Jonathan Groff is such a good choice in this role for many of the same reasons that made him an excellent Melchior in Spring Awakening. In both shows, Groff's characters are the catalysts to their best friends' misery, yet he plays genuineness, naivete, and humor so well that you can't outright loathe him.
He makes you feel for Frank, which is rare but crucial to the musical. I think perhaps Sondheim would not want you to feel warmly towards Frank, but he’s dead.
@@roninjoey "Warmly" is a strong word lol, but I can say that the character of Frank allows you to understand where he's coming from, and why he makes the bad decisions he makes. I think we all know a "Frank" in our own lives. Even Bobby in Company is kind of a jerk too, and comes across as the same kind of character.
I really hope this earns Daniel Radcliffe a Tony Nom. He has done 4 Broadway Shows now brilliant in each and I feel like they ignored him because he is a "movie star " lord knows he should have at least been Nominated for "How To Succeeded "
Agreed. He's certainly just as worthy as all the TV stars who have won Tonys, like Sean Hayes and John Larroquett...whom I also don't think are as talented as Daniel Radcliff.
Thank you!!! It’s irritating how he’s been snubbed. If he doesn’t get a nomination this time you will be able to hear me scream from way down in Georgia!!
I just saw the production today. He was absolutely amazing. I loved especially his solo in the first act. If that doesn’t get him a tony nomination I call bullshit.
"Lindsay Mendez .. gives what I think is THE standout, phenomenal performance of this show" -- just saw it on Saturday and I couldn't agree more!! I went to see Groff and Radcliffe, but she knocked my SOCKS OFF.
I bought tickets for this show, knowing nothing about it, solely because of Jon Groff. My family had no real plans to visit NYC (from Ohio) but we built an entire trip around those tickets. And I am thrilled we did. The show was wonderful, and everyone sounded fantastic together. Franklin Shepard, Inc. was a huge highlight. Dan Radcliffe nailed that song to the wall! Very happy with the production values and the performances themselves. I hope they'll film it for eventual release as I'd love to experience it again.
This production was nothing short of Sheer Perfection! I just wish Sondheim and Hal Prince were still alive to see it. They both would have been so happy to see this once-flop musical become a theatrical triumph!
I think the culture has finally caught up to the structure of Merrily. There has been so much mainstream film and television where the plot isn’t linear that people are used to this by now.
Absolutely exemplary critique. Love how you go into the history of the show, and point out how this production is different (the ages of the actors, etc) and then going into the specifics of this particular production. Your enthusiasm and sheer joy in "all things theater" find their match in your knowledge and expertise, and this review is a spectacular example of why you are one of the best theater critics/influencers now at work!
I fell in love with Merrily... in 1998 at Philadelphia's Arden Theater Company. I saw the current production at the Hudson last week and I am so happy to see it shine. Lindsey Mendes is exceptional here and made me cry multiple times! Radcliffe is a breath of fresh air and Groff is perfect! Your review is spot on, thank you!
In 1986 I played Mary in a regional theater production of Merrily in the San Francisco Bay area. It was only 5 years after it had been briefly on Broadway. It has been one of the honors of my life to have played the role. I have also played the Witch in Into The Woods, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Mama Rose in Gypsy and Domina in Forum...so I have been blessed to have been able to play roles in productions of the genius that is Stephen Sondheim. His death shook me to the core. Sondheim.
I travelled from Brazil literally just to see this show because o Dan Rad and it was so freaking worth it!!!!!!! Everything about this production was amazing. Perfeclty cast, amazingly directed, the costumes were amazing! Honestly blown away. Lindsay was such a stand out!!!!!!
Just saw this yesterday. Every bit as excellent as you said, maybe even more than you made it out to be. Daniel Radcliffe is the kind of actor that gets drastically better every time he performs a show-- and he's had seven months to grow and grow. And, speaking of growing, Lindsay is well into pregnancy now, and she is as amazing as you said. Honestly probably the best performance of the night. But wow was Jonathan Groff ever excellent as well. This trio was unbelievable. And Reg Rogers was giving an incredible performance, as well. My father, who I dragged with me, said it was "very Jewish". This is accurate.
Merrily - The Sondheim show that had a 40 year out of town tryout! I'm glad it's finally getting the appreciation it deserves and that came about with the assistance of the the good people of the UK!
One of my favorite little touches is that the first time we hear Good Thing Going is as a Frank Sinatra-esque cover for the Today Show segue music. The idea that the last stage of a successful musical theater song is to become a sort of generic jazz standard for tv shows to use when coming back from commercial breaks was hysterical to me, particularly given how famously important Sinatra’s cover of Send in the Clowns was to that song being Sondheim’s most popular cross-over success.
I can’t recommend this show highly enough! Worth every single penny. I was blown away by the score/orchestra and, of course, the performances of Daniel, Lindsay, and Jonathan (an old friend of mine). I also loved the intimacy of the theater as compared to many of the larger Broadway spaces. Go see it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I saw it during my NYC trip and LOVED IT. Such a special and emotional show, really felt the dreams and pains of the three friends. And so exciting to see this cast!!Definitely a Tony nomination for Lindsay and Groff, and let's hope also for Daniel. He was flawless!
I saw it twice last week, on a trip from the UK specifically to catch this show. I’m a huge Jonathan Groff fan (see more by searching jgroffdaily), which was my reason for going, but I must say that, as much as I loved both Jonathan and Daniel, it was Lindsay Mendez who really stole the show for me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her, particularly in the second act “reprise” of Not A Day Goes By. I have also watched the London version on UA-cam, and although I appreciate that it will have lost something due to me not seeing it live, I found all of the characters more “brittle” and less realistic in that version than in the current production. The heart that they bring (again, particularly Lindsay) is what sells this show for me. Hoping for Tonys all around - it’s their time! Thanks for the great review.
I saw it Dec 22, 2022 at the New York City Theatre Workshop and it was amazing. I had to wait for 5 hours in 10 degree weather to get my ticket. The shows of Broadway were also all sold out. Jonathan, Daniel, & Lindsay were amazing together and their energy filled the theatre!
Saw this production two weeks ago and it was nothing short of transcendent! Honestly, this production is just superlative. If you only see ONE show on Broadway this year, MERRILY should be it! The trio of friends is perfectly cast and their performances SUBLIME! Gussie, Beth, and Joe are equally wonderful, shining in parts that can often get lost in the shadow of the main trio. Even the chorus digs deep and finds moments that might otherwise be overlooked. Maria Freidman has done Steve PROUD! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!! My husband and I saw this on a Friday night and tried to get tickets to see it again the following day- it was THAT good!
I agree with you! Saw it yesterday, bought a ticket to see it again in February because I have to watch this cast again. I'm so hoping they record a cast album.
I’ve seen the 2002 Kennedy Center production with Michael Hayden, Miriam Shor, and Raul Esparza + 2012 Encores with Colin Donnell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, 2019 Roundabout off Broadway production, NYTW/current revival and I must say this one is absolute perfection from staging to casting. Maria Friedman has taken years to hone the show from London to now and she fully gets it!
I saw this show a couple of weeks ago and absolutely LOVED IT. I have adored the score for decades and it was thrilling to finally see a great production of it! I agree with most of your review, MickeyJo. My daughter lives in the UK and is a big fan of yours and she has turned me into one, too. One point that you touched on was the underscoring and how the melodies come back in so many incarnations and versions throughout the evening, many times in very suttle ways. None of the recordings that I have heard do NEARLY ENOUGH justice to Sondheim's brilliance in how and when key melodies are reprised. I'm praying that this original cast recording will include at least a large portion of this music. For example, the way that parts of "Franklin Shephard Inc." follow Frank along in in different parts of the show was an absolute revelation to me. You may want to recommend to your fans the documentary made about the original production of the show, "The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened." Sondheim was still alive, as was Harold Prince, when this was made and it is EXCELLENT! It's available on most major streaming platforms. Thanks for coming to NYC and reviewing this masterpiece!
