2008 Woodie Awards
Not so merry production tells predictable story
Carey Purcell
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Arts and Entertainment
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Merrily We Roll Along has a most misleading title.
The current production of Sondheim's classic, performed at the Cambridge YMCA by the Longwood Players, is many things, but merry is most defintely not one of them.
The original Broadway show, which opened in 1981, received poor reviews and lasted only 16 performances. It was revisited successfully in 1985 and, after more revisions, was revived in 1995 by the York Theatre Company.
Over the years, it has been nominated for Olivier, Drama Desk and Tony Awards for both the score and performances.
Progressing in reverse chronology, Merrily We Roll Along tells the story of Franklin Shepard, who starts his career as an idealistic musician but later develops into a commercial Hollywood producer.
Beginning at a party celebrating his latest motion picture release, the play goes back in time through Frank's life, to when Frank and his best friend, Charley, are sitting on a rooftop, discussing composing a political musical show.
Filled with Sondheim classics like, "Not A Day Goes By" and "Our Time," Merrily We Roll Along carries a powerful message within its story about personal integrity and friendship.
The songs and characters are moving, and both are helped and harmed by the undeniably earnest performances of the cast.
The show, essentially a story of friendship, is undeniably sentimental. Frank (Don Ringuette), Charley (Michