Company

I'm currently rehearsing for a production of Sondheim's brilliant 1970 musical Company which marks my return to the stage after almost (gasp) ten years and my first musical in more years than I care to count.

Approaching this musical for the first time I'm quite in awe of the complexity of the score. This ain't easy. I've sung Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Strauss, and Eaton and this ranks up with the trickiest of them. I give great credit to my colleagues, most of whom have not had the musical background I do, in mastering this quite difficult music.

The play is a quite perceptive view of married and non-married life and I quite relate to Bobby's plight. If there is a more heart-breaking song then "Being Alive", I don't know it.

Finally a nod to George Furth, who wrote the book and who passed away only a few weeks ago. Much of the credit for this groundbreaking play goes to him.