🏳️🌈Saw them: fantastic. The chemistry among the 3 leads is palpable. Just watch the way Groff and Mendez cry at Radcliffe’s acceptance speech at the Tonys. There’s a love that will outlast Franklin’s Mary’s and Charlie’s. I found the chorus transitions in the titular song gorgeous, some of the harmonies, the way the cast performed them. I was really moved by them in a way that this critic was not. In case anyone has could have ever doubted: Sondheim is a god. Even his bombs are gems. Call me when Stravinsky has a hit.🏳️🌈
I really enjoyed this and feel like playing happy meta-critic. You are blossoming, Sir. Your analysis and understanding of this show, which I've seen several times in earlier productions, is spot on. You've identified its singular beauty and its multitude of challenges with acuity and you've eloquently described them . Well done. Seeing Merrily Tuesday. Will report back.
The cast is so talented. I've been a fan of Ms. Mendez since her Elphaba vlogs. She's a remarkable talent and multidimensional as an actress. Daniel Radcliffe, I've followed since his adaptation of the Dicken novel and of course Harry Potter. And I hope it runs for years.
The painting in the beginning is by Frank Stella. It’s a minimalist work: utilitarian, hard edged, with no meaning. Excellent choice for Frank’s home. LOVED this production!! Brilliant
I also thought the poster at for Musical Husbands was horrible, but then I realised it corresponded to the shoes that Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe were wearing which made me appreciate it more!
Among an embarrassment of riches what fascinates me about the score is that because the story is told backwards, you hear reprises before the actual song. ❤
I saw this in previews last month. I didn’t know much about the show going in, but I love Jonathan Groff so I figured I couldn’t go wrong. The show was fantastic! I wish I could have see it again!
I saw it a few days ago and I was lucky enough to meet Daniel Radcliffe at the stagedoor! I knew virtually nothing going into the show and absolutely loved it and told him that my new dream role is Charley Kringas and he told me he hopes I get to perform Franklin Shepard Inc someday and then took some pictures with me! Me being the massive RavenDor (GryffinClaw?) Potterhead that I am and also that I just got done playing Wayne Hopkins/Myrtle in Puffs (aka the Harry Potter parody play focused around the Hufflepuffs during Harry's time at Hogwarts) last week, I toooootally was not crying out of joy afterward, teehee
Really good analysis. I saw it in workshop...the reverse chronology was tough to follow for those of us with linear minds. Your explanations answered a fair number of questions I had, and I expect will make my second time seeing it (first on Broadway) more enjoyable. Your reviews offer the most detailed and relevant information among the critic community: most others are bromidic platitudes of subjectivity. Keep 'em coming.
I just saw this last week! I normally just listen to cast recordings of musicals, so being able to see a Broadway show was a really special treat for me. And wow, I'm glad we did! The character of Mary was being played by Sherz Aletaha, one of her understudies, and gave probably my favorite performance of the whole show. But honestly, as you've said, it was amazing - I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about the plot, which I feel like made the experience even better. I knew it was nominated for the Tony's, but I really didn't know what to expect from the show. And of course, I was blown away. Highlights for me include Franklin Shepard Inc. (Daniel Radcliffe blew my socks off in general, but his performance of that number in particular was electrifying), The Blob - Part I, Opening Doors, and Our Time. I hope this show receives the accolades it deserves, because wow it was an astounding performance.
I was lucky enough to win a lottery tkt to see it on Broadway, which was a godsend, as prices to this show are astronomical. So since you've already seen it, I'd say let your bank account wins that argument lol
I loved the 2013 London production (there’s a tutorial on UA-cam btw) I thought the staging was beautiful and glad they can see it across the pond with such a god tier cast.
I saw the Wednesday matinee this past week and I agree with so many of the points you brought up in your review! I actually think the simplicity of the set is effective, but I could see the ways in adding more moving or dynamic components would have added some more excitement to the relatively straightforward transitions from the ensemble. As you said, the performances are the real draw and I felt that everyone on that stage was spectacular! The three leads especially are a dream - what a task to START the show with the shattering of the friendship and then go back in time to the simplicity and earnestness of youth! I wonder if it's at all a relief (emotionally if not energy-wise) to do it this way. Thank you for your amazing, detailed, and well thought out reviews! So glad you're back in NYC for more Broadway and I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thanks for your review. I hope this production finally gets Merrily the appreciation it deserves. I fell in love with the original cast recording many years ago. I did see a film of the British Chocolate Factory version. It's a show I have never seen live. The casting sounds very good. In the filmed version, the set felt VERY bland, but I was glad the show ended with just a slight suggestion that Frank was capable of starting over. There are some wonderful songs in the show. I particularly find "Our Time" just so beautiful. You're right: it IS a tragedy that these friends don't stay together; and this is probably true of a lot of our experiences as young adults who move on. In hindsight: mistakes were made, turning points came when we weren't aware. I also find that this is a show where the secondary characters have meaningful arcs. I need to read the original play. I also think your comment of how Older People playing Young works better than Young People playing Old, in the context of this story, is observant. Some of the Sondheim shows have such good books; but Merrily and Follies have always needed some tinkering to find a final version that really makes best use of the marvelous material.
I've always loved this show (tried to get my drama club to do the play) and I believe from your description that having the actors begin and stay in their final age and 'look back' on what they thought they were 'before the days went by' makes so much sense. This is the same production that was filmed and streamed for a year in 2013 (at least the set is the same) but it seems the direction has honed in on the heart of the play, that nostalgia we have for our youth and 'innocence'. I am trying to get a better look at your shirt, because if it's riffing on the original sweatshirt costumes, I shall burst into tears in joy (looks up merch, bursts into tears)
After I saw the show, and the reviews that came out today, I thought I was alone in being a little underwhelmed by the set and the transitional moments so I really appreciate you voicing similar thoughts. It seemed like such a tease to have plants on top of the main set and not use THAT for the rooftop scene at the end. Overall though, these elements didn't take away from the marvelous performances of the main cast, and I will certainly be buying the cast album as soon as it is available!
I sat 3/4 way back in the dress circle and the overhang of the balcony blocks the view above the 1st story (including the orchestra). If they used the rooftop for that scene you wouldn't be able to see it from those seats.
Your review just added more heat and fire to my desire to fly to NYC and spend whatever it takes to get a ticket for this production. Damn you. I don't know how I'm going to shoehorn this in before it closes but I will try. I have friends going to NYC in a couple of weeks and I know they will see this production.
Omg, I've wanted to see this so badly ever since I heard about the NYTW production! But I'm in California, so it's not going to happen. I love your channel, so I was really excited that you reviewed it. All your insights were fascinating. I hope there's a cast album!
This was such a lovely review. I quite love Sondheim but I do think his work is often deliberately challenging to its audience. But it is also so wonderfully clever, and human, and heartbreaking at its best. I've never managed to see this one staged but I have tickets to see this one in a couple of weeks and your review has made me even more excited to watch it. The cast looks terrific! Thank you for your engaging informative channel.
Went in fairly blind to this show (with the exception of knowing it was a Sondheim show about three friends and the narrative was told in reverse chronological order) and was truly blown away. As a major major Broadway fanatic, I'm stunned I didn't know more about this show and am shocked that it was such a flop. Aside from the three stellar performances from the three leads, I found the story to be incredibly compelling and found its exploration of friendship, marriage, success, career, and more so sincere and poignant which can be hard to tell in a traditional musical theater format without it being trite. I feel very lucky to have seen this show with all three original leads and agree with you that Dan Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez are the big draws here and make the show what it is. I have been a fan of Jonathan since his off-Broadway Spring Awakening days when we were both teens, but this is the perfect part for and performance from him.
It was such an awesome experience to see this show. I went knowing the music and the actors but the magic of this production blew me away. The emotional level of each song and scene multiplied 100-fold as well as the appreciation of the genius of Sondheim. 2 observations- I viewed this show as a cautionary tale and as a reminder to treasure our friendship even if we ultimately have to let them go. I also fantasize that there’s a future were Frank hits a slump and his Hollywood friends desert him Mary and Charley come to his rescue, they produce the show they always wanted and Mary gets together with Frank. The Merry we roll along references to the countryside allude to how we move thru life with a destination but may stray, distracted by the views.
