Merrily We Roll Along directed by Maria Friedman

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 9/8/17 at 9:21pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Eden-Espinosa-Joins-MERRILY-WE-ROLL-ALONG-at-Huntington-This-Fall-20170907

The critically celebrated West End production opens tonight at the Huntington Avenue Theatre in Boston.  Hoping to hear thoughts on it from anyone lucky enough to see it.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/8/17 at 10:49pm

Begins previews tonight.  I will be seeing it next week...have to admit being trepidatious, since saw and hated the original production.  Also subsequently came to love most of the score, so I am hopeful this time. 

[mufish]

Posted: 9/8/17 at 10:56pm

Seeing it on the 23rd! Been a while since I've seen a Huntington production of any kind. 

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 9/8/17 at 11:29pm

I was there tonight. I went in not knowing anything aside from a brief plot summation. I absolutely adored it. The cast is stellar, and I loved the music. The actress playing Gussie did have a couple minor line flubs, but she covered well and it was barely a blip in the production. I was seriously impressed with Mark Umbers (Franklin) and Damian Humbley (Charles). Damian's performance of Franklin Shepard, Inc. was a standout. Really, just a great evening out.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 12:04pm

looking forward to see it next week

Chances on it transferring to Broadway?

Updated On: 9/10/17 at 12:04 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:05pm

It would be a perfect revival for Roundabout.

[rcwr]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:38pm

Going this Tuesday. Never seen it before. I'm excited!

Updated On: 9/10/17 at 02:38 PM

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 7:28pm

Going Tuesday and can't wait!!

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 8:14pm

I saw this at the Menier a couple years back in London. And as good as Umbers and the buy who played Charlie were, Jenna Russell's Mary was the highlight....and Eden Espinosa is no Jenna Russell....

[nsguy45]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 10:59pm

Saw it tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I could overhear confusion around me at Intermission regarding the book. Entire cast was excellent, the three leads exceptional. This concludes my Summer of Sondheim, having seen Company at the Barrington two weeks ago.

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 9/11/17 at 10:39am

Saw it last night, and will see it three more times during the run, including the closing on October 15th. Run, don't walk, if you're on the fence!

Mark Umbers and Damien Humbley didn't lose anything in the trip across the pond. They are simply staggering. The show fits beautifully in the Huntington Theatre, and there are some beautiful new bits of costuming/blocking that differ from the West End film of this production.

Maria Friedman was hanging out outside the theater as the audience filed in and again in the back of the house before the talkback. I approached her, and she was lovely and gracious.

There were a few "preview" moments; I feel that Aimee Doherty is still finding Gussie, but I am confident that she'll nail her down by Opening Night. I saw her at the Speakeasy in "Nine" years ago and still vividly, recall her performance with joy. I was especially impressed by Eden, who effectively underplays a number of moments that the fabulous Jenna Russell took in other directions.

I'm so excited and blessed that I get to see this company grow better and stronger and deeper and clearer and richer in their roles: I'll report back the next time I go at the end of September with an update.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 9/11/17 at 11:32am

Having no expectations when I saw it, I'm seriously considering going back (for their 35 Below ticket program, the price couldn't be beat - saw it from front row mezz for $30). Been humming songs from it all weekend.

[rcwr]

Posted: 9/13/17 at 9:03pm

It was excellent. I'm SO glad I got to go. If you're in Boston or can make it to this production from elsewhere, grab a ticket now. You won't regret it.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 9/13/17 at 9:18pm

Seeing it next week and I can't wait! Tickets are super cheap, fellow Bostonians, go see it!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/14/17 at 1:37am

Having seen Russell in "Sunday in the Park," I wish she would return to NYC. I LOVED her. One of my favorite performances I've seen. 

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 9/14/17 at 9:06am

Couldn't resist - just bought a seat for the October 5th performance. Loved the show - probably one of the best I've seen so far this year. 

[SeanD2]

Posted: 9/14/17 at 11:30am

AllThatJazz2 said: "Damian's performance of Franklin Shepard, Inc. was a standout."

