Tony/Olivier-winner to direct gender-swapped COMPANY; Sondheim approves

Gender switch:#StephenSondheim has given @_elliottharper permission for Bobby to become Bobbie in COMPANY



Someone Is Waiting:RosalieCraig @Rosiemae to play BOBBIE in COMPANY for dir #MarianneElliott @_elliottharper prods

UMMM 'h'okay.

BBobby hits me up on Scruff every day.

No, she won't be a lesbian. They've rewritten "Have I Got a Guy for You." The director and producer say making Bobbie a woman brings it into the present. Well it sure doesn't bring the score into the present. Just listen to the first few bars of the opening. It is firmly embedded in 1970, as are most of the mores of the story. I'm afraid that three men singing "You Could Dive a Person Crazy" might be a bit twee. There's much rewriting to be done and while it's awfully nice for Sondheim to agree, I wonder if Furth would be as magnanimous were he still alive.

if she's not a lesbian why is she dating three women at once??

Cynthia Erivo expresses her interest..

I'd definitely be interested a heck of a lot more if this was the casting choice announced.

Rosalie Craig is definitely a victim of the "3 strikes rule" in my book: Ragtime, Light Princess, Wonder.Land

I would pay a bajillion dollars to see Cynthia Erivo rip "Being Alive."

For what it's worth, Rumpelstiltskin, Larry Kert told me and countless others that he always played Bobby as gay. In his view, the entire show was about a man's coming to terms with his own sexuality.

As I'm sure you know, the authors have always vigorously denied this; and I must admit (though I too saw it when the dinosaurs ruled) I think it deflates the content quite a bit to think of the show as merely about a member of a sexual minority instead of a statement on all relationships.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't view it in whatever way moves you the most.

Updated On: 11/26/16 at 09:21 PM

Thanks for your comments Gaveston. I always appreciate your anecdotes and insight.

The gay subtext has been denied by the book-writer (George Furth), and the only real nod to it in the original text is the conversation between Peter and Bobby about having fooled around with other men. I think it's a very strong scene personally. I don't know anything about the 2013 retooled version which Roundabout was producing where they were actively pursuing a gay Bobby dating three men at the same time, apart from the articles I found online. Some of these claim that Sondheim had revised some lyrics and dialogue to serve the purpose a bit better.

I think a female Bobby actively denying her (bi)sexuality could be a very strong show. Some of the other characters can use gender-swapping, but in the 11th hour scene - Joanne could remain a woman who finally heavily flirts and visibly arouses Bobby. (Beth Malone for Joanne please?)

It would fundamentally change the show. Apart from showing relationships, it will also be a commentary of how far feminism has brought our society - which we could use. A lot. It definitely needs a good director though.

ukpuppetboy - unfortunately no, but I love the cast recording!

I think it comes down to gender. Bisexuality, I think, its more prevalent in women. You won't meet many straight males who will admit to having "fooled around" or "kissed" other men, but I know plenty of women who have done such. Not that it makes the idea less interesting, but a bisexual woman is - to me - less interesting because it's a fairly pedestrian concept. I'm more interested in this straight male who is struggling with his sexuality. But maybe I'm biased.

imeldasturn said: "Cynthia sang a stellar being alive in London a couple of years ago

http://through-my-memoirs.tumblr.com/post/136061019929/cynthia-erivo-sings-being-alive-from-company#notes"



I'm crying here. THANKYOU SO MUCH.