Saw it at the Hudson just last week and loved it! I had heard a lot of the music prior to sitting down for it, but boy does it hit harder in the context of the show! I bid on a sheet of paper that Radcliffe and Groff typed on onstage, but was eventually outbid by Neil Patrick Harris, so that's a fun life experience.
Thank you MIckey Jo. You've made me sorry I missed this. I had the OBC album the very second it first came out and I've loved it ever since. I then got to see a revision of the show at the Arden theatre in Philly which I loved as well. On the bright side, I'm told that Radical/Media has filmed this production, so there's that.
The transitions worked beautifully in the original production because the "chorus" were graduating kids who had just listened to older Frank encourage them to compromise. So they began to question his advice, as they started out on their journey through life. (Note that the lyrics to the transition song sound like youngsters: "why make it tough by getting grumpy?") Also, it followed a song called "Hills of Tomorrow," a graduation anthem which established the "roads" imagery. So the song was conceptually tied to casting kids, and no production since has found a way to stage these transitions effectively, despite other improvements. Who are these people supposed to be, wandering around admonishing Frank? I loved the original production, and saw it 26 times (almost every performance!)
Honestly, since the show seems to start and end with Frank all alone with his red notebook, I imagine most of the show happening in his head as memories, with Merrily We Roll Along (setting up the musical themes of the Transitions, kind of making it the Zero-th Transition in a way) and the Transitions acting as his sort of conscious mind, questioning himself, “How DID I get to be here? What was the moment I got off the tracks?” as he travels through memories while perusing his notebook. This iteration of the show also uses the people in the Transitions as a sort of Greek Chorus in a way, deftly clueing in the audience on the major themes and setting up the tone of each part of the show. Just my two cents….
Saw and enjoyed the show yesterday afternoon… one member of the cast you did not mention is Brady Wagner as Frank Jr… a scene stealing and precious child actor
The production at the Chocolate Factory in London was cited by Sondheim as the most perfect production to date. I saw a re-working of that production a few years later in Boston with the two original London male leads and they were simply wonderful. Lots of UA-cam videos are available of that Huntington Theatre version and of the Chocolate Factory version. It will be fun to compare them to the New York Production - all by the same director! She seems to keep making it better and better.
Agree, the physical production and staging are not on the same level as the three leads performances, interpretations , especially Jonathan Groff, this is his show - he defines the character like no one has before.
Interesting about Gussie. Her character barely existed in the early versions of the show. I've seen it and worked on it several times and thought the show could never succeed because of the going back in time conceit. I know Sondheim worked on this show for years and there were a lot of sub-par productions, including one here in DC. This has some of my favorite music of all time and I was delighted to hear about this successful production. I bought my tickets as soon as the Broadway run was announced. Thanks for the review! I love hearing your insights.
I finally saw this show this past weekend (after buying tickets when they were first released in March -- I got lucky with the online queue and actually got them at a reasonable price). There were a lot of understudies on -- for both Mary and Beth, plus a few of the supporting characters -- and it felt a little like they were all having a little trouble connecting with each other. I was with my father, who didn't know the show at all, and he had a similar comment about Mary, that it seemed like she wasn't as much a part of things as she ought to be. The individual performances were all fantastic, but I kept thinking about an acting class that I took in college, where we had to go to a local show and analyze the performances, and my professor's comment was something like, "It feels like those actors all developed their characters together, except for this one guy who developed his character in a room by himself." And I suppose that's probably going to be an issue when there are that many understudies on at once -- it makes it so there are a lot of character interactions between actors who haven't rehearsed those scenes together much. I thought Radcliffe and Groff were both fantastic. I did keep feeling like I wished we got just a tiny bit more of a glimpse of Charlie and Mary's lives, though -- like, even just a few more lines worth of backstory for them. I also did miss the framing device of the original version, where we start with the audience hearing the optimistic "Hills of Tomorrow" and contrasting that with Frank's speech -- I think it gives a bit more of a punch to have a "here" of "How did you get there from here?"
I kinda disagree regarding the set or the size of the performances. If it were staged in the Imperial or the Marquis, it would've needed a bigger set, but the Hudson is less than 1000 seats and having a bigger set would have swallowed the cast. The original was staged in the Neil Simon (almost 1500 seats) and having a massive production certainly contributed to it failing.
What a great cast - I hope they record it on video as well. I wonder if it took any convincing to get Daniel Radcliffe to put on the glasses again! It was always one of Sondheim's personal favourites
I've always thought all the references to "the countryside" was supposed to be a metaphor for noticing and being grateful for all the good things one still has in life, especially in light of loss or adversity ("now you know") and moving forward. "Yesterday is done...see the pretty countryside...get to know the countryside...merrily we roll along."
Saw it last month. I actually studied this show when I was in theatre school in NY and got to see the recording of the original cast. It was awful and I got very bored. THIS show however seemed to have fixed the issues that the original had. It was much more focused a lot of the sings got reworked and cut and a lot of the references to Sputnik- which is how the original show starts and ends - was cut. The current cast is severely cut down and compressed and it is BRILLIANT! Cannot recommend enough. And even though there is some stunt casting involved, the three leads are incredible, and this show proves that Radcliffe is , in fact a really incredible stage actor.
I would only have one reason for being hesitant about seeing this current revival: you can see a (pirated) recorded version of the original Broadway cast (1981) on youtube, posted by one Goldstone Eggroll. The camera work is, predictably enough, shaky as hell and often out of focus. But what stands out is the tremendous ORCHESTRATION. Very heavy on the brass and saxes, with enough strings to make it tuneful. The few clips that I've seen of the current show give me the impression that the orchestra is considerably smaller now.
Yes it's an 11 piece orchestra with no strings. It's a great re-orchestration but it does take a moment to acclimate to if you're expecting a 22 pice band.
Became enamored with this show while seeing a filmed scene with America Ferreira in Lindsay’s role. So glad the latter was cast for this production. Her vocal performance is always off the charts, but I don’t think she is given the commensurate roles because of a non-Annalise-Ashford-esque appearance. I think she has the most Broadway experience of the trio. These three are a charming combination, and I’m glad this show is seeing the deserved success.
I saw this show two nights ago. Lindsey was absent. I was disappointed that they do not have a stronger actress as standby/understudy for Lindsey, given her frequent absences. I revisited your review today after seeing the show. The actress I saw gave a performance that felt emotionally flat to me. It was nothing comparable to what you describe. It really took the impact of the whole show down a few levels, as compared to this and other reviews of the full cast. I made a special trip to fly to NYC to see this show. I feel like it wasn’t what it was supposed to be. There are many actresses who would be incredible as a standby/understudy for this. I don’t blame Lindsey, as I’m sure she does not want to be absent. But the production needs to handle it better as staff a fantastic standby. I have seen many past Broadway shows where the understudy was amazing and I was grateful to have seen them. The Merrily audiences should have that experience too.
Hi Mickey Jo: When are you reviewing Sondheim's new "Here We Are." I am curious what you thought of it. I just saw it today and it is opening tomorrow, 10/22, at The Shed. Looking forward to your review!
