Bobby's past relationships in COMPANY?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:41pm

I'm in a production of Company at the moment.
As a cast, we were talking about Bobby's past. Our Bobby mentioned that he felt like he only knew the men in the show (Paul, Peter, David etc.) through the women in the show (Sarah, Amy etc.) and that Bobby had likely dated or had a history with many of the women in the show, thus the bond he seems to have with them.

Has anyone else thought about or read anything about this?

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 09:41 PM

[timote316]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:42pm

I've never thought about that, but that would make sense.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:10pm

I actually thought they might have been friends of the women he dated and that when the relationship(?) ended they got custody of Bobby instead of keeping the original friend. An "extra" man is always more useful socially that an extra woman. But that's just my view.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:17pm

Pssst - you have a typo in your subject line.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:18am

Goodness Gracious!
Thank you for the note...it's been fixed.

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:18 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:24am

I can rotally telate with what you're saying, Princeton.

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:24 AM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:27am

Thanks Pop-er Foster.

[alli2]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:15am

hey princeton,
where are you doing COMPANY at?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:25am

I don't think Bobby "slept" with any of them
That's part of his Musical Problem.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:29am

I'm not quite sure I understand your Bobby's response. When did he "only" know the women in the show? I mean its pretty clearly established in the opening number that his relationship with the male and female characters is primarily rooted in the fact that they share an apartment building. Now I suppose you could create a scenario in which Bobby works with someone or knew someone who "refered" him to his current apartment in the building - but that would most likely be one of the older couples...

Which leads me to another arguement. Unless this is a university production of COMPANY, the show is usually cast with couples of all ages - most are older than Bobby (who is 35 so) so I doubt he would have really dated many of them. It is of course clear that Marta, April and Kathy are current or recent romantic interests and "perhaps" he dated somebody like Amy given their history and intimate dialogue in the kitchen scene -- but

I think the point of the story is that Robert is surrounded by married people and they are a barometer of his continued "decision" to be alone. And thats what his breakthrough in the climax of the play is all about.

Part of the theme of COMPANY is learning to allow people to get close enough to truly touch your life. The idea of a New York City apartment building is a perfect arena for somebody who wants to keep himself walled literally and figuratively between the people around him...

In that sense - I think its actually pretty important that Robert doesn't have the kind of deep, intimate, individual pasts you speak of in your posts. These people are his neighbors and the relationships have evolved out of their common locality. IMO, of course...


Updated On: 3/13/06 at 01:29 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:41am

Yes Michael
and I liked yer work
on the Original

[tophertilson]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 7:12am

In the Donmar production of COMPANY, Bobby had had a past sexual relationship with Peter, I believe. Was it Peter? Which guy is featured in the pot smoking scene?

TT

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 7:50am

1. The production i'm in is taking place just outside of Boston, MA.

2. Michael, the show has been cast, I think with great respect to the appropriate ages with the girlfriends, Bobby, and most of the couples being late 20's-early 30's and Larry and Joanne being middle aged. Interesting Michael that you mention Amy, because in talking, we thought about her as the most likely canidate for Bobby to have had history with.

[morosco]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 8:44am

I always thought all the other characters were friends of Bobbys because they where his neighbors in his apartment building.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 8:52am

The cut song "Multitudes of Amys" would indicate that at one point at least -- even if that was an earlier version of the script -- Bobby had feelings for her. He also suggests they run off together on her wedding day, which would seem to suggest a different attraction than he has with the rest of the women.

[tcoppola]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:29pm

Funny--I never got that his friends in the show were all residents in the same apartment complex. I just thought they were all friends of his in NYC.

Where does it indicate "clearly" in the opening number that they're all in the same building? I know that the most set designs for the show are a multi-level structured unit, but I just thought it was to indicate them in their own residences--not specifically in the same building. Never got that from the opening number either...

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:40pm

I agree...I don't see where it says they're in the same building, though i'd buy it.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:40pm

And believe me, i've heard the opening number enough lately!
(I've learned to just sing 'Bobbi-bubbi' when in doubt.)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:48pm

Perhaps I'm thinking more of the original design and staging with the various steel apartment structures linked by a common elevator. The play is so aesthetic that you can probably interpret that however you want.

But I think its safe to say, from Bobby's scenes with April, Kathy and Marta that he is probably not the type of character who would stay friends with a lot of his ex-girlfriends. Particularly when the theme of the show is breaking down emotional walls regarding commitment. So I definitely don't think past dating is the basis of his relationships with the various couples.

It always seemed more likely to me that they would be work colleagues, perhaps a friend or two from college but mostly other couples in his building. My interpretation, naturally
Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:48 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:04pm

"...Where does it indicate "clearly" in the opening number that they're all in the same building?..."

There is nothing specific that made me jump to that conclusion. It was an assumption of mine.

[tcoppola]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 1:49pm

I didn't mean your assumption--I meant the earlier statement of MBennet--which he has now "cleared" up was his interpretation and not something that is specifically in the opening number.

But thank you too for specifying!