Sondheim Gives Blessing for Company Revival with Female “Bobbie” | Playbill

News Sondheim Gives Blessing for Company Revival with Female “Bobbie” A London production will feature Rosalie Craig in a gender-reversed take on the central character.

Tony Award-winning War Horse and Curious Incident director Marianne Elliott will stage a new London revival of the groundbreaking Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical Company with a gender-reversed take on the central role of Bobby, according to the Daily Mail.

Written in a series of interlocking scenes and songs that follow a single 35-year-old male New Yorker as he seeks connection, the new production will feature Rosalie Craig in the central role, now billed as “Bobbie.”

This new production of Company originates from Elliott Harper Productions, overseen by director Elliott and producer Chris Harper. Sondheim gave his blessing after seeing a workshop that tested the concept.

“If it's a 35-year-old woman, and set now, then 35-year-old women are starting to think about settling down,” Elliot said. “They are thinking about the body clock and they think: Should they be with someone permanent?’”

Several revisions to Furth’s book and Sondheim’s lyrics have been made. “Have I Got a Girl for You,” is now “Have I Got a Guy for You,” while April the airline stewardess is now Andy. The roles of Harry and Sarah have been reversed, to put a new dynamic on the power struggle in the relationship.

Dates of production have not been announced, however it is expected that Simon Stephen’s Heisenberg will be the opening play of Elliot Harper Productions’ season, which is expected to launch next fall.

 
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