 | Author: Byron Kolln (the corner .. | 2010 marks Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday, so what could be a better time to be looking back on one of his greatest and most personal musicals. COMPANY is a "concept musical" in the best sense of the word, where the songs act more as vignettes than form a scene-to-scene story. The cast, headed by Dean Jones and Elaine Stritch, has never been truly bettered.Dean Jones, in his brief time as Bobby, displayed for the first time his rich and soulful singing voice. After years playing the goofy leads in Disney comedies like "The Love Bug", "Monkeys Go Home" and "That Darn Cat", Jones established himself as a bright new Broadway star to be reckoned with. His renditions of "Someone is Waiting" as well as the life-affirming "Being Alive" are fantastic. Dealing with a painful divorce and unable to commit himself for a long stay in New York, Jones was replaced, very early into the show's run by Larry Kert (Kert's recording of "Being Alive" is included as a bonus track)...Read more | 33 |