He really is terrific. Though it always shocks me to remember he dated Alexandra Silber (and cheated on her according to her cabaret act). She just seems way out of his league.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/15/17 at 1:15pm

I really did see the original production in previews, and hated it completely 5 minutes into the show.  Until the cast recording was released, I didn't even think much of Sondheim's score.  Last night proved one thing: that the greatest director in my theatergoing lifetime really screwed up the original production.  Why do I say this: because most of the show was actually as I remembered it from 35 years ago, and I loved it this time.  

So exactly how is that possible?  Prince made two deadly mistakes from the top that lost the audience almost immediately.  First, the roles were played by young actors, who -- in the beginning of the show -- were playing characters much older than they were, and those characters were in serious distress.  They did not have the gravitas to play the roles, especially Jim Walton, who was terrible as Franklin.  He does not sound bad on the cast recording, but in person he was out of his league.  By the time the performers were playing their own ages, the audience was either gone, asleep or hostile. Second deadly mistake: Prince had the actors wear t-shirts defining who they were, e.g., 'actor', 'producer', etc.  The problem -- which angered a 30 year old who was sitting in the cheap seats at the then Alvin theatre -- was that you couldn't read the t-shirts if you were not -- I suspect -- in the first 7 or eight rows of the orchestra.  Being in the cheap seats, I felt that our needs were ignored.  35 years later, I realize it didn't matter, but it made me angry at the time (and probably indicated that Prince did not trust the material).  A third mistake -- not as epic -- was a framing device which had an older, cynical Franklin giving a graduation speech at the beginning, where at the end of the show, as a new graduate he gave an upbeat and idealistic version of the same speech).  There were two issues there for me: it meant that, at the beginning of the show, this fresh-faced kid is giving this cynical, experiential speech that seemed ludicrous; and, end of the show, there were two songs which sounded too much alike (to me at least), which -- since I already hated the show -- made me more annoyed...'couldn't they make up their mind'.

So, what is better: (1) the roles are played by people who I assume are in their late 30s, early 40s.  They are believable in the early, cynical scenes; and, by the end of the show, the audience is more than happy to let them get away with not having somehow become 20; the actor's excellent performances convey their youth, idealism, fears, etc. (2) the framing advice is gone...it added nothing and its deletion takes nothing away from the show. (3) the stupid t-shirts are gone, because the director trusted the audience to figure put who the characters were.  There is also a fourth: I sat in much better seats...the real point here is that the show never belonged in a theatre as big as the Alvin. Nowadays, it would open at the Music Box or the Broadhurst or the Atkinson, etc.  It is more suited to a more intimate setting.  The BU theatre in Boston is considerably smaller than the Alvin and I suspect the last row of the balcony would have still been a good seat.

My point: I don't actually think that a lot was really changed; the director trusted the material, directed a straightforward production -- there is nothing innovative in the staging whatsoever -- and let the score and script stand out.  

One final point: I have always considered George Furth to be a hack who was very lucky to have certain friends.  The original production added to my argument.  I am going to have to re-consider my assessment...the book is terrific.  (NOTE: This does not alter my opinion that the Company book has always been terrible).

One truly last point: this is the third production the Huntington Theatre has done in three successive seasons.  ALNM in season 1, then SITHWG, then this.  If they didn't have a regional Tony already, they'd deserve on for this.  It is truly a great Sondheim work (I enjoyed and was moved by last night's performance more than any performance of SITPWG that I have seen to date, and as much as any performance of Company that I have seen).  I can't say that it is up there with Sweeney, ALNM, the original Follies, but it is just below them.

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 9/15/17 at 4:53pm

I saw this last night and really enjoyed it.  I have no frame of reference to compare it to as I've never seen a production of this before, nor have I listened to the recording.  I'll admit I was a bit confused at the beginning as to the time regression, but nothing that I didn't catch up with quickly. 

I'd love to see this play on Broadway.  The cast was excellent - particularly the standout performances from Mark Umbers (Franklin) and Damian Humbley (Charles). 

