Best of Sondheim's Company - OBC, 1970

This video contains excerpts from a documentary of the recording of the "Company" original cast recording, created by D. A. Pennebaker shortly after the show opened on Broadway in 1970.

"Company" is a musical with a book by George Furth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Its plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Unlike most book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated plot, "Company" is a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday.

"Company" was among the first musicals to deal with adult problems through its music. As Sondheim put it, "they are middle-class people with middle class-problems."

The opening night cast included Dean Jones (who had replaced Anthony Perkins early in the rehearsal period when Perkins departed to direct a play), Donna McKechnie, Susan Browning, Pamela Myers, Barbara Barrie, Charles Kimbrough, Merle Louise, Beth Howland, and Elaine Stritch. Musical staging was by Michael Bennett, assisted by Bob Avian.

Shortly after opening night, Jones withdrew from the show due to stress he was suffering from ongoing divorce proceedings. He was replaced by his understudy Larry Kert, who had created the role of Tony in "West Side Story."

From the highly recommended DVD "Company: Original Cast Album".

Full versions of some of these performances are available at http://www.theBestArts.com/CompanyOBC/

Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Stephen
• Sondheim
• Company
• Dean
• Jones
• Elaine
• Stritch
• OBC
• Broadway
• Musical
• Theatre
• 1970

[theBestArts]

Yeah, I think Dean Jones and Larry Kert were both much better choices.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

I completely agree -- Shrek, The Lion King, Wicked -- It's like someone put an amusement park onstage, composed some hummable tunes, wrote in a bunch of corny, inside jokes that hopefully the audience will laugh at, and then called it a show. COMPANY is really a masterpiece, whereas many shows on B'way now are barely art.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

1:17 -- Elaine, you sassy woman, who are you winking at?

[pbb228]

@AtLastOnTheGround that's when people took their craft seriously, the same can be said for today's music...sad.

[GospelAccording2ME]

LOL It kills me that she finishes the take...and lights a cancer stick! Wow...

[autopolydidact]

Own up... who yelled "telephone" at 0:49.

I love the head-banging.

[Ilenowsmusic]

Each time I listen to Sondheim, I love the one I'm listening to the best. This week it's Company.This is good because it coincides with the New York Philharmonic's production with Patti Lupone & Neil Patrick Harris. I know someone will sometime Post some part of this. Oh,I thank my lucky star for beautiful music!

[BrochtrupBean]

"Donna knows."

[TheCPComedykids]

@AtLastOnTheGround I agree that Broadway has turned into that. The main reason is that people don't just go see Broadway shows like they used to because the economy is so bad. They have to turn movies and books into musicals.

But, if you've actually seen Lion King on bway, it's one of the most amazing things in the world! Honestly!

[elzbieta52]

An awful lot of emo coming through Jones' Being Alive.

[gabsylv]

nicely edited assemblage

[smiley66goodvibes67]

Who is the guy on the right at 6:03?

[flclhack]

My god, this show is timeless...