About the work
Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking musical, with a book by George Furth, was premiered on Broadway in 1970. It was one of the first concept musicals to forgo a linear plot in favour of a thematic structure.
Plot
On his 35th birthday, the bachelor Bobby reflects on his relationships with five married couples among his friends and three girlfriends. In a series of vignettes he experiences the highs and lows of partnerships, from loving affection to bitter disappointment. Bobby enjoys his freedom but increasingly senses the loneliness behind his non-commitment. In the end he realises that the risk of closeness is preferable to being alone.
Cultural significance
Company is regarded as the birth of the modern concept musical and revolutionised the form through its fragmentary narrative and psychological depth. Sondheim's score, with songs such as "Being Alive", set new standards of ambition and intelligence in the musical.