There is a new theatre outlet in Austin! Roustabout Theatre Company has kicked off its inaugural season with Stephen Sondheim’s musical Company, which premiered 55 years ago on Broadway.
To quote from their press release, “Roustabout Theatre Company is a dynamic new force in Austin’s arts scene, dedicated to producing exceptional theatre and cabaret performances that inspire, challenge, and uplift audiences. With a commitment to artistic excellence, Roustabout brings stories to life that resonate deeply — sparking introspection, emotional release, and renewed optimism.”
The central character in the musical Company is Bobby, who is the only single member portrayed by the superb Roustabout ensemble. The question audience members must ask themselves is why Bobby’s friends care so much about him being alone, and why should we care? One of the final numbers, Poor Baby, is absolutely cringeworthy, as some of the cast sing a lament for Bobby’s apparent loneliness as he is at the very same time cavorting with a woman in his bed. And when the entire cast created a circle and wondered out loud, “What would we do without you?,” it is clear it’s really his company of friends who are gripped by a strange sense of dependency on Bobby. Great fodder for a mass hypnosis session to diagnose their problems, not Bobby’s issue. This is not the Sondheim of Sweeney Todd.
I found myself agreeing with a review by John Schilling in The Brookyln College Vanguard from 2022. “You are bound to have some laughs when watching the show, but these laughs get tiring quickly and you may end up looking at your watch. The pacing is just hard to grasp, and you find yourself looking for the scene to move on and the show to continue so you can make your dinner reservation.” Or, in this case, go to bed, as it ended after 10pm. The drunken woman scene in Act 2, in particular, descends into blather and goes on far too long. The acting, however, is superb.
For another audience perspective on the performance, I asked someone who had just recently interviewed the star of the show, Seth David Mitchell. The plot, this person said, “makes you think about your own personal life. I was doing a segment about loneliness, which has been declared an epidemic. This play raises awareness about that: Bobby struggles with finding himself.” Bobby appears to want to marry nearly all the women in the cast, but then he sees all of his friends are already married but they all have different dimensions of unsuccessful marriages (one pair get divorced and the ex-husband hits on Bobby for a gay relationship) so it’s making him rethink his desire to get hitched. He is caught between the loneliness and his desire to be with somebody. I found it curious (and perhaps a subtextual message from Sondheim) that none of the characters have surnames. If you only knew the people in your company by their given names, wouldn’t you feel a bit lonely? I expect AI robots will only be known by a single name too. Sort of like Alexa. What is her last name?
One patron said “I didn’t expect it, but because it’s such a small setting I felt like we were part of the scene: you feel like you’re experiencing what they’re talking about.” The intimacy is similar to that of the Whisenhunt stage at the Zach theatre.
Energetic, whimsical, narcissistic, meandering and a bit insufferable, the fact that Company is still being performed at a time the vast majority of plays from the 1970s have been forgotten, is a testament to its worth. And it is an ideal showcase for the singing and acting talents of the Roustabout cast, who are gathered in the photo to celebrate Bobby’s birthday- hence the balloons.
To conclude by another quote from the new theatre group, “Roustabout is set to make an immediate impact. Beyond creating outstanding theatre in Austin, the company is passionate about amplifying the city’s artistic voice on a national scale, showcasing the immense talent and creative energy that define its theatre community. The show’s production team includes Adam Roberts (Director/Choreographer & Musical Director) and Seth David Mitchell (Producer/Actor).”
Company runs until April 6 at the Dell Performing Arts Center, 5901 Southwest Pkwy, Austin.
- Here’s a link to a promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6G-14T_UDI
- Tickets and more information can be found here: www.roustaboutpresents.com
- CAST:
- Seth David Mitchell as Bobby
Stephen Jack as Harry
Evie Jack as Sarah
Tyler Jones as Peter
Amy Minor as Susan
Jeff Guilfoyle as David
Leslie Hollingsworth as Jenny
JP Lopez as Paul
Mariel Ardila as Amy
Quincy Kuykendall as Larry
Laura Huffman Powell as Joanne
Sarah-Marie Curry as April
Libby Detling as Marta
Aline Forastieri as Kathy
Jessica Workman as Ensemble/Swing
Will Mallick as Ensemble/Swing