His self effacing humour is hilarious, peppered with a myriad of clever references to his own shortcomings as he leads the audience through the comic minefield that is his life.

Stephen Sondheim’s pulsing refrain symbolises the pulse of life that courses through Company, his musical homage to all the beating hearts in the heart of New York City.

Just as with so many other Shakespeare reinventions, the beauty of the piece was lost underneath so much contrivance.

Having wowed Australia back in 2011 with sold out shows across the country, the faux fab four have returned to our shores with a new cast, an updated format and the same toe-tapping trip down memory (and Penny, for that matter) lane.