• Company (1995)

3/27/25 (Wed)

I had vague memories of Sam Mendes’ Donmar Warehouse production as rather overdone, but I do remember enjoying the performances, especially Adrian Lester as Bobby. When I learned that a filmed version had been broadcast, I immediately looked online and found it.

The director’s concept was to present the show as a figment of Bobby’s imagination, thereby establishing Bobby clearly as the central role rather than as an observer of others. Sondheim himself voices his approval in a video interview shown between acts. I have to say that the approach went over my head at the time and, even knowing the idea this time around, thought the director was taking things too seriously. The theme is not that difficult: does committing to someone mean losing oneself in the process (“Once you’re married, you can never again not have been married”), or is it offset by what we gain in companionship, i.e., company?

The musical stacks the deck against marriage by featuring battling, unhappy and even divorced couples – didn’t the writer know any happy pairs? – but the fact that they all remain together and still push Bobby to marry at the end suggests that they must see something in the arrangement, that the loss of freedom and such is compensated by something on the other side. Continue reading →