Do you remember a time when yellow and purple and fuchsia were a mod combination? How about when our views on love, romance and marriage and our morals were as colored as a box of crayons? It was the late 1960’s through the early 1970’s and Stephen Sondheim’s ‘‘Company” captured the views of the generation.
The Maryland Ensemble Theater production of ‘‘Company” is just as vibrant as the colors of the set depicting intertwined lives of single man Bobby and his married friends. Somehow the world has come around again to openness in accepting love in many forms and so a piece that might have seemed dated a mere ten years ago, again seems fresh and relevant.
‘‘Company” tells the story of Bobby (Denny Grizzle) on the eve of his 35th birthday. His friends have gathered for a surprise party and most of them are married. We also get to meet three former girlfriends and understand why Bobby is still single. The opening song ‘‘Company” reminded me of ‘‘Laugh-in” - lots of dancing before everyone freezes for a joke.
The moves, costumes, padded banquette and round hassocks with lime green trim all scream late 60’s. Prepare yourself for some the most hideous and delightful polyester you have ever seen on a stage at once.
The play was originally a number of one acts and so the music strings it all together. Act One really begins when Harry(David Porterfield) and Sarah (Kayte Williams) invite Bobby to their home for dinner. In one of the most comic moments of the production Harry and Jenny demonstrate a not-so-nice karate lesson. Observing this exchange Joanne (Julie Herber) appears off to the side and sings about ‘‘The Little Things You Do Together” that make a marriage work.
Next, it’s off to a night with Peter (Nick Mullinix) and Susan (Allison Lepelletier) for Bobby, who learns that the couple is on the verge of divorce. Next stop is the home of Jenny (Grace Anastasiadis) and David (Ryan Michael Haase) where they question Bobby about why he doesn’t settle down. The three get stoned in an attempt at false sophistication — Anastasiadas’ Jenny providing cackling comic relief with her speed talking.
Bobby talks about the three women he is currently dating: April (Jaclyn Keough), Cathy (Janelle Broderick) and Marta (Karen Paone). The girlfriends serenade the audience a la The Andrew Sisters with ‘‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy.”
The men of the cast talk to Bobby musically with the number ‘‘Have I Got a Girl For You,” reminding him that he’ll ‘‘always be who you always were which has nothing to do and all to do with her.”
Although Amy (Amy Easton) and Paul (William Emory) have lived together for years they are planning a wedding and Amy has cold feet, resulting in Easton’s brilliant turn reciting a long list of the reasons in ‘‘Not Getting Married Today.”
Act Two launches with the full cast in ‘‘Side By Side and ‘‘What Would We Do Without You?” Kudos to choreographer Jenny Male for being able to devise routines reminiscent of ‘‘A Chorus Line” in this intimate theater, using every inch of space to its advantage.
As the play winds down we get to spend sometime with Joanne (Julie Herber) and her younger husband Larry (Mark Barnhart), who clearly loves his wife very much. Herber’s drunken rendition of ‘‘The Ladies Who Lunch” is an edgy and sarcastic piece, seemingly aimed at the audience but dripping with self loathing.
‘‘Company” is a wonderful combination of a lot of talent and one of the most well sung musicals I have seen in a long time. The show runs until June 21, don’t miss it.
‘Company’
When: 8 p.m. May 23-24, 30-31 and June 5-7, 12-14, 19-21; 2 p.m. June 8, 15, 22
Where: Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick
Tickets: $24 for adults, $21 for students and seniors
For information:301-694-4744
