Company: A Musical Comedy (2007) (TV)

Director:

Lonny Price

Writer:

George Furth (book)

Release Date:

20 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Centering on Bobby, a confirmed bachelor celebrating his 35th birthday with his 10 closest friends (who also happen to be five couples)...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Bachelor | Live Performance | Broadway New York City | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Kelly Jeanne Grant	...	Kathy
Angel Desai	...	Marta
Elizabeth Stanley	...	April
Matt Castle	...	Peter
Amy Justman	...	Susan
Fred Rose	...	David
Leenya Rideout	...	Jenny
Keith Buterbaugh	...	Harry
Kristin Huffman	...	Sarah
Robert Cunningham	...	Paul
Heather Laws	...	Amy
Bruce Sabath	...	Larry
Barbara Walsh	...	Joanne
Raúl Esparza	...	Bobby

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Thirteen / WNET

Trivia:

This is a recording of the revival of the popular Stephen Sondheim musical; the revival ran on Broadway from November 2006 to July 2007. The production was directed by John Doyle. As in his previous year's revival of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, Doyle had his actors double as the orchestra for the production.

Quotes:

Robert: Somebody hold me too close, somebody hurt me too deep...

Soundtrack:

Company

Company: A Musical Comedy is a must for Stephen Sondheim fans

Since PBS's "Great Performances" was the first time I ever watched any version of Stephen Sondheim's late '60s/early '70s musical "Company", I didn't really have any idea what to expect. Actually, to go back, I've read some reviews and looked at the back of a DVD of a documentary of the original run of the show and I knew it had something to do with marriages and relationships and many of these couples being the friends of this one single guy. Bobby is his name, I believe. Anyway, it takes place at his apartment where everyone is waiting for him to show up for his surprise birthday. And then it goes back and forth in his conversations with these friends and with some of his former dates. Since it's Sondheim, you definitely don't expect anything conventional to be going on. In fact, this version is even more unusual since the entire cast are also playing instruments while enacting their parts. Most of the women are fine here especially the ones playing Marta and Joanne. And I was impressed throughout with Raul Esparza as the leading character especially when he sang "Being Alive". Nice humorous touches throughout and still a timely observation of what it's like trying to connect with love in the big city. For that reason, not to mention Sondheim himself discussing his contributions in a separate segment afterward, I highly recommend this version of "Company".