I saw it a week & a-half ago & LOVED it. I also thought it was staged more like an off-Broadway show, w. a minimal set & costume changes. But that puts more focus on the songs, performances & story, which are really the reasons to see it. This was my 3rd show seeing Jonathan Groff (prev. saw him originate King George in Hamilton & Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, both of which are still running w. constantly changing casts) & he never disappoints. He plays a complicated role beautifully. Though I disagree that Franklin is dislikable & makes all the wrong choices. He simply wants to be a big, mainstream success - nothing wrong w. that - & the choices he makes lead to that. Of course, abandoning his first wife & son ARE poor choices; but as far as his relationship w. Charlie goes, they simply developed different goals. Mendez & Radcliffe are also superb. I think had Mendez played her funny lines less subtly, the character Mary might have come across as comic relief rather than realistic & fully realized. (Mendez herself said "Mary definitely was the least written of the three of them.") And as for Radcliffe - well, who knew he could deliver a Sondheim patter song so hysterically flawlessly?! I think if he played the number bigger, it wouldn't have been true to his character. I saw Gussie as a money-hungry social-climbing bitch early in the show; but as we move back in time & see her development - she's simply a woman who knew what she wanted from the start, & did what she thought women of that time had to do (ie use men - producers, songwriters, etc) to get there - she was the Madonna of her day. lol. So I actually wound up completely understanding & sympathizing w. her. (Brown will get a Tony for Gussie.) The show was originally cast w. different actors of different ages playing the leads (Prince's goal was realism), which seems gimmicky & would make it hard to follow. This production however is perfection! P.S. You should catch the off-Bway production of Little Shop while you're in town. Jonathan Groff & Christian Borle opened in it; and although they're both currently on Bway in other shows, I'm sure the production itself is still worth seeing w. their replacements.
The characters are unlikeable. Sweeney Todd is a murderer but he is a wronged man. These people are rotten.who sleeps with a best friend's wife? Rotten
I saw this last night (on the anniversary of Sondheim's death coincidentally). I enjoyed it very much (though the audience members next to me didn't really get the backward structure). Dan's version of "franklin shepard inc" was a showstopper though i did feel he is weaker than the other two leads.
Clearly references to rolling along in the title song are not meant to be taken literally. No one literally “rolls along.” We simply live our lives from day to day (backwards of course in this show) and the whole roll along thing is a metaphor. The reference to “the countryside” continues the metaphor. Sondheim is referring to life, not a literal tour of the bucolic.
the only thing i know about this show is that is that its not in order (cannot think of the right word for the life of me) and i know "not a day goes by" because i sang it for voice lessons a few years back. cannot wait to hear your opinion mickey jo!
"flying by the countryside" and images of travel in the show could be interpreted as sardonic references to the mythology of "Go West, Young Man" that is so integral to the story (lie?) of the US. The earnestness of that mythology of self-made men traveling west is undermined in the show by the cracks in the foundation. Frank *does* "go west," but he is miserable once he achieves success. And he re-invents his story to omit Charlie and Mary. So in that sense he is performing the sort of stereotypical script of the "self-made" man who isn't self-made. I think it's a very pointed way the show pokes holes in these narratives. That's always been my read on that piece of the show. The chorus comments, but I read it as sardonic commentary - not necessarily earnest sentiment. I guess that would be hard to convey within the material unless the chorus is directed to bring out the irony. I saw one production where they did so beautifully, a small regional production in Minneapolis last year. Probably the best use of the chorus I've seen in this show..
Excellent review, MickeyJo. I've loved MERRILY since I saw the original (three times!) decades ago. As much as I like how this latest draft fills out characters (I saw it twice), it still doesn't address my two biggest questions: WHY won't Beth forgive Frank's infidelities -- even though she knows it's going to tear her family apart? And WHY, if she's so smart, is Mary still carrying a torch for cheating, superficial, dismissive Frank? I know, everyone makes mistakes in MERRILY -- but for me, not addressing these two character quandaries leaves two huge story holes. Instead of the glorious NOT A DAY GOES BY -- Beth needed to express why Franklin doesn't deserve her forgiveness. And Mary needed to tell us why all she can do is forgive Frank. What does anyone think?
I have to agree. Saw a production by Fiasco Theatre in NYC that completely blew my mind in 2019. It was so creatively done with a very small cast and the set was absolutely stunning and filled to the brim with props all over the walls. Sondheim himself worked with the creative team to edit from all past scripts. This current production fell flat for me off broadway. I'm glad others have liked it but feel this production still lacks that creative element to really bring it to life.
EDIT: Sorry if this is confusing, I am not really that eloquent and I have a lot of disorganized thoughts about these plotholes… I always thought that it’s because Beth was kinda like Charley in that she is rather inflexible about the right-ness of her views, so when she realized that Frank isn’t the guy she thought he was (a guy who, mind you, she supported as the breadwinner in part because she thought he was loyal (hence her testing him before the marriage with the “fake pregnancy”), it was a fundamental break of the principal trust that she had in him. If she had kept quiet, I think it would go like Mary in that his interests are fundamentally with another woman and it would slowly destroy her eventually. Divorcing him, in my opinion, was quite literally the best thing that ever could’ve happened for her. For Mary, I thought that it’s because she loves him blindly both as a friend and as a romantic interest. She and Charley were his closest friends and they probably didn’t want to say anything that could offend as he was going through a ringer of a divorce and they wanted to maintain their friendship at this point. “Good friends point out their lies, old friends love and forgive!” And thirdly, they are all very flawed and they won’t always make the right decisions. Just because a bad thing happens because of a character’s faults doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a writing flaw (though I do understand the point of it being a little subdued, though I think it’s because, in this iteration especially, these are Frank’s memories and his journey and we’ve seen that he is a rather selfish person and that the problems that led them all to divide were inherent when the trio plus Beth plus Gussie eventually conglomerated. Frank’s attitude of being the greatest was there at the beginning, where he focused on how they are the movers, the ones who will change the world. Charley, meanwhile, seems more focused on the art and believes greatness comes through that. Mary believed that Frank must’ve loved her deep down and she seemed to be person who was chastised for being honest about her emotions and feelings hence her apologizing for talking honestly and so forthright with them.
I saw the original production on Broadway at least three times from the first preview to after if opened. It was a failed attempt even with lots of changes during the previews. It looked somewhat amateurish given the age and inexperience of the cast as well as the minimal sets and costumes. Franklin was an empty center, I believe the song Growing Up did not exist. And the supporting characters were part of the Blob. They never came into their own. Of course, it is worth the constant tinkering and rethinking.
I liked this version of Merrily a lot. It made the show so much clearer in its intent While Daniel's was good, the best version of Franklin Shepard Inc honestly is Raúl Esparza's when he was in Merrily at Kennedy Center in 2003. Find a clip of that. He does Charlie's manicness so well.
Jonathan Groff is such a good choice in this role for many of the same reasons that made him an excellent Melchior in Spring Awakening. In both shows, Groff's characters are the catalysts to their best friends' misery, yet he plays genuineness, naivete, and humor so well that you can't outright loathe him.
Even in Glee, he's the "villain" to Rachel in the beginning , but you can't help but love him. He just exudes empathy, it's impossible to hate him!
He makes you feel for Frank, which is rare but crucial to the musical. I think perhaps Sondheim would not want you to feel warmly towards Frank, but he’s dead.
@@roninjoey "Warmly" is a strong word lol, but I can say that the character of Frank allows you to understand where he's coming from, and why he makes the bad decisions he makes. I think we all know a "Frank" in our own lives. Even Bobby in Company is kind of a jerk too, and comes across as the same kind of character.
@@theevilascotcompany9255 honestly I am Frank so I get it
Interesting, I never thought of Melchio as a loathesome character, and I don't think that's what the writers intended.
I really hope this earns Daniel Radcliffe a Tony Nom. He has done 4 Broadway Shows now brilliant in each and I feel like they ignored him because he is a "movie star " lord knows he should have at least been Nominated for "How To Succeeded "
Agreed. He's certainly just as worthy as all the TV stars who have won Tonys, like Sean Hayes and John Larroquett...whom I also don't think are as talented as Daniel Radcliff.
Thank you!!! It’s irritating how he’s been snubbed. If he doesn’t get a nomination this time you will be able to hear me scream from way down in Georgia!!
I just saw the production today. He was absolutely amazing. I loved especially his solo in the first act. If that doesn’t get him a tony nomination I call bullshit.
Saw him in How to Succeed and he was excellent. Tough show because his character is on stage the whole time
This show PROVES he is a stage actor. He is actually brilliant in this role. “Harry Potter” the movie star truly disappears.
