MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Reviews

For everyone who prefers an actual review thread instead of having them lumped into the news and previews thread (which makes it hard to find the reviews later)...

Observer:

Review: Sondheim’s Brilliant Flop ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ Is Smartly Revived

Thanks to superlative casting (including Daniel Radcliffe) and canny direction, this elegant, emotionally searching production may be the finest 'Merrily' you’ll ever see.

https://observer.com/2022/12/review-sondheims-brilliant-flop-merrily-we-roll-along-is-smartly-revived/

NYT Critic's Pick from Jesse Green:

Maria Friedman’s rethinking of the much-loved, much-monkeyed-with 1981 Sondheim-Furth flop gets very close to coherence, and all the way to enjoyable.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/theater/merrily-we-roll-along-review.html

NY Post:

‘Merrily We Roll Along’ review: Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez triumph

https://nypost.com/2022/12/12/merrily-we-roll-along-review-a-lovable-and-intimate-revival/

Chicago Tribune:

Review: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ is Sondheim’s musical anew at New York Theatre Workshop

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/broadway/ct-ent-broadway-merrily-we-roll-along-daniel-radcliffe-stephen-sondheim-20221213-gme3d2stofghhgpsed6rcsuili-story.html

4 stars from the Telegraph:

Daniel Radcliffe works musical magic in this inspired rescue of Sondheim’s infamous flop

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/merrily-roll-along-new-york-theatre-workshop-review-daniel-radcliffe/

Theaterly is fairly negative:

https://www.theatrely.com/post/merrily-we-roll-along-sondheims-sisyphus-review

"Friedman’s is likely the closest the material will come to a cohesive, coherent whole but, though I thoroughly enjoyed its Boston iteration, where Eden Espinosa shined as Mary, something got lost on the way down the coast."

Anyone know whether the Hollywood party number is "Rich and Happy" or "That Frank!" or whether "The Blob" is in this production or not?

Edit: Ah, the Times answered the first question. Bit of a shame. I think "Rich and Happy" is the better number, though that's such a damn tricky song spot.

Updated On: 12/12/22 at 08:11 PM

4 stars from TimeOut

"The challenges of Merrily are built into its core in a way that no production can fully overcome. But director Maria Friedman’s revival at New York Theatre Workshop does a superb job—the best I’ve ever seen—of overlooking them, the way one might forgive the foibles of an old friend."

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/merrily-we-roll-along-revival-review-jonathan-groff-daniel-radcliffe

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Where does it transfer? Are the Sweeney producers getting nervous?"

I saw someone say next fall at the Hudson

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Are the Sweeney producers getting nervous?"



I doubt it. Their shared target audience (Sondheim fans) probably won't mind seeing both shows, while the Groban fans and the Potter fans probably don't have a ton of overlap anyway.

PipingHotPiccolo said:
Sorry I wasn't clear-- I meant re awards season. Is there another revival that would be a contender?"

This season Camelot.

The Guardian:

Merrily We Roll Along review – Sondheim flop finds new lease of life

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/12/merrily-we-roll-along-review-daniel-radcliffe-jonathan-groff

Everyone keeps saying the show has glaring issues but this production overcomes them… but what are the issues? Saw the Encores production and wasn’t my favorite show. Don’t really feel compelled to see this one.