Honestly, I was not expecting to be this impressed by “Company.” No fault to the team at Vanderbilt Off Broadway (VOB), but skimming over the plot of middle-aged friends partying did not necessarily sound relatable to college students. Oh, how wrong I was. Now, the original 1970 to 1972 production won six Tony awards, but on the other hand, how could VOB make a play as old as my parents relatable to the Vanderbilt community? There lay the rub, and VOB pulled it off. Set in 1970s New York City, “Company” chronicles the struggles of being a bachelor by your mid-life crisis and the gritty struggles of marriage in the era. Set at Robert’s (played by senior Quinn Welder) 35th surprise birthday party, the tone of the musical goes from bright and cheery to darkly comedic within the first quarter.
Something I always find special about VOB performances versus their source material is the actors’ voices. The original recordings are still great, but for some reason, the voices seem to have that extra sparkle when VOB performs it. It could be a placebo, or just because it’s coming from live music, but I hypothesize the casting of young adults is the likeliest cause. Take Joanne (played by senior Blythe Bouza) in the nightclub scene: I listened to the 1970 recording of “The Ladies Who Lunch” right after the show, and Bouza had this extra spark of youthful, high-pitched rage that then-45-year-old Elaine Stritch couldn’t do in the original production. This phenomenon is clear throughout the original cast versus VOB; the latter’s rendition of “Company” feels like a cast of 20-somethings reuniting after college that I could relate to. Speaking of relatability, Robert’s interaction with Sarah and Harry (played by sophomore Ainslie Kell and junior Jackson Smith, respectively) felt lively, with the on-stage karate being on par with the lunacy I could expect in a late-night undergraduate hangout.
I appreciate the dedication put into the costume design this time around. While I had wished the costumes were more elaborate for “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” this production had the perfect blend of inter-character distinction and simplicity. Each character seemed to fit into their outfit, with the Southern couple Peter and Susan (played by senior Sam Barlet and sophomore Katie Van Arsdel) wearing delightful matching pink outfits, Joanne and Larry (played by sophomore Alex Jones) wearing monochromatic attire and Robert wearing this perfect blend of casual-formal in his open jacket, no-tie outfit. A specific choice I would like to commend is not trying to hide Welder’s hand cast. With all of the work that went into this production, I could imagine any crew trying to hide the bulky cast behind gloves or covering it in skin-colored tape, but the cast was out in the open for the audience to see. It added a sense of allure that is difficult to replicate — playwrights keep strong control over their copyright, so outside of medical casts, there isn’t much a director can do to significantly explore costume design, making me invent stories of mid-life shenanigans that Robert could have gone into to get the cast.
The plot of “Company” is fitting as the final play of the semester. It is a story of living. In college, relationships seem to be a bit extra and messy. I know relationships that sparked in August of my first year, only for the couple to become sworn enemies by October. For better or worse, that messiness — experienced by Robert first and second hand throughout the production — is what makes life special. As spoken by Peter and quoted by artistic director Kate Mason:
“Don’t be afraid that it won’t be perfect… ; The only thing to be afraid of really is that it won’t be!”
The world is a wide field of possibilities, and sometimes it can feel crippling to reach roadblock after roadblock, feeling unsure on what path to take in life. “Company” reminds us that we are still young and sometimes the most important thing to do is to take risks, even if we are unsure it is the perfect time. Wonderful timing by VOB to produce this in such a time of new beginning, as the school year comes to a close.
Once the production wrapped up, the cast came out for their final bows. Mason then came on stage, thanking the audience and VOB for such a great performance. She then called production manager Lacy Tier on stage as VOB began honoring graduating seniors within the crew. As the seniors took a bow, cast members were seen hugging one another and crying as the last VOB production of 2024-25 closed. Suffice it to say, I was thoroughly impressed with “Company,” marking it as tied for my favorite production with “Heathers.” As always, I’m excited to see what VOB has in store for next year!
“Company” was presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied through MTI.
