"Merrily We Roll Along" comin to B'Way.- Page 3

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:37am

I thought Miriam Shor was terrific as Mary in that production.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 10:36am

No crucifixions here, Ed...the show does not work and probably never will. Until Furth finds a way to make his characters involving (and Furth is not the person to do such a thing, he really is a terrible writer) this show will always be bland beyond belief with a great score (The strained irony of "Rich & Happy" excepted, although I think later versions cut the song).

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 10:58am

Rich & Happy was first replaced back in 1985 with "That Frank."

[WOSQ]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:09pm

The fatal flaw of Merrily is the basic conceit of telling the story backwards.

None of the characters are particularly likable at the "end" of the story, that is, the beginning of the show. It is into the second act before the principals become sympathetic.

This was one of the many unsolvable problems with the original production and is the deal-breaker of the revised version that is the official Merrily being produced nowadays.

As for the 'young' cast, the original felt like it was a bunch of kids playing dress-up. You've got to have adults play this show.

For the record, I saw the closing night of the original and have seen the revisal twice--at The Shaw Fest and Kennedy Center. No matter how good the cast and direction, there is that book.

The score is the thing: singable, emotional, not cerebral, and at times heartbreaking. I hope Lapine lets it shine and may John Doyle keep his hands off our musicals forever.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:20pm

Actually, I thought that Doyle would maybe succeed in making Merrily feel less locked in a particular era. Now I haven't seen his production, but that was at least my hope.

I think if there was some way to convey the fact that we actually haven't traveled back in time and that the principals are in fact, still old at the end would be more effective. I can see how to some, the ending feels like "okay, they're kids again. So what?" rather than witnessing the emotional impact of lost years.

[heathurrr]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 1:00pm

Ever since they announced this I've had Franklin Shepard Inc in my head.

I re-read the article announcing it, out of excitement... the languge was kind of vauge, using words like 'goal' and 'aim'.
What are your opinions, will this actually happen?