"Lindsay Mendez .. gives what I think is THE standout, phenomenal performance of this show" -- just saw it on Saturday and I couldn't agree more!! I went to see Groff and Radcliffe, but she knocked my SOCKS OFF.
Same here!!!!!
I bought tickets for this show, knowing nothing about it, solely because of Jon Groff. My family had no real plans to visit NYC (from Ohio) but we built an entire trip around those tickets. And I am thrilled we did. The show was wonderful, and everyone sounded fantastic together. Franklin Shepard, Inc. was a huge highlight. Dan Radcliffe nailed that song to the wall! Very happy with the production values and the performances themselves. I hope they'll film it for eventual release as I'd love to experience it again.
If they film it, and there’s a DVD I’m buying it in a heartbeat
You’re in luck because the original British production is on UA-cam!
They did film this show with the original revival cast on June 21, 2024.
This production was nothing short of Sheer Perfection! I just wish Sondheim and Hal Prince were still alive to see it. They both would have been so happy to see this once-flop musical become a theatrical triumph!
I think the culture has finally caught up to the structure of Merrily. There has been so much mainstream film and television where the plot isn’t linear that people are used to this by now.
Absolutely exemplary critique. Love how you go into the history of the show, and point out how this production is different (the ages of the actors, etc) and then going into the specifics of this particular production. Your enthusiasm and sheer joy in "all things theater" find their match in your knowledge and expertise, and this review is a spectacular example of why you are one of the best theater critics/influencers now at work!
I fell in love with Merrily... in 1998 at Philadelphia's Arden Theater Company. I saw the current production at the Hudson last week and I am so happy to see it shine. Lindsey Mendes is exceptional here and made me cry multiple times! Radcliffe is a breath of fresh air and Groff is perfect! Your review is spot on, thank you!
In 1986 I played Mary in a regional theater production of Merrily in the San Francisco Bay area. It was only 5 years after it had been briefly on Broadway. It has been one of the honors of my life to have played the role. I have also played the Witch in Into The Woods, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Mama Rose in Gypsy and Domina in Forum...so I have been blessed to have been able to play roles in productions of the genius that is Stephen Sondheim. His death shook me to the core. Sondheim.
I travelled from Brazil literally just to see this show because o Dan Rad and it was so freaking worth it!!!!!!! Everything about this production was amazing. Perfeclty cast, amazingly directed, the costumes were amazing! Honestly blown away. Lindsay was such a stand out!!!!!!
Just saw this yesterday. Every bit as excellent as you said, maybe even more than you made it out to be. Daniel Radcliffe is the kind of actor that gets drastically better every time he performs a show-- and he's had seven months to grow and grow. And, speaking of growing, Lindsay is well into pregnancy now, and she is as amazing as you said. Honestly probably the best performance of the night. But wow was Jonathan Groff ever excellent as well. This trio was unbelievable. And Reg Rogers was giving an incredible performance, as well. My father, who I dragged with me, said it was "very Jewish". This is accurate.
Merrily - The Sondheim show that had a 40 year out of town tryout! I'm glad it's finally getting the appreciation it deserves and that came about with the assistance of the the good people of the UK!
One of my favorite little touches is that the first time we hear Good Thing Going is as a Frank Sinatra-esque cover for the Today Show segue music. The idea that the last stage of a successful musical theater song is to become a sort of generic jazz standard for tv shows to use when coming back from commercial breaks was hysterical to me, particularly given how famously important Sinatra’s cover of Send in the Clowns was to that song being Sondheim’s most popular cross-over success.
Saw it downtown and totally agree about Lindsay! She is the heart and soul of the production.
I can’t recommend this show highly enough! Worth every single penny. I was blown away by the score/orchestra and, of course, the performances of Daniel, Lindsay, and Jonathan (an old friend of mine). I also loved the intimacy of the theater as compared to many of the larger Broadway spaces. Go see it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I saw it during my NYC trip and LOVED IT. Such a special and emotional show, really felt the dreams and pains of the three friends. And so exciting to see this cast!!Definitely a Tony nomination for Lindsay and Groff, and let's hope also for Daniel. He was flawless!
lucky you!
I saw it twice last week, on a trip from the UK specifically to catch this show. I’m a huge Jonathan Groff fan (see more by searching jgroffdaily), which was my reason for going, but I must say that, as much as I loved both Jonathan and Daniel, it was Lindsay Mendez who really stole the show for me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her, particularly in the second act “reprise” of Not A Day Goes By. I have also watched the London version on UA-cam, and although I appreciate that it will have lost something due to me not seeing it live, I found all of the characters more “brittle” and less realistic in that version than in the current production. The heart that they bring (again, particularly Lindsay) is what sells this show for me. Hoping for Tonys all around - it’s their time! Thanks for the great review.
I saw it Dec 22, 2022 at the New York City Theatre Workshop and it was amazing. I had to wait for 5 hours in 10 degree weather to get my ticket. The shows of Broadway were also all sold out. Jonathan, Daniel, & Lindsay were amazing together and their energy filled the theatre!
I saw it there too. I loved the intimacy of that theatre and the performances were wonderful.
Saw this production two weeks ago and it was nothing short of transcendent! Honestly, this production is just superlative. If you only see ONE show on Broadway this year, MERRILY should be it! The trio of friends is perfectly cast and their performances SUBLIME! Gussie, Beth, and Joe are equally wonderful, shining in parts that can often get lost in the shadow of the main trio. Even the chorus digs deep and finds moments that might otherwise be overlooked. Maria Freidman has done Steve PROUD! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!! My husband and I saw this on a Friday night and tried to get tickets to see it again the following day- it was THAT good!
I agree with you! Saw it yesterday, bought a ticket to see it again in February because I have to watch this cast again. I'm so hoping they record a cast album.
So happy to hear this. They've extended Merrilys run on Broadway and I'm flying from NZ to NY to see it in April... can't wait!
BEST SHOW OF THE SEASON, VIVA LA DANIEL r. GIVE HIM THE TONY !!!!
I’ve seen the 2002 Kennedy Center production with Michael Hayden, Miriam Shor, and Raul Esparza + 2012 Encores with Colin Donnell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, 2019 Roundabout off Broadway production, NYTW/current revival and I must say this one is absolute perfection from staging to casting. Maria Friedman has taken years to hone the show from London to now and she fully gets it!
I saw this show a couple of weeks ago and absolutely LOVED IT. I have adored the score for decades and it was thrilling to finally see a great production of it! I agree with most of your review, MickeyJo. My daughter lives in the UK and is a big fan of yours and she has turned me into one, too. One point that you touched on was the underscoring and how the melodies come back in so many incarnations and versions throughout the evening, many times in very suttle ways. None of the recordings that I have heard do NEARLY ENOUGH justice to Sondheim's brilliance in how and when key melodies are reprised. I'm praying that this original cast recording will include at least a large portion of this music. For example, the way that parts of "Franklin Shephard Inc." follow Frank along in in different parts of the show was an absolute revelation to me. You may want to recommend to your fans the documentary made about the original production of the show, "The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened." Sondheim was still alive, as was Harold Prince, when this was made and it is EXCELLENT! It's available on most major streaming platforms. Thanks for coming to NYC and reviewing this masterpiece!
I've been waiting for your review of this show. Merrily is my favorite Sondheim score.
🏳️🌈Saw them: fantastic. The chemistry among the 3 leads is palpable. Just watch the way Groff and Mendez cry at Radcliffe’s acceptance speech at the Tonys. There’s a love that will outlast Franklin’s Mary’s and Charlie’s. I found the chorus transitions in the titular song gorgeous, some of the harmonies, the way the cast performed them. I was really moved by them in a way that this critic was not. In case anyone has could have ever doubted: Sondheim is a god. Even his bombs are gems. Call me when Stravinsky has a hit.🏳️🌈
I really enjoyed this and feel like playing happy meta-critic. You are blossoming, Sir. Your analysis and understanding of this show, which I've seen several times in earlier productions, is spot on. You've identified its singular beauty and its multitude of challenges with acuity and you've eloquently described them . Well done.
