format with very little scenery and props and the Orchestra on stage.

The plot summary of the show is Bobby (NPH) is the last single guy in his group of married friends. He's the godfather of their children, go-to babysitter, and confidante for them all. They take it upon themselves to make him feel like he's somehow missing something because he's not living their "kind of life". Two songs, I've got a girl for you (sung by the male ensemble) and Poor Baby (sung by the women while Bobby has sex with a Flight Attendent) makes this clear how they perceive Bobby's current life. However, throughout the show the audience sees the pitfalls of the relationships that his friends have and how they are not perfect or ideal. We also get to see Bobby's life and his view on relationships.



"Company" like many Broadway revivals seem to change depending on the production. This one is no different.  Some versions seem to suggest that Bobby decides that he's happy being single while others end with the idea that he goes out to find himself a wife that meets his image of happiness rather his friends' idea. This particular production seems to take the stance that Bobby is happy with his life as it is. This realization occurs around "You've got a great third husband, Joanne" and Bobby's closing number "Being Alive".  The musical ends with Bobby leaving his friends in his apartment on his 36th birthday.

Overall, I was very pleased with this production. Its not exactly fair to compare Neil Patrick Harris to the other Bobbys that have come before. Honestly, Patti LuPone still took center stage as the best performer in this piece. Steven Colbert also did a good job for a newbie to musical theatre and Sondheim. He should be commended, not too even many experienced actors want to touch it.

This was a limited release special event screening. If it comes to your area, it was well worth the $20 to see it. I hope they release a dvd, I wouldn't mind seeing it again.