MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Previews- Page 4

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 12:37pm

I have only criticized the pre-NY life of the production and asked if anything had substantively changed. (Beyond the different cast, of course.) I even complimented Radcliffe's performance in another olay. 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 1:01pm

Frank Jr. was a real crowd-pleaser Tuesday night!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 4:41pm

While the score is absolutely dazzling, this show will always be hindered by Furth’s mediocre book, revised or not. At times, the writing is downright terrible. 

[steven22]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 5:28pm

ljay889 said: "While the score is absolutely dazzling, this show will always be hindered by Furth’s mediocre book, revised or not. At times, the writing is downright terrible."

100% this. Felt it last night. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 5:37pm

It's unfortunately true, as with several of Sondheim's greatest scores. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 5:43pm

ljay889 said: "While the score is absolutely dazzling, this show will always be hindered by Furth’s mediocre book, revised or not. At times, the writing is downright terrible."

100% agree. The only reason this one will be a smash hit this time around is because of the cast, imo. 

 

 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 7:09pm

Funny, I was so happy I was able to finally follow the story, all I could think was how much better it was than "Company." Considering the wonderful New York Magazine piece on the creative process involved in "Here We Are," I'd love to know how the authors collaborated on this show and how much room Furth had in creating the story. For example, how did the NBC scene come about.

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 7:13am

willep said: "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."

 

Pretty much in terms of ticket sales.  This is pretty much the same production done back in Boston 2017 with a different cast. Somehow this one is selling out yet that one done back in Boston which had 2 members of the London cast did not sell well at all.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 8:08am

Does anyone know how many musicians this had Off-Broadway? I see 14 listed on IBDB for Broadway, so that certainly sounds expanded. The tiny Menier orchestras drive me nuts, so this sounds like a plus. 
Also, is the full Overture really back or not? I assume it’s the revised edition’s Overture, and not the actual full version from the original and Encores! 

[musikman]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 9:09am

ljay889 said: "Does anyone know how many musicians this had Off-Broadway? I see 14 listed on IBDB for Broadway, so that certainly sounds expanded. The tiny Menier orchestras drive me nuts, so this sounds like a plus.
Also, is the full Overture really back or not? I assume it’s the revised edition’s Overture, and not the actual full version from the original and Encores!"

 

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe there were 9 or 10 musicians off broadway?  It’s definitely expanded and it sounded fuller and richer.   Sure, it’s still not quite the symphonic sound you get on the OBC, but it does sound terrific in the Hudson  

 

It’s also the full overture minus the short Rich and Happy section as that number has been replaced by That Frank here.  
 

Saw this off broadway and also on broadway this week.  It’s a terrific production with a terrific trio of leads, with the most wonderful score …. of a super messy show.  Doesn’t mean I still didn’t tear up during Our Time. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 10:03am

The expanded orchestra and fuller Overture has me MUCH more excited for this revival.

[The Other One]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 10:14am

"Saw this off broadway and also on broadway this week.  It’s a terrific production with a terrific trio of leads, with the most wonderful score …. of a super messy show.  Doesn’t mean I still didn’t tear up during Our Time. "

Beautifully put.  I saw it at NYTW.

[bholtzinger544]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 10:45am

Their online store is open now with some of the current merch. Window cards are not currently on here. 

 https://aracaeventmerch.com/collections/mwr-shop-all

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 12:19pm

bholtzinger544 said: "Their online store is open now with some of the current merch. Window cards are not currently on here.

https://aracaeventmerch.com/collections/mwr-shop-all"

Really like the longsleeve, pullover, mug, and the photostrip magnet! 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 11:49pm

I agree that it is Groff that is making this production work. I'm less enamored of Sondheim's score than others here. The wait for "Our Time" is almost worth it. "Our Time" is Sondheim at his beautiful/perverse best... an ode to springtime from the perspective of rot. And Groff sings and performs the hell out of it, it's lovely to behold. 

I found Radcliffe and Mendez both appealing in different ways but neither of them, in my opinion, are working on the level of Groff or the masterful Reg Rogers with the time conceit. Rogers in particular shows the production what an actor can do with a broad but finely calibrated character arc in reverse. Groff gets there by the end. 

No one is helped by the book which presents the characters in two dimensions. So the wise acceptance of a cosmic unity that is hinted at in the end feels extra sentimental. I wasn't a fan of the production's costumes and design. 

 

Updated On: 9/23/23 at 11:49 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/23/23 at 5:24pm

In case anyone is wondering about stage height...

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/23/23 at 5:47pm

There are some great performances to be seen at the Hudson right now. Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez are quite the dynamic trio. I loved all three of them immensely.

The show itself is obviously far from perfect, but this is a very solid production on all fronts in my book. The orchestra sounds wonderful. I was expecting an abbreviated version of the overture, but the whole thing was intact this afternoon. Loved the set - simple yet clever and versatile. 

My only criticism would have to be with Krystal Joy Brown’s Gussie. I did not like her portrayal at all, and it wasn’t just because the character herself is unlikable. Her voice is very quiet and thin, and just didn’t work for me. “Gussie’s Opening Number” fell very felt.

I found the first act to be stronger than the second. This was my first time seeing Merrily live, but I did see the filming of the West End version of this production years ago. I’m extremely glad I got to see this show live even the material isn’t the strongest. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/23/23 at 6:28pm

TaffyDavenport said: "In case anyone is wondering about stage height...

"

Thanks for sharing! Height isn't too bad; though I prefer the height at NYTW off-broadway. It made you feel like you were in the set with them.

[kingfan011]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 12:15am

So Daniel Radcliffe is like Julia Roberts in Three Days of Rain

[roseaddams]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 12:52am

No matter where this thread goes, there you are to bring it back to insulting Daniel Radcliffe.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 1:37am

Wick3 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "In case anyone is wondering about stage height...

"

Thanks for sharing! Height isn't too bad; though I prefer the height at NYTW off-broadway. It made you feel like you were in the set with them."

Haven't seen it yet but what an ugly looking set to walk in and see looks like a high school production, cheap!

[inception]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 10:43am

Robbie2 said: "

Haven't seen it yet but what an ugly looking set to walk in and see looks like a high school production, cheap!"

It's kind of crazy when you look through the booklet in the Encores album and see what a nice set they had for a show that was only performed for a week.

Anyways, it isn't the set that got this moved to Bway. 

I'm not trashing any of the cast for that.  I'm just being realistic about it.  I don't think even Mr. Groff alone would have been enough.

I don't see this until X-mas.  It's the most expensive ticket I bought for my trip.  If any of the stars are out when I go I will definitely ask for a refund and try to see something cheaper...like Josh Groban.

Updated On: 9/24/23 at 10:43 AM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 11:26am

The lighting in this picture doesn't do the set justice. Remember, there's a lot of stage business throughout the show that fills the space. And this picture doesn't include the orchestra to the top-left of the stage who are already seated when the audience walks in. It was exciting to be greeted to the theater this way.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/24/23 at 11:40am

Wick3 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "In case anyone is wondering about stage height...

"

Thanks for sharing! Height isn't too bad; though I prefer the height at NYTW off-broadway. It made you feel like you were in the set with them."

Considering most of the action takes place on the second step, I think it looks like a lot of looking up for the front rows. Not Parade-level bad, but not great. NYTW was ideal, and I agree that it felt immersive:



 

Updated On: 9/24/23 at 11:40 AM

[round2]

Posted: 9/25/23 at 9:48am

Anyone know which row in the Hudson Theatre the dress circle overhangs the orchestra? I'm striking out trying to find that information out online, so far...