Company Review - ON IN LONDON

A few weeks ago, Onin.London visited Bob Hope Theare in Eltham to see Company. For those in the know Stephen Sondheim’s ground-breaking modern musical. This is a mature, intelligent, and wildly funny musical about relationships, vulnerability, and ‘being alive.’

Now I saw the breakthrough musical which was created in 1970, in the West End in 2019. While I enjoyed Company then, it wasn’t a favourite of mine. So when I was invited by the Bob Hope Theatre to come review, I thought why not give the musical another chance.

It should be noted that this is the original source material, with Robert being a male, rather than the updated version which includes the change of genders of several of the characters.

I am glad I gave this musical another chance, as the Artform Cast of Company have completely changed things for me. My friend and I throughly enjoyed it. Everything about the performance was top notch and even better than the West End production I’d seen a few years ago.

The show features a live band and a cast of 14, and includes the songs ‘Another Hundred People’, ‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy’, ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ and ‘Being Alive’. Favourite song though was Erin Clancey as Amy’s version of ‘Not Getting Married Today’. It was phenomenal, though Daniel Lawrence as Robert really held the show and I felt quite an emotional connection with him.

Whether that was his performance or the fact that I could see myself in Robert’s shoes… with being one of the only single person in my friendship group of happily married couples… is yet to be fully explored with myself.

The rest of the cast listed below were equally fabulous and it was lovely to see some familiar performers who I recognised in previous performances at the Bob Hope Theatre.

Harry Shane King

Sarah Joanna Wyld

Peter Scott Slaytor

Susan Bethany Andrew

David Stu Collins

Jenny Joanne Robinson

Paul Nick Haley

Larry Chris Arden

Joanne Laurie Brown

April Alexandra Wharram

Kathy Aimee Collins

Martha Jaime Finch