Seeing Merrily Tuesday. Will report back.
The cast is so talented. I've been a fan of Ms. Mendez since her Elphaba vlogs. She's a remarkable talent and multidimensional as an actress. Daniel Radcliffe, I've followed since his adaptation of the Dicken novel and of course Harry Potter. And I hope it runs for years.
The painting in the beginning is by Frank Stella. It’s a minimalist work: utilitarian, hard edged, with no meaning. Excellent choice for Frank’s home.
LOVED this production!! Brilliant
I also thought the poster at for Musical Husbands was horrible, but then I realised it corresponded to the shoes that Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe were wearing which made me appreciate it more!
Among an embarrassment of riches what fascinates me about the score is that because the story is told backwards, you hear reprises before the actual song. ❤
That is funny! I am really wanting to see this. 😂
I saw this in previews last month. I didn’t know much about the show going in, but I love Jonathan Groff so I figured I couldn’t go wrong. The show was fantastic! I wish I could have see it again!
I saw it a few days ago and I was lucky enough to meet Daniel Radcliffe at the stagedoor! I knew virtually nothing going into the show and absolutely loved it and told him that my new dream role is Charley Kringas and he told me he hopes I get to perform Franklin Shepard Inc someday and then took some pictures with me! Me being the massive RavenDor (GryffinClaw?) Potterhead that I am and also that I just got done playing Wayne Hopkins/Myrtle in Puffs (aka the Harry Potter parody play focused around the Hufflepuffs during Harry's time at Hogwarts) last week, I toooootally was not crying out of joy afterward, teehee
Really good analysis. I saw it in workshop...the reverse chronology was tough to follow for those of us with linear minds. Your explanations answered a fair number of questions I had, and I expect will make my second time seeing it (first on Broadway) more enjoyable. Your reviews offer the most detailed and relevant information among the critic community: most others are bromidic platitudes of subjectivity. Keep 'em coming.
I just saw this last week! I normally just listen to cast recordings of musicals, so being able to see a Broadway show was a really special treat for me. And wow, I'm glad we did! The character of Mary was being played by Sherz Aletaha, one of her understudies, and gave probably my favorite performance of the whole show. But honestly, as you've said, it was amazing - I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about the plot, which I feel like made the experience even better. I knew it was nominated for the Tony's, but I really didn't know what to expect from the show. And of course, I was blown away. Highlights for me include Franklin Shepard Inc. (Daniel Radcliffe blew my socks off in general, but his performance of that number in particular was electrifying), The Blob - Part I, Opening Doors, and Our Time. I hope this show receives the accolades it deserves, because wow it was an astounding performance.
I will be seeing this on Wednesday. So glad you loved it!💜💜💜
I saw it downtown and haven't stopped thinking about it. Currently arguing with my bank account over whether or not I go see it on Broadway
As someone who saw it a couple weeks ago, PLEASE go see it! I would go see it a second time if I didn’t live so very far away lol
I was lucky enough to win a lottery tkt to see it on Broadway, which was a godsend, as prices to this show are astronomical. So since you've already seen it, I'd say let your bank account wins that argument lol
Do it! Best $500 I've spent this year!
I loved the 2013 London production (there’s a tutorial on UA-cam btw) I thought the staging was beautiful and glad they can see it across the pond with such a god tier cast.
I saw the Wednesday matinee this past week and I agree with so many of the points you brought up in your review! I actually think the simplicity of the set is effective, but I could see the ways in adding more moving or dynamic components would have added some more excitement to the relatively straightforward transitions from the ensemble. As you said, the performances are the real draw and I felt that everyone on that stage was spectacular! The three leads especially are a dream - what a task to START the show with the shattering of the friendship and then go back in time to the simplicity and earnestness of youth! I wonder if it's at all a relief (emotionally if not energy-wise) to do it this way.
Thank you for your amazing, detailed, and well thought out reviews! So glad you're back in NYC for more Broadway and I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!
Saw it twice at the Boston (Huntington) presentation and it was amazing. Fell in love with Mary each time! Can't wait to see this cast next month.
Thanks for your review. I hope this production finally gets Merrily the appreciation it deserves. I fell in love with the original cast recording many years ago. I did see a film of the British Chocolate Factory version. It's a show I have never seen live. The casting sounds very good. In the filmed version, the set felt VERY bland, but I was glad the show ended with just a slight suggestion that Frank was capable of starting over. There are some wonderful songs in the show. I particularly find "Our Time" just so beautiful. You're right: it IS a tragedy that these friends don't stay together; and this is probably true of a lot of our experiences as young adults who move on. In hindsight: mistakes were made, turning points came when we weren't aware. I also find that this is a show where the secondary characters have meaningful arcs. I need to read the original play. I also think your comment of how Older People playing Young works better than Young People playing Old, in the context of this story, is observant. Some of the Sondheim shows have such good books; but Merrily and Follies have always needed some tinkering to find a final version that really makes best use of the marvelous material.
I've always loved this show (tried to get my drama club to do the play) and I believe from your description that having the actors begin and stay in their final age and 'look back' on what they thought they were 'before the days went by' makes so much sense. This is the same production that was filmed and streamed for a year in 2013 (at least the set is the same) but it seems the direction has honed in on the heart of the play, that nostalgia we have for our youth and 'innocence'. I am trying to get a better look at your shirt, because if it's riffing on the original sweatshirt costumes, I shall burst into tears in joy (looks up merch, bursts into tears)
This is a marvelous review.
After I saw the show, and the reviews that came out today, I thought I was alone in being a little underwhelmed by the set and the transitional moments so I really appreciate you voicing similar thoughts. It seemed like such a tease to have plants on top of the main set and not use THAT for the rooftop scene at the end. Overall though, these elements didn't take away from the marvelous performances of the main cast, and I will certainly be buying the cast album as soon as it is available!
I sat 3/4 way back in the dress circle and the overhang of the balcony blocks the view above the 1st story (including the orchestra). If they used the rooftop for that scene you wouldn't be able to see it from those seats.
I go on the 20th and I cannot wait to see this show! My 2 “old friends” and I are so excited!
Saw it last week! it was fantastic!
Your review just added more heat and fire to my desire to fly to NYC and spend whatever it takes to get a ticket for this production. Damn you. I don't know how I'm going to shoehorn this in before it closes but I will try. I have friends going to NYC in a couple of weeks and I know they will see this production.
Omg, I've wanted to see this so badly ever since I heard about the NYTW production! But I'm in California, so it's not going to happen. I love your channel, so I was really excited that you reviewed it. All your insights were fascinating. I hope there's a cast album!
It’s actually painful how excited i am for the Richard Linklater film adaptation.
Just saw it today! I had the best time - thanks for the recommendation!!
This was such a lovely review. I quite love Sondheim but I do think his work is often deliberately challenging to its audience. But it is also so wonderfully clever, and human, and heartbreaking at its best. I've never managed to see this one staged but I have tickets to see this one in a couple of weeks and your review has made me even more excited to watch it. The cast looks terrific! Thank you for your engaging informative channel.
Thank you for sharing your review I hope you are enjoying your trip and having a great time
Went in fairly blind to this show (with the exception of knowing it was a Sondheim show about three friends and the narrative was told in reverse chronological order) and was truly blown away. As a major major Broadway fanatic, I'm stunned I didn't know more about this show and am shocked that it was such a flop.
Aside from the three stellar performances from the three leads, I found the story to be incredibly compelling and found its exploration of friendship, marriage, success, career, and more so sincere and poignant which can be hard to tell in a traditional musical theater format without it being trite.
I feel very lucky to have seen this show with all three original leads and agree with you that Dan Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez are the big draws here and make the show what it is. I have been a fan of Jonathan since his off-Broadway Spring Awakening days when we were both teens, but this is the perfect part for and performance from him.
It was such an awesome experience to see this show. I went knowing the music and the actors but the magic of this production blew me away. The emotional level of each song and scene multiplied 100-fold as well as the appreciation of the genius of Sondheim.
