Company is a
musical with a book by
George Furth and music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim.
Originally entitled
Threes, its plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Unlike most
book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated plot,
Company is a concept musical composed of short
vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday.
Company was among the first musicals to deal with adult problems through its music. As Sondheim put it, "they are middle-class people with middle class-problems."