For some reason, certain ages tend to awaken different feelings and make us rethink about our lives. They’re usually those ages considered milestones, like 18, 30, 40, and so on. Turning 35 also has that effect on many people and it can be seen in different ways in popular culture.
In Sex and the City, for example, there is a whole episode dedicated to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) turning 35 – and dreading it. Her friend Samantha (Kim Cattrall) tries to cheer her up by saying ‘You’ve got to grab 35 by the balls and say, ‘Hey world, I’m 35.’’
That age is also one of the main topics of Company, which is currently in previews on Broadway. In it, Bobbie (Katrina Lenk) is surprised by a group of friends on her 35th birthday. The twist: they’re all married couples and she’s the only single person there. Not knowing what to wish for when she is about to blow the candles, the musical takes us through the relationships of those five couples, as well as three other single men that Bobbie has been seeing.
Told as separate stories, each of the couples shows Bobbie what married life is like, not shying away from the bad things. It’s almost like HBO’s Scenes From a Marriage, but way less dramatic. As the audience navigates though the stories with Bobbie, we witness her continue reluctance to commitment and relationships, but slowly beginning to change her mind.
Company first opened on Broadway in 1970 and there have been many revivals since then. This is the first time, however, that the protagonist is played by a woman. Until now, the main character was Robert (or Bobby), a confirmed bachelor. However, Stephen Sondheim, responsible for the music and lyrics, is always open to change and adapt his musicals, and so he did it not only with Bobbie, but also with one of the couples being changed to a gay couple.
The stage design is very effective, with quick changes and the clever use of the word “Company” as a prop in the background. The neon colors also give a sense of a contemporary story.
The cast is excellent overall, with Patti LuPone stealing the scene as Joanne, Bobbie’s friend who’s been married three times and has a showstopping song called “Ladies Who Lunch” (she got a standing ovation right after that song at the performance I attended).
Katrina Lenk does a fine job as Bobbie, but her voice was lacking in some of the songs, especially if you listen to the West End cast recording of the production in 2018, with Rosalie Craig playing that role in London.
The highlight of the show is “Being Alive,” a song that shows how Bobbie feels about marriage after listening to all of her friends’ testimonies. That alone would be worth the price of admission. Thankfully, the whole show is worth it.
Tickets: https://companymusical.com/