2 observations- I viewed this show as a cautionary tale and as a reminder to treasure our friendship even if we ultimately have to let them go. I also fantasize that there’s a future were Frank hits a slump and his Hollywood friends desert him Mary and Charley come to his rescue, they produce the show they always wanted and Mary gets together with Frank.
The Merry we roll along references to the countryside allude to how we move thru life with a destination but may stray, distracted by the views.
I am seeing it next month. After your review, I can't wait! THANKS
The show was absolutely amazing!! Saw it at final preview. i cried and laughed! I am so happy it is finally getting its due as a hit show!!!
Your review is such a very coherent and well-organized presentation. I'll be back!
Damn! That was an excellent review with terrific info. Hope to see it one day after ticket prices drop. Thanks!
Excellent review as usual!
Absolutely love your brilliant reviews!
Saw it at the Hudson just last week and loved it! I had heard a lot of the music prior to sitting down for it, but boy does it hit harder in the context of the show! I bid on a sheet of paper that Radcliffe and Groff typed on onstage, but was eventually outbid by Neil Patrick Harris, so that's a fun life experience.
Thank you MIckey Jo. You've made me sorry I missed this. I had the OBC album the very second it first came out and I've loved it ever since. I then got to see a revision of the show at the Arden theatre in Philly which I loved as well. On the bright side, I'm told that Radical/Media has filmed this production, so there's that.
I am going on Saturday! So excited.
Seeing this on Saturday can’t wait ❤
I hope they film it. I don't think it's Sondheim's best show, but it is his best score.
Brilliant analysis. Thank you.
My wife and I saw it in previews and were blown away.
The transitions worked beautifully in the original production because the "chorus" were graduating kids who had just listened to older Frank encourage them to compromise. So they began to question his advice, as they started out on their journey through life. (Note that the lyrics to the transition song sound like youngsters: "why make it tough by getting grumpy?") Also, it followed a song called "Hills of Tomorrow," a graduation anthem which established the "roads" imagery. So the song was conceptually tied to casting kids, and no production since has found a way to stage these transitions effectively, despite other improvements. Who are these people supposed to be, wandering around admonishing Frank? I loved the original production, and saw it 26 times (almost every performance!)
Honestly, since the show seems to start and end with Frank all alone with his red notebook, I imagine most of the show happening in his head as memories, with Merrily We Roll Along (setting up the musical themes of the Transitions, kind of making it the Zero-th Transition in a way) and the Transitions acting as his sort of conscious mind, questioning himself, “How DID I get to be here? What was the moment I got off the tracks?” as he travels through memories while perusing his notebook.
This iteration of the show also uses the people in the Transitions as a sort of Greek Chorus in a way, deftly clueing in the audience on the major themes and setting up the tone of each part of the show.
Just my two cents….
I have tickets for 4NOV show. Can't wait❣️
Saw and enjoyed the show yesterday afternoon… one member of the cast you did not mention is Brady Wagner as Frank Jr… a scene stealing and precious child actor
The production at the Chocolate Factory in London was cited by Sondheim as the most perfect production to date. I saw a re-working of that production a few years later in Boston with the two original London male leads and they were simply wonderful. Lots of UA-cam videos are available of that Huntington Theatre version and of the Chocolate Factory version. It will be fun to compare them to the New York Production - all by the same director! She seems to keep making it better and better.
She (Friedman) also did a version in Tokyo as well.
Agree, the physical production and staging are not on the same level as the three leads performances, interpretations , especially Jonathan Groff, this is his show - he defines the character like no one has before.
Literally My Favorite Show! I recently saw this on Broadway as well, and LOVED IT ❤ Best cast yet!!! 🎉
The music is so good...
maybe finally J.G. will win the tony award .....
Interesting about Gussie. Her character barely existed in the early versions of the show. I've seen it and worked on it several times and thought the show could never succeed because of the going back in time conceit. I know Sondheim worked on this show for years and there were a lot of sub-par productions, including one here in DC.
This has some of my favorite music of all time and I was delighted to hear about this successful production. I bought my tickets as soon as the Broadway run was announced.
Thanks for the review! I love hearing your insights.
I’m old enough to remember when it first premiered. 😂 Stephen is looking down thinking “I knew it!”
Saw the production at the Harold Pinter 10 years or so ago and it was awesome!
I finally saw this show this past weekend (after buying tickets when they were first released in March -- I got lucky with the online queue and actually got them at a reasonable price). There were a lot of understudies on -- for both Mary and Beth, plus a few of the supporting characters -- and it felt a little like they were all having a little trouble connecting with each other. I was with my father, who didn't know the show at all, and he had a similar comment about Mary, that it seemed like she wasn't as much a part of things as she ought to be. The individual performances were all fantastic, but I kept thinking about an acting class that I took in college, where we had to go to a local show and analyze the performances, and my professor's comment was something like, "It feels like those actors all developed their characters together, except for this one guy who developed his character in a room by himself." And I suppose that's probably going to be an issue when there are that many understudies on at once -- it makes it so there are a lot of character interactions between actors who haven't rehearsed those scenes together much.
I thought Radcliffe and Groff were both fantastic. I did keep feeling like I wished we got just a tiny bit more of a glimpse of Charlie and Mary's lives, though -- like, even just a few more lines worth of backstory for them. I also did miss the framing device of the original version, where we start with the audience hearing the optimistic "Hills of Tomorrow" and contrasting that with Frank's speech -- I think it gives a bit more of a punch to have a "here" of "How did you get there from here?"
I kinda disagree regarding the set or the size of the performances. If it were staged in the Imperial or the Marquis, it would've needed a bigger set, but the Hudson is less than 1000 seats and having a bigger set would have swallowed the cast. The original was staged in the Neil Simon (almost 1500 seats) and having a massive production certainly contributed to it failing.
I don't know much about the show but I can't wait to be spit on in the front row!
What a great cast - I hope they record it on video as well. I wonder if it took any convincing to get Daniel Radcliffe to put on the glasses again! It was always one of Sondheim's personal favourites
I cannot wait to go see this show!
I've always thought all the references to "the countryside" was supposed to be a metaphor for noticing and being grateful for all the good things one still has in life, especially in light of loss or adversity ("now you know") and moving forward. "Yesterday is done...see the pretty countryside...get to know the countryside...merrily we roll along."
Saw it last month. I actually studied this show when I was in theatre school in NY and got to see the recording of the original cast. It was awful and I got very bored. THIS show however seemed to have fixed the issues that the original had. It was much more focused a lot of the sings got reworked and cut and a lot of the references to Sputnik- which is how the original show starts and ends - was cut. The current cast is severely cut down and compressed and it is BRILLIANT! Cannot recommend enough. And even though there is some stunt casting involved, the three leads are incredible, and this show proves that Radcliffe is , in fact a really incredible stage actor.
I would only have one reason for being hesitant about seeing this current revival: you can see a (pirated) recorded version of the original Broadway cast (1981) on youtube, posted by one Goldstone Eggroll. The camera work is, predictably enough, shaky as hell and often out of focus. But what stands out is the tremendous ORCHESTRATION. Very heavy on the brass and saxes, with enough strings to make it tuneful. The few clips that I've seen of the current show give me the impression that the orchestra is considerably smaller now.
Yes it's an 11 piece orchestra with no strings. It's a great re-orchestration but it does take a moment to acclimate to if you're expecting a 22 pice band.
Good review
Became enamored with this show while seeing a filmed scene with America Ferreira in Lindsay’s role. So glad the latter was cast for this production. Her vocal performance is always off the charts, but I don’t think she is given the commensurate roles because of a non-Annalise-Ashford-esque appearance. I think she has the most Broadway experience of the trio. These three are a charming combination, and I’m glad this show is seeing the deserved success.
