The Rebirth of Broadway

Broadway is returning, and it's returning with a revival of COMPANY. This will likely be Patti LuPone's main shot at a third Tony Award. I don't think we'll be seeing a win for Katrina Lenk; I think CAROLINE, OR CHANGE has that category in the bag.

(But who knows?)

This spring, the Wall Street Journal argued that it makes sense to see Sondheim as an extension of Updike and Joan Didion; this is more sensible than trying to understand Sondheim in the context of Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin. The characters in Sondheim's mature works don't find happily ever after; they begin messy and end messy. Chekhov said, "The task of a writer is not to solve the problem, but to state the problem correctly." This is what Sondheim did, over and over; he described the disaster that is human affairs. He had fun--for many decades.

COMPANY shows off Sondheim's joyous attention to detail. Spouses put married life under the microscope, for a friend: "It's not talk of God and the decade ahead that allows you to get through the worst. It's I DO and YOU DON'T. And NOBODY SAID THAT. And WHO BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP FIRST?" How do you measure the years? "It's the hobbies you pursue together....savings you accrue together....looks you misconstrue together....that make marriage a joy." Friendship is examined closely: "Late nights, quick bites, party games, deep talks, long walks, telephone calls. Thoughts shared, souls bared, private names, all those photos up on the walls....."

There is even a brief, cutting description of therapy. A woman in crisis: "I telephoned my analyst about it....and he said to see him Monday.....but by Monday I'll be floating in the Hudson with the other garbage...."

My admiration for this show grows and grows. I'll be going in November; I hope that Patti hits a home run.

P.S. "It's amazing....We keep getting older and older...And Bob seems to stay exactly the same!"

P.P.S. "Never a bother....seven times, a godfather!"

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