Originally produced on Broadway in 1981 – flopping spectacularly and experiencing many rewrites and revisions since – Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by the late-great Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, is based on the 1934 play by the same name by the brilliant writing team of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart (You Can't Take It With You, The Man Who Came to Dinner).
It tells the story, in reverse, of the complicated 20-year friendship between three friends: Franklin, Charley and Mary. The character Frank Shepard used to be an ambitious and talented songwriter struggling in New York alongside his close lyricists and writer friends and is now a successful Hollywood sellout.
The show begins with the trio of friends at their lowest, depicting the final dissolution of their friendship. It's bleak and sad and I watched, pensive about where it goes next. Where it goes is backwards...from a place of despair to one of optimism. Alas, since the story is told backwards, I was left feeling a bit melancholy. Because I already know how the story ends ... which is how it began.
The show begins in 1976 and retreats to 1957, showing exactly how, when and why Frank (Mark Wheeler), Charley (Greg Peterson) and Mary's (Amanda Ratz) friendship lost its way. Greed, addiction and betrayal all play a part. As the story retraces its steps, we see personal failures and bad decisions turn into youthful potential and wonderment. But all the while, lingering in the back of my mind was that first scene.
The show asks a lot of its cast and they successfully navigate the tricky plot and inventive score. But the show also asks a lot of the viewer. The narrative structure of reverse chronology needs the audience to immediately put their faith in characters who are hard to like and who we know nothing about. We must be willing to go on the journey, looking past the initial cruelties and shallowness to uncover something redeemable. To find a glimmer of hope. And it is there, waiting to be found, thanks mostly to a cast and creative team who understood the difficulty of the task.
Wheeler, Peterson and Ratz dig into their complicated roles, finding the bright spots of humor amid the numerous disappointments. Amanda Ratz is perfectly cast as an aching and sardonic Mary, supportive to a fault and suffering under the weight of personal demons and unrequited love. Peterson's impressive on-air breakdown and portrayal of the one-time loyal, now bitter Charley evokes our sympathy once we understand how he finally got to that point. Wheeler, as the stubborn and perpetually dissatisfied Frank, makes us wish he were sitting in the audience with us so he too could see the destructive and selfish path he's on and how much he stands to lose. The story depends on the connection between these characters and all three actors do a superb job conveying it.
Rounding out the capable cast are Alyssa Schultz as the innocent Beth, Lauren Williams as seductive star Gussie and Gus Gordon as Broadway producer Joe. They play the ex-wives and eventually washed-up business partner who become further casualties along the way during Frank's fall from grace. And a special nod to budding young actor Silas Schultz as the adorable, scene-stealing, Frankie Jr.
Skillfully directed by Carly Shank, the rest of the ensemble and technical staff succeed in presenting a memorable evening of musical theater. Appropriate period costumes that change with the years, simple but effective scenic design and a strong orchestra help get the production across the finish line. While not quite a feel-good musical, it left me feeling introspective by the end and I'm glad I saw it. If you're a Sondheim fan, you won't be disappointed.
Merrily We Roll Along continues at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in the LRS Theatre Jan. 19-21. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. https://www.hcfta.org/tickets
Mary Young was born and raised in Springfield and has been performing in, producing and directing live theater for decades. She she's done film and voice-over work, performs occasionally with local bands and the improv troupe The Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company.
