Creatively Mr. Sondheim's lyrics are way above the rest of ["Company"]; they have a lyric suppleness, sparse, elegant wit, and range from the virtuosity of a patter song to a kind of sweetly laconic cynicism in a modern love song. The music is academically very interesting. Mr. Sondheim must be one of the most sophisticated composers ever to write Broadway musicals, yet the result is slick, clever and eclectic rather than exciting. It is the kind of music that makes me say: "Oh, yeah?" rather than "Gee whiz!" but I readily concede that many people will consider its sheer musical literacy as off setting all other considerations. (p. 262)

Clive Barnes, "'Company' Offers a Guide to New York's Marital Jungle," in The New York Times, April 27, 1970, p. 40.