I saw this show two nights ago. Lindsey was absent. I was disappointed that they do not have a stronger actress as standby/understudy for Lindsey, given her frequent absences. I revisited your review today after seeing the show. The actress I saw gave a performance that felt emotionally flat to me. It was nothing comparable to what you describe. It really took the impact of the whole show down a few levels, as compared to this and other reviews of the full cast. I made a special trip to fly to NYC to see this show. I feel like it wasn’t what it was supposed to be. There are many actresses who would be incredible as a standby/understudy for this. I don’t blame Lindsey, as I’m sure she does not want to be absent. But the production needs to handle it better as staff a fantastic standby. I have seen many past Broadway shows where the understudy was amazing and I was grateful to have seen them. The Merrily audiences should have that experience too.
Such a good show I even have the background music stuck inside my head lol
Hi Mickey Jo: When are you reviewing Sondheim's new "Here We Are." I am curious what you thought of it. I just saw it today and it is opening tomorrow, 10/22, at The Shed. Looking forward to your review!
I saw it a week & a-half ago & LOVED it. I also thought it was staged more like an off-Broadway show, w. a minimal set & costume changes. But that puts more focus on the songs, performances & story, which are really the reasons to see it. This was my 3rd show seeing Jonathan Groff (prev. saw him originate King George in Hamilton & Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, both of which are still running w. constantly changing casts) & he never disappoints. He plays a complicated role beautifully. Though I disagree that Franklin is dislikable & makes all the wrong choices. He simply wants to be a big, mainstream success - nothing wrong w. that - & the choices he makes lead to that. Of course, abandoning his first wife & son ARE poor choices; but as far as his relationship w. Charlie goes, they simply developed different goals. Mendez & Radcliffe are also superb. I think had Mendez played her funny lines less subtly, the character Mary might have come across as comic relief rather than realistic & fully realized. (Mendez herself said "Mary definitely was the least written of the three of them.") And as for Radcliffe - well, who knew he could deliver a Sondheim patter song so hysterically flawlessly?! I think if he played the number bigger, it wouldn't have been true to his character. I saw Gussie as a money-hungry social-climbing bitch early in the show; but as we move back in time & see her development - she's simply a woman who knew what she wanted from the start, & did what she thought women of that time had to do (ie use men - producers, songwriters, etc) to get there - she was the Madonna of her day. lol. So I actually wound up completely understanding & sympathizing w. her. (Brown will get a Tony for Gussie.) The show was originally cast w. different actors of different ages playing the leads (Prince's goal was realism), which seems gimmicky & would make it hard to follow. This production however is perfection!
P.S. You should catch the off-Bway production of Little Shop while you're in town. Jonathan Groff & Christian Borle opened in it; and although they're both currently on Bway in other shows, I'm sure the production itself is still worth seeing w. their replacements.
Do you think some people say it’s still a “week” musical because of its original run on Broadway? Or is something still a bit off?
The characters are unlikeable. Sweeney Todd is a murderer but he is a wronged man. These people are rotten.who sleeps with a best friend's wife? Rotten
I have seen four different revivals and walked out of each thinking they were rotten.. Glorious music and Raul Esparza was magnificent
I saw this last night (on the anniversary of Sondheim's death coincidentally). I enjoyed it very much (though the audience members next to me didn't really get the backward structure).
Dan's version of "franklin shepard inc" was a showstopper though i did feel he is weaker than the other two leads.
Clearly references to rolling along in the title song are not meant to be taken literally. No one literally “rolls along.” We simply live our lives from day to day (backwards of course in this show) and the whole roll along thing is a metaphor. The reference to “the countryside” continues the metaphor. Sondheim is referring to life, not a literal tour of the bucolic.
the only thing i know about this show is that is that its not in order (cannot think of the right word for the life of me) and i know "not a day goes by" because i sang it for voice lessons a few years back. cannot wait to hear your opinion mickey jo!
Nonlinear?
Reverse chronology
12:00 Agreed. Gussie is the one who ultimately destroys the trio, not Frank.
Do you think there will be a cast recording for this revival ?
Cast recording was just released last week!
"flying by the countryside" and images of travel in the show could be interpreted as sardonic references to the mythology of "Go West, Young Man" that is so integral to the story (lie?) of the US. The earnestness of that mythology of self-made men traveling west is undermined in the show by the cracks in the foundation. Frank *does* "go west," but he is miserable once he achieves success. And he re-invents his story to omit Charlie and Mary. So in that sense he is performing the sort of stereotypical script of the "self-made" man who isn't self-made. I think it's a very pointed way the show pokes holes in these narratives. That's always been my read on that piece of the show. The chorus comments, but I read it as sardonic commentary - not necessarily earnest sentiment. I guess that would be hard to convey within the material unless the chorus is directed to bring out the irony. I saw one production where they did so beautifully, a small regional production in Minneapolis last year. Probably the best use of the chorus I've seen in this show..
Excellent review, MickeyJo. I've loved MERRILY since I saw the original (three times!) decades ago. As much as I like how this latest draft fills out characters (I saw it twice), it still doesn't address my two biggest questions: WHY won't Beth forgive Frank's infidelities -- even though she knows it's going to tear her family apart? And WHY, if she's so smart, is Mary still carrying a torch for cheating, superficial, dismissive Frank? I know, everyone makes mistakes in MERRILY -- but for me, not addressing these two character quandaries leaves two huge story holes. Instead of the glorious NOT A DAY GOES BY -- Beth needed to express why Franklin doesn't deserve her forgiveness. And Mary needed to tell us why all she can do is forgive Frank. What does anyone think?
I have to agree. Saw a production by Fiasco Theatre in NYC that completely blew my mind in 2019. It was so creatively done with a very small cast and the set was absolutely stunning and filled to the brim with props all over the walls. Sondheim himself worked with the creative team to edit from all past scripts. This current production fell flat for me off broadway. I'm glad others have liked it but feel this production still lacks that creative element to really bring it to life.
EDIT: Sorry if this is confusing, I am not really that eloquent and I have a lot of disorganized thoughts about these plotholes…
I always thought that it’s because Beth was kinda like Charley in that she is rather inflexible about the right-ness of her views, so when she realized that Frank isn’t the guy she thought he was (a guy who, mind you, she supported as the breadwinner in part because she thought he was loyal (hence her testing him before the marriage with the “fake pregnancy”), it was a fundamental break of the principal trust that she had in him. If she had kept quiet, I think it would go like Mary in that his interests are fundamentally with another woman and it would slowly destroy her eventually. Divorcing him, in my opinion, was quite literally the best thing that ever could’ve happened for her.
For Mary, I thought that it’s because she loves him blindly both as a friend and as a romantic interest. She and Charley were his closest friends and they probably didn’t want to say anything that could offend as he was going through a ringer of a divorce and they wanted to maintain their friendship at this point. “Good friends point out their lies, old friends love and forgive!”
And thirdly, they are all very flawed and they won’t always make the right decisions. Just because a bad thing happens because of a character’s faults doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a writing flaw (though I do understand the point of it being a little subdued, though I think it’s because, in this iteration especially, these are Frank’s memories and his journey and we’ve seen that he is a rather selfish person and that the problems that led them all to divide were inherent when the trio plus Beth plus Gussie eventually conglomerated. Frank’s attitude of being the greatest was there at the beginning, where he focused on how they are the movers, the ones who will change the world. Charley, meanwhile, seems more focused on the art and believes greatness comes through that. Mary believed that Frank must’ve loved her deep down and she seemed to be person who was chastised for being honest about her emotions and feelings hence her apologizing for talking honestly and so forthright with them.
I saw the original production on Broadway at least three times from the first preview to after if opened.
It was a failed attempt even with lots of changes during the previews. It looked somewhat amateurish given the age and inexperience of the cast as well as the minimal sets and costumes. Franklin was an empty center, I believe the song Growing Up did not exist. And the supporting characters were part of the Blob. They never came into their own. Of course, it is worth the constant tinkering and rethinking.
I liked this version of Merrily a lot. It made the show so much clearer in its intent
While Daniel's was good, the best version of Franklin Shepard Inc honestly is Raúl Esparza's when he was in Merrily at Kennedy Center in 2003. Find a clip of that. He does Charlie's manicness so well.