In just a couple weeks, Furman University’s Pauper Players will be performing their first production of the year — “Company” — a musical comedy that addresses one man’s attempts to come to terms with his own loneliness in light of the complexities of his friends’ relationships.
The 1970 play, written by George Furth and with music by Stephen Sondheim, tells the story of a middle-aged man evaluating his life through a series of vignettes and flashbacks.
The unique and narratively-convoluted story features Robert, a bachelor who is about to celebrate his 35th birthday. Robert, or Bobby as his friends call him, is essentially “James Bond, but not as badass and without the cool stunts,” according Josh Thomason, the Furman senior who will be playing the suave seducer.
Thomason, no stranger to the stage, played the role of Moritz in last year’s production of “Spring Awakening.” Though Moritz was a more reserved character than Bobby, Thomason said he had found similarities between the characters, like that they’re both introverts, despite the fact that Bobby often comes across as “douchebag-like.”
Throughout the play, Bobby interacts with a series of couples who attend his party and all think of Bobby as their best friend. The twist in the story is that the oldest of these couples, Joanne and Larry, still perceive Bobby as sweet and innocent. They baby him and “don’t see him as the douchebag that he really is,” Thomason said.
During the musical, each of couples influence Robert has he watches their relationships from the outside, ultimately leading him to a change of heart.
The show opens Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium and will be performed nightly until the last show Sept. 29, which will be a 2 p.m. matinee. The show is scheduled to run for two hours. Tickets can be purchased starting Sept. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Trone Center.