Company

Company is a 2011 filmed version of the 1970 musical of the same name by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. The production is directed by Lonny Price and accompanied by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Paul Gemignani. It was filmed live at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. The show stars an ensemble cast led by Neil Patrick Harris. It also stars Martha Plimpton, Stephen Colbert, Jill Paice, Craig Bierko, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jon Cryer, Katie Finneran, Aaron Lazar, Patti LuPone, Jim Walton, Christina Hendricks, Anika Noni Rose, and Chryssie Whitehead. It had a limited theatrical release that began on June 15, 2011. Plot Act I Robert is a well-liked single man living in New York City, whose friends are all married or engaged couples. When Robert fails to blow out any candles on his 35th birthday cake, the couples promise him that his birthday wish will still come true, though he has wished for nothing, since his friends are all that he needs ("Company"). What follows is a series of disconnected vignettes in no apparent order, each featuring Robert during a visit with one of the couples or alone with a girlfriend. Robert visits foodie Sarah and her husband, the alcoholic Harry. Sarah and Harry taunt each other on their vices, escalating toward karate-like fighting and thrashing that may or may not be playful. The caustic Joanne comments that it is "The Little Things You Do Together" that make a marriage work. Harry explains that a person is always "Sorry-Grateful" about getting married, and that marriage changes both everything and nothing about the way they live.