3.4 Company!

The Gospel of Musical Theatre

We're moving into the great Sondheim musicals of the 70s & 80s, starting with the groundbreaking Company (1970) – and its perennial questions about gender, sexuality, monogamy, and the changing nature of marriage & human relationships.

We talk about:

- "New morality” in the works of John A.T. Robinson, Harvey Cox, and how it is explored in the work of Sondheim

- Loneliness. The isolation & verticalization of urban life in the 1960s and 70s.

- Inertia. Bobby’s questions about human relationships—sexual, romantic, platonic—and the deep ambivalence he represents

- Gender. Attempts to update Company—often by changing gender roles

- The Ladies. The women of Company – especially Joanne and her great number “The Ladies Who Lunch”

- Marriage. The changing nature of marriage and commitment – in society and in the church

You’ll Hear:

- “Company,” “The Little Things You Do Together,” “Sorry-Grateful”, “Getting Married Today,” “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive” from the Original Broadway Production on the 1970 cast album

- “Marry Me A Little” sung by Raul Esparza from the 2006 Broadway Revival Album.

- “Happily Ever After” sung by Craig Lucas on the 1986 album “A Collector’s Sondheim”