Something entire unrelated to the actual performance; if you are going, be sure to wear a sweater. The theatre had the a/c on full and it was really cold.

 

 

[Capeguy]

Posted: 9/15/17 at 7:00pm

I too saw a preview of the original way back when and felt exactly as you did.I also had cheap tickets (TKTS) and could not read the T-shirts. I was so disappointed and confused. Once the album came out (yes, a record) I fell in love with the music and realized that Prince really was the problem.

I will be seeing it next Friday and can't wait!

[Hest882]

Posted: 9/15/17 at 10:33pm

Jarethan and Capeguy, yeah, that's what everyone finally realized...too late. It's interesting to hear those wistful criticisms from the people who appear in "The Best Worst Thing That Ever Happened."

I would be overjoyed if this came to Broadway. I say the London production via NT Live (or was it Fathom?) but found some of the extreme close-ups distracting. Would be great to see it live.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 12:33pm

A few more thoughts:

-- All of yesterday, I kept on returning to this show.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  That really is rare for me. I STRONGLY recommend that anyone who can get to the Huntington theatre do so.  There were a lot of empty seats in the mezzanine, so I can't imagine that it would be that difficult to get tickets.

-- Remaining flaw: I thought the role of Mary Flynn was not fleshed out enough.  The show is ostensibly about the three of them, and they take the last bow together; but, as I watched the last bow, i pretty much felt that the women playing Gussie and Beth belonged there.  They were both more central to the story than Mary (largely an observer) was.  I was actually surprised at how large (and good) Gussie's role was, and Beth had a few moments in the show that, for my money, were more powerful than anything Mary had. 

What do we know about Mary: she falls in love with Franklin almost from first sight, she is smart, she is timid, she never stops loving him, watching on as he progresses through marriages and affairs, she becomes an alcoholic, she sees Franklin and Charlie's relationship falling apart, but is powerless to do anything.  I am not clear on the following: she is a writer who seems to have writer's block, she does publish a book??? and it is a success / failure??? ... and she becomes a critic (I missed that in the show, picked it up here).  No delving into why she has writer's block.  It may have been me...a lot is covered in intricate Sondheim lyrics...I may have missed some.  Haven't listened to the cast recording in a long time.  

-- When I see a non-musical in NYC, I will usually get a headset; if I have a problem hearing, I turn it on.  As I watched the show, I found myself missing some of the dialogue, particularly Franklin's.  I do not know if this was due to my aging ears or to lack of projection on the part of some of the performers.  I did not otherwise 'notice' the sound, which was a good thing.  It seemed natural and was coming from the right places.  Did anyone else experience this, or is it just aging ears?

Updated On: 9/16/17 at 12:33 PM

[rcwr]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 1:30pm

Jarethan, I thought the sound was great, but I was sitting in the front row, so even the projection was off, I might have heard everything fine coming just from their mouths.

I did think the entire cast did an excellent job with enunciation. Often at the theater I miss words that I can "hear" fine -- I hear the general sound of them, plenty loudly enough, but I can't discern the actual words -- but in this show, I heard everything. But because of my location, that doesn't mean something wasn't off with amplification.

I completely missed the whatever the real points were about Mary's career. I heard bits of detail about her career as they went by, but I never understood the arc of it, of the whys.

I've been thinking about the show every day since I saw it too.

Updated On: 9/16/17 at 01:30 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 2:04pm

Jenna Russel's Mary over in London was very fleshed out and definitely the highlight of the production for me.  I'm disappointed that she didn't transfer over the pond with this.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 4:15pm

I was in the sixth or seventh row, so I wasn't in Siberia; but I did think that Franklin particularly spoke in too hushed a voice in the early scenes.  

Re Mary, I don't want to infer too much...are you also saying that Mary's arc could have been a little clearer or more fleshed out?  GeorgeandDot, I saw Russell in SITPWG and understand what you are getting at.  I thought Edin Espinoza was more than fine, but she did not have that innate depth that Jenna Russell demonstrated for me in SITPWG.