MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Previews- Page 2

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 3:18am

Anyone know if SRO is planning to be offered for this show? Have never been to the Hudson before and am unfamiliar if the theater has SRO capabilities. Assuming rush won’t be an option and digital lottery will be impossible to win 😅 Would love to see this show on an affordable budget! 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 7:05am

The Hudson does not have SRO

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 7:24am

Wow. First preview was wonderful.  I’d never seen a production of Merrily before so didn’t know what to expect.  Great score, great cast and absolutely terrific chemistry between Jonathan, Daniel, and Lindsay.  This is not to be missed.  This will be a hard ticket to get I’ve a feeling. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 8:03am

BdwyFan said: "This will be a hard ticket to get I’ve a feeling."

More like costing an arm and a leg! But probably. 

[willep]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 8:19am

inception said: "RippedMan said: "What made the set so good? From what I’ve seen it’s pretty basic. And I don’t get what makes this production work more so than the Encores production."

Well in the Encores production LMM wasn't super famous yet. This one has Harry Potter."

So…having a more famous person makes it work. Got it.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 8:28am

The last time I was in the Hudson was 04/23/17 for the final performance of "Sunday," not far from where Sondheim sat. Entering last night felt like a lifetime later.

Although it felt like the easiest version of the book to follow, the central problem remains: who cares about these characters? You love these actors and how much they are enjoying sharing their love of Sondheim with us in this communal event, but not the story.

I'll never understand how the original creative team thought they could sell this show to a new audience every night. At least this production is using costume to convey time change effectively. And in order for the story to work, surely you must first try it in rehearsals and readings doing it in a linear fashion. Do you care about the characters? Does it only work as a gimmick going backwards? Will an audience remember who said or did what 20 minutes ago and will they care? 

That said, I enjoyed the show.  As Maria Friedman noted in her  sweet welcome to the audience, it's the first Broadway production since the original 42 years ago.The sound design felt better than the current "Sweeney," but not as great as "Company." Doors were open earlier than 7:30. Lights down at 8:05, up about 10:55. I'm sure people will post the curtain call, many cameras out. The shimmering curtain is still there.

[Ensemble1695199176]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 9:45am

I think that Bounce/Gold/Road Show was probably revised more (though not over a longer period of time) than Merrily. And I think there are a few other non-Sondheim musicals, like Rags and Mack & Mabel and even Show Boat, that have been revised at least as extensively as Merrily.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 10:06am

I think the central problem for the cast and creatives of any production of Merrily that has tried to “get it right” is that they’re getting high on their own supply. In the whirlwind of getting it up on its feet; working through the character beats; and reaching actively into the emotional depths, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. Of course they understand the emotional resonance from scene to scene. They’ve spent months (or in Maria Friedman’s case, years) examining it. But when a fresh audience comes in every night, how do you convey that emotional journey without the constant reminder that, no, it doesn’t ultimately amount to anything but bitterness?

I haven’t seen this specific production yet, but I did finally get around to watching the West End recording, and the problem with the show is still there. As others have noted, you just don’t care about these characters. They can have all the chemistry in the world, but the show’s structure and raison d’être is a bummer through and through. The score is never less than excellent, sure, but - as the kids say - the book is just not giving.

Updated On: 9/20/23 at 10:06 AM

[A_Nicole079]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 10:06am

First preview was so fun! Seeing it downtown was my first experience with show. The show is much stronger in Act I in terms of the beats it hits. I do wonder if any version ever considered a non-linear timeline to mix up some of these beats (again v new to this show). Crowd was so engaged and fun and I love the overture at the beginning 
Cast is great and Mendez for me truly shined. I thought her, Groff and Radcliffe had such great chemistry and it continues to shine onstage. Radcliffe sounded strong here than downtown (where I thought he was fine) but his comedic timing is his strength in the show. Groff showed off his skills by showing us how Frank was the idealistic dreamer that got caught up in his quest for success. Supporting cast like Krystal, Katie and Reg really round out an already impressive group

Cons-lack of playbills was annoying but i guess its something unique and quirky. Lindsay definitely looked at them and was like "what are these" at the door last night lol. The lighting was...weird. Really need to work on balancing the aesthetic they are going for and lighting so we can see the performers clearly. At one point they definitely messed up a lighting cue on Groff. Just some strange choices. Set is minimal which I think sometimes works but there's not a lot to look at for sure. I agree about the distracting curtain it was...a choice

Those are my initial thoughts on it. I see it again next month and the show should premiere by then so I am excited to see any tweaks that are made

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 10:36am

Playbills were delivered to the theater yesterday, and must’ve been a misprint bad enough to warrant not distributing. If anyone hears what it was, would be fun to know! 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 11:07am

I can't believe that there's a Broadway production of this and I'm barely interested, but I saw the cinema release of its West End iteration and it basically reminded me of the Carrie revisal. So eager to appear competent above all else that it managed to make one of the most unique shows of all time feel generic and dull. Just felt like a real lack of theatrical vision directorialy. Did it change much or at all at NYTW?

