COMPANY a musical comedy in two acts. Book by George Furth. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Produced at the Alvin Theatre, New York, 26 April 1970 (705 perfs) with Dean Jones (Robert), Barbara Barrie (Sarah), Elaine Stritch (Joanne) and Donna McKechnie (Kathy). Produced at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, 18 April 1972 with Larry Kert, Marti Stevens, Elaine Stritch and Donna McKechnie. STORY ACT I Amidst the gleaming chrome and plexiglass towers of modern middle-class Manhattan dwells Robert - all alone in his sleek bachelor apartment. Except for his friends, who are gathered together one evening at the dawn of the Seventies to wish him a happy birthday. Sarah and Harry, Susan and Peter, Jenny and David, Amy and Paul, Joanne and Larry, all living in connubial bliss -save for Robert. As he blows out the candles, his friends make a wish for him: he ought to be happily married - just like them. But in the incessant click-buzz of the telephone he has found his own happiness - good times with chums and pals, no strings, just 'Company'. Robert goes over to Sarah and Harry's apartment. Harry has quit booze, Sarah is fighting the inch war - and they're both taking it out on each other. As Sarah demonstrates her newly-acquired karate skills by pinning Harry to the floor, their friends observe that it's 'The Little Things You Do Together' that keep a marriage alive. Robert isn't entirely convinced and asks Harry if he's sorry he got married? Or is he grateful? Well, yes and no: Harry's 'Sorry- Grateful'. Across town, at Susan and Peter's, Robert finds an enviable idyllic marriage. Peter is proud and affectionate, Susan sweet and adoring: it's because they've decided to get divorced. Robert moves on to Jenny and David's, where they're experimenting with marijuana and talking about . . . marriage. Robert says he just wants to meet the right girl, but right now is dating three not-so right girls. 'You Could Drive a Person Crazy', boop-boop-de-doop this frustrated trio, April, Kathy and Marta. Everyone, it seems, knows what's best for Robert: Have I Got a Girl For You!' promise his friends, as they pair him off with chicks from the office and nieces from Ohio. But Robert knows what he wants: somewhere 'Someone Is Waiting', his ideal girl, "an Amy sort of Sarah, a Jennyish Joanne" - a mix 'n' match compilation of the five wives he knows best. Robert sits in the park, as a drifting tide of single women washes all around him: April, Kathy, Marta and 'Another Hudnred People' swarming up from the subway. Even Paul and Amy are tying the knot, after years of merely living together. But at the wedding breakfast Amy announces that she can't do it. Paul runs off in the rain and Robert asks the distraught ex-bride-to be if she'll have him instead. Resolute as ever, Amy declares that she has no intention of 'Getting Married Today'. But she does ... to Paul. ACT II Meanwhile, back at the surprise party, Robert and his good friends congratulate themselves on their good fortune in going through life 'Side By Side By Side'. But, as they fall into a good-natured hats-and-canes vaudeville routine, Robert realises that everyone has a dancing partner except him. 'What Would We Do Without You?' chorus his friends. "Just what you usually do", he replies. But they do worry so. As Robert beds April, his lady friends brood on her unsuitability. Poor Bobby, 'Poor Baby', they sigh. All they want is for him to find a nice girl. But April? She's tall enough to be your mother", pronounces Joanne. April and Robert, though, hear only the inexorable 'Tick-Tock' of their own perfect, practised countdown to take-off. "What a lovely, smooth body!" "He really likes me!" If only I could remember her name ... At 4.30 in the morning, the alarm goes. She has to fly to 'Barcelona'. Look, this isn't just a one night stand, he reassures June - er, April. Programme cover for the 1996 Albery Theatre production
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