“‘To Bobby with love’
From all those good and crazy people, my friends!
Those good and crazy people, my married friends!”

Being the only single person amongst a group of married friends isn’t easy, just ask Bobby, the main character of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s iconic musical, Company. Though rather than being cast aside by those married friends, Bobby imagines himself as the centre of their universe: constant invites to parties, attempted set ups with the “girl for you!” – it must be exhausting. And when we meet Bobby, this is all that he can think about. Directed by Dylan Trowbridge, this production of Company might be set in the 70’s, but feels just as immediate and recognizable today.

It’s Bobby’s birthday today, his 35^th as a matter of fact, and so his friends are throwing him a surprise party, but he doesn’t know that (or at least he won’t if he doesn’t check his voicemail). Instead, the audience is shown a series of vignettes, likely all memories, of Bobby interacting with his married friends, as well as the three women he’s currently dating. From possible divorce to fisticuffs, getting high for the first time to hopefully becoming one of “the ladies who lunch”, the people in Bobby’s life clearly are leaving their marks on him. Yet Company will certainly leave its mark on you, too. With both catchy and heart-rending songs, and an examination of love in so many forms, there are reasons why Company continually gets revived for today’s audiences.

As I’ve come to expect from Talk Is Free Theatre’s productions, the party wasn’t contained within the bounds of the theatre. Twinkling lights and balloons fill the upper lobby, and inside the theatre we enter into a posh 70’s living room. Angular furniture, classy drink carts, and a shaggy rug allow us to transport ourselves back to when Company was written. Varvara Evchuk’s set and costume design beautifully encapsulate the vibes of 1970 New York. I loved the corduroy bell-bottoms and crushed-velvet power suit; every piece felt like it had a story to it. The light-filled balloons continued into the playing space as well – a pointed reminder of why we’re all there.

I turned 35 last month, and I’m currently in the process of planning my wedding. I can’t help but look at these characters as Bobby does: as inspiration, cautionary tales, and possibilities. As options for what my future might be, but also as a reflection of my current state of being. I’ve not seen Company before, though I recognized more songs than I thought I would once it got going. I couldn’t have anticipated a 56 year old play to so intently reflect and display my own life before me. Yet there’s comfort in it; we see the marriages that work, and how they work. We see how we can tear each other apart only to come back again and make the relationship stronger. The enduring legacy of Company is that it shows us for who we are at our core.

Trowbridge’s direction featured images which truly struck me and made my understanding of Company all the more nuanced. I found the moments where Bobby was in the middle of the white round carpet, and the rest of the cast created spoke-like sprays outwards to be fascinating on two different levels: firstly it helps me cement the idea that this is happening in Bobby’s mind. He thinks of himself as the centre of his universe (as we all tend to) and that therefore he’s at the centre of his friends’ universes as well. Secondly, it looked like a clock, and with the help of Rohan Dhupar’s choreography, the friends clap a steady clock beat. Much like the famous monologue from Marisa Tomei’s character in “My Cousin Vinny”, Bobby knows that the (biological) clock is ticking – he’s 35 now and still not married while all of his other friends seemingly have their lives together. They come back to this formation often, always pulling the focus back to Bobby and his troubles.

Talk Is Free Theatre assembled a stunning cast to bring Company to Toronto. Aidan deSaliaz stars as Bobby. He brings an air of charm and free-spiritedness to his character, while also leaving room for us to figure out who he truly is. Gabbi Epstein’s Joanne is fantastic: she has that cougar-on-the-prowl sexiness throughout the show, and then absolutely slays “The Ladies Who Lunch” with passion, fire, and soul. Sierra Holder’s “Another Hundred People” as Marta not only featured some of my favourite choreography from the show, but also a stunning vocal performance from Holder. I was likewise excited to hear Sydney Cochrane’s rendition of “Getting Married Today” and she did not disappoint. Krystin Pellerin and Shane Carty’s performances as Sarah and Harry include some impressive physicality and fun fight choreo. These are merely the stand-out performances amongst a truly talented company, who all absolutely deserved opening night’s standing ovation.

“But alone is alone, not alive”

Bobby’s last big solo, “Being Alive” finally gets to the heart of the play, and the heart of Bobby’s dilemma: he’s scared of being alone. Most of us are, truly. We’re meant to live in groups, to have trusted people around us, to be social. This fear, this yearning for company is clearly what keeps Bobby out at all hours, spending as little time in his own apartment as he can. We all live a little more when we have someone to share our lives with, be they partners, lovers, or friends. This is also part of what makes going to the theatre special as well – being there with someone, or even going alone and allowing yourself to surrender to the room around you, and taking in a piece of art together.

Company runs in the Franco Boni Theatre at The Theatre Centre until February 8. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.tift.ca/shows/company

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Cover Photo: Aidan deSalaiz & the cast of Company. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

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Lyrics for Company found on: https://www.allmusicals.com/c/company.htm#google_vignette

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