[kingfan011]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 1:30pm

Scarywarhol said: "I can't believe that there's a Broadway production of this and I'm barely interested, but I saw the cinema release of its West End iteration and it basically reminded me of the Carrie revisal. So eager to appear competent above all else that it managed to make one of the most unique shows of all time feel generic and dull. Just felt like a real lack of theatrical vision directorialy. Did it change much or at all at NYTW?"

 

Ya this sounds pretty awful. Has Radcliffe ever been very good on stage or is he just allowed to do this because he is famous.

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 1:54pm

This production was sold out and received strong reviews at NYTW (including 91% on ShowScore) and Radcliffe has been positively received in almost every one of his stage roles.  What kind of crazy revisionism are people trying to spin here?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:00pm

This has never been a good show, the only draw here is the celebrity cast and I hope it finally does well in NYC.

Ya this sounds pretty awful. Has Radcliffe ever been very good on stage or is he just allowed to do this because he is famous.

The latter.

Updated On: 9/20/23 at 02:00 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:03pm

He was perfection in Equus, delightful in How to Succeed, and interesting in an otherwise wordy play of Lifespan of a Fact.  

 

He's a hoot and a half in his series Miracle Worker .

 

I havent seen this yet, but he's more than earned his right to tackle it. 

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:08pm

He was also great in Cripple of Inishmaan. It's a shame he hasn't been recognized by the Tonys yet, he has been more than deserving throughout his theatrical career. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:12pm

I'm also confused at where all the Radcliffe snark is coming from.  I thought he was wonderful in the part of Charley and I enjoyed his turn in Lifespan of a Fact quite a bit as well.  As for the show itself, if you don't like it then you don't like it, but I don't think the barrier to entry is as high as some people believe.  For the NYTW production I saw it with someone who had only seen the very-revised Fiasco production and someone who didn't know anything about the show and they both loved it.  That's not to say that the format won't be confusing or the characters unlikeable to some people, but I think you can walk in without knowing much and still enjoy the show a lot.  

fwiw, I do think these actors have very different interpretations of the characters than the ones in the recording, even if the staging and everything else is essentially the same, and I think it helps a lot that they feel younger too.  And I think what makes each production of Merrily interesting is just how differently the characters can be portrayed even while saying all the same words, but if you don't like the show, then maybe you just don't like the show.

[lopside]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:13pm

You have to love this board. When it's not a "star", the producing has not got their head screwed straight. If it's a star, the talent always seems to be found lacking. His work doesn't have to be for everybody (quite like Sondheim himself) but that's what makes him genuinely interesting, and the critical response more than gives him the right.  

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 3:39pm

I LOVE that Radcliffe walked away with his $100m or so from the Potterverse and has reveled in weirdo indie films/TV and a wide variety of theater projects since. Good on him.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:00pm

I thought he was very good in Cripple of Inishmaan and he's an okay fit for Charlie if it needs to be a movie star. It's the production that looks like a yawn. Critical response means nothing to me after several decades of every undergrad "stripped-down" gruel production of shows that used to have actual identities being treated as innovative, surprising, brave...

Updated On: 9/20/23 at 04:00 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:17pm

I guess you didn't bother to pay close attention to what you viewed.  Charley is a playwright and lyricist.  Frank is a composer turned film producer.  I hadn't heard any of this was changed for this production.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:18pm

Regarding the sound design, I couldn’t see any visible mics and I am thrilled to report that you can understand every word, even during some complicated stage business throughout. Only times we couldn’t hear was when the actors started up before applause ended.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:51pm

The vitriol on this thread is a bit of a shock. This has been an acclaimed production of this show for 10+ years and will continue to be based on the NYTW reviews.

Radcliffe should’ve been nominated for as least two of his previous Broadway outings. Hoping he finally gets one for MERRILY.

[JoeW4]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 4:53pm

I've been lucky enough to see Radcliffe in 7 of his 8 stage outings (only one I missed was Equus, a bit before my time). I think he’s always been good onstage, and he’s proven a certain dedication to the stage that has paid off. I think he’s gotten better and better with time. 

My only major reservation is that Radcliffe is the epitome of the expression “Jack of all trades, master of none.” He’s devoted so much of his energy to tackling new challenges, and he’s consistently successful. But then he moves onto a new challenge, and never quite hones the new skills that he developed. And it especially shows when he’s playing opposite people who have. 

The big exception being comedy; I think he’s developed into a genuinely delightful comic actor in his own right. 

This is Radcliffe’s 2nd musical, but it’s so different from H2S that it feels like a totally new animal. So again we’re seeing him venture into new territory, in a sense. My personal opinion after seeing him at NYTW is that  he’s perfect for the role, and delivered a really strong acting performance all around (both comedically and dramatically) but that the singing left something to be desired (maybe he’s improved since NYTW though)

[hollebolle]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 5:41pm

Playbills are now available at the box office for those of you who were at last night’s show and would like one!