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Shortly after opening night, Jones withdrew from the show, allegedly due to illness, but actually due to stress he was suffering from ongoing divorce proceedings. The original cast included Dean Jones, who had replaced Anthony Perkins early in the rehearsal period when Perkins departed to direct a play. The role of Robert, originally performed by Dean Jones, is the central character his 35th birthday brings the group together. The set design by Boris Aronson consisted of two working elevators and various vertical platforms that emphasized the musical's theme of isolation. Musical staging was by Michael Bennett, assisted by Bob Avian. "Company" opened on April 26, 1970, at the Alvin Theatre in New York City, where it ran for 705 performances after seven previews. These people really want to escape that world when they go to the theatre, and then here we are with 'Company' talking about how we're going to bring it right back in their faces." "Company" opened in Boston in out-of-town tryouts, receiving mixed reviews, from the Boston Evening Globe "Brilliant", to Variety Magazine "The songs are for the most part undistinguished" and "As it stands now it's for ladies' matinees, homos and misogynists." The book was by George Furth Lyrics and music was by Stephen Sondheim Direction was by Harold Prince. As Sondheim puts it, "Broadway theater has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with upper-middle-class problems. "Company" was among the first musicals to deal with adult themes and relationships. Unlike most book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated plot, "Company" is a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday. Originally titled "Threes," its plot revolves around Bobby, a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage, four married couples, and one single couple, who are his best friends, and the musical's additional roles include Bobby's three free-wheeling girl friends. The theme would be New York marriages with a central character to examine those marriages. After Sondheim read the plays, Sondheim asked Harold Prince for his opinion Harold Prince thought the plays would make the basis for a musical. Hollywood actor Anthony Perkins, interested in directing, asked Stephen Sondheim to read the material. George Furth wrote eleven one-act plays planned for Kim Stanley as each of the separate leads.