FOR BETTER FOR WORSE? FOR FIVE MICE ANYWAY
If you’re going to mess about with a classic but slightly dated Sondheim musical, be sure to do it brilliantly. Do it like Marianne Elliott. Get the great Stephen himself on-side, ask for a few new lyrics, then find a throbbing nerve in the western zeitgeist and give it a good twang. Oh, and be sure to choreograph the funniest seduction , wildest party, and most showstopping display of wedding nerves on any stage anywhere. And while you’re at it, give Patti LuPone a showstopping chance to snarl out “Ladies Who Lunch”.
Got it? That’s Company, with an enchanting lead, a peerlessly sharp company, bangin’ band , and any number of weird sliding neon-framed rooms by Bunny Christie. Company is the comeback kid, another demonstration that Britain is natural Sondheim country: all dry wit and laughing resignation
Elliott’s idea was to take the master’s 1970 tale of 35 year old Bobby, whose married friends all think he ought to commit and settl down, but who all in their way are either messed up, patronising or endearingly deluded. But make him Bobbie, because it’s 2018 and we have had the age of the female clock-ticking Singleton, from Jessica Parker to B.Jones. Then neatly reverse a few other genders in the process. Brilliant: because while a bachelor midlifer is actually a bit ho-hum-so-what, a woman with those fading ovaries and atavistic cultural fear of the shelf is already a walking dramatic crisis. Or may seem so to the dear well-meaning friends. And in the age of gay marriage and heterosexual civil-partnering, it’s coolly up to date.
And goodness, it’s funny and sharp. Rosalie Craig is perfect as Bobbie, aware of the big 35 – eventually spelt out by the gang in 10ft balloons – but gentle, sane, reasonable, well liked and not lonely. Until the pressure makes her so and she must wonder if “someone is waiting….”. She sings like a lark, is immensely moving in “Marry me a little”,and joins in the gloriously witty choreography (the party scene ensemble contains at least six of the most excruciating adult ‘fun’ games you have ever dodged). Yet she is almost better in her reaction moments, while the peerlessly funny cast members display the joy and horror of the married state.
There is a Jil-jitsu match (shared hobbies, o the horror) with Gavin Spokes and Mel Giedroyc risking their spines nightly, and a series of vignettes of the sheer oddity of couples, marvellous evocation of their appalling patronising nosiness about poor poor Bobbie: hilarious as the whole cast wander through her bedroom pitying her just as she gets it on with dim-date Andy. And the deathless anthem of bridal nerves , originally female, is given to gay Jamie: Jonathan Bailey hoping to get away from smiley Paul with a despairing “Perhaps – I’ll collapse – in the apse” while a terrifying celebrant bursts for every cupboard in sight. Bailey steals the show.
Patter songs, scat jazz, ballads, glittering lyrics and elegant musical jokes…aaahh, Sondheim! It must run forever. And curiously, it is as comforting a what-the-hell message to us 38-year-wed fogies as to any singleton. Glorious.
Box off. delfontmackintosh.co.uk. 0344 4825138. To 30 March
Rating 5. 
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