The Regals Musical Society: Company -Review by Tracy Payne

Stephen Sondheim’s Company is a targeted reflection on love, commitment and what it really means to be “alive”. It’s an intriguing story but, in the lead up to opening night, I couldn’t help but wonder whether its origins within a 1970s Manhattancontext would translate well to the interests and perspectives of an Australian audience in 2025. And while I’m always excited to see a young director’s debut, my Gen X brain was curious as to how the experiences of a single person turning 35 would be represented by a director, and many cast members, who have not yet had the years of life experience the story seeks to portray. However, my wonderings proved unnecessary and somewhat inconsequential as the cast and creatives of The Regals Musical Society effectively broughtSondheim’s social commentary to the hearts and minds of their 21st century multi-generational audience.

If you are unfamiliar with Company, it is a clever and witty musical that doesn’t follow a traditional linear storyline,instead, it’s built around a series of snapshots from the life of Robert, a single person turning 35, surrounded by married friends who share the high and lows of life, relationships and the complicated idea of self-actualisation

Taking on the lead role of Robert is Blake O’Brien (Zara Lake Thompson - alternate). Key to every scene, O’Briencharismatically drove the narrative, creating believably affectionate connections with the diverse range of “friends” and “girlfriends” and captivating the audience with each of his powerfully emotive vocal solos. The five couples who surround Robert each represent a different perspective on marriage and relationships and these perspectives were clearly defined through authentically employed nuances of costuming, blocking and characterisation. The ensemble – Lauren Dennis, Will Smith, Amy Fowler, Emma Gibbons, Grace McDonald, Hudson Perry, Sophie Takatsuka, Eddie Langford, Julianne Horne and Joseph Restubog – worked well together both within their “couples” and as a cohort. The acting of all was excellent – witty, well-timed and consistent. While the script Company has been crafted with an undercurrent of humour to each scene, there are often quick swings towards more sincere and sombre emotion, all of which were presented beautifully by the ensemble cast,seamlessly leading the audience into the complexity of each moment.

While the protagonist grapples with the idea of relationships and marriage, he is not necessarily an isolated or lonely character. In addition to his married friends, Robert is trying to navigate a romantic life divided between three girlfriends. And this trio were amazing! The characters are well crafted in the script, but the authenticity Grace Johnson, Aja Elshaikhand Crystal Coulits brought to the roles was truly impressive. Each a capable vocalist in their own right, when they joined together for “You could drive a person crazy” in Act 1, they offered flawless old-school, Andrews sisters style close harmonies accompanied by well-choreographed physical comedy and an abundance of sass. The audience loved it.

Speaking of audience favourites, the longest spontaneousapplause of the night came in response to Sophie Takatsuka’s portrayal of Amy. The fast paced, emotionallycomplex “Getting married today”, in itself, has the capacity to wow any audience but in the hands of a performer of Takatsuka’s calibre it was pure magic. Her diction was precise, her comic timing perfect, her emotion real and her commitment to character intense. In interviews prior to opening night, cast had flagged Sophie as one to watch and they were definitely right!

Another highlight was the choreography (Nikolas Villa Zielinski and Tracy Reid). “Company” is not what you would consider a “dance show”, but the carefully choreographed moments throughout each song added to the characterisation beautifully. Although, the one break from the usual was the unexpected production number in Act 2. “Side by Side by Side” was clever, fun and showed some serious dancing skills amongst the cast. Loved it!!

Sondheim’s score is, of course, challenging yet beautiful. Lindford Gilmour (assisted by Jieshun Wang) is to be congratulated on leading the cast and orchestra to honour the score with such heartfelt, polished performances.

It is clear that The Regals Musical Society has gathered a production team who have been in sync with the vision and direction of the show, and this has provided a wonderful foundation for the performers. Sophie Szecsodi, in her directorial debut, clearly demonstrated considerable skill not only in interpreting the source material but in capitalising on the skills of the cast and creative team to offer a united vision and a tangibly collaborative production.

So, back to my initial questions regarding relevance and relatability …  even though Company was written over 50 years ago, its themes feel fresh and relevant today. In a world where people are rethinking what relationships look like—whether it’s marriage, friendship, or chosen family—Robert’s journey speaks to anyone who’s ever felt unsure about where they fit in. So, make sure that you get a ticket to see Company – it has a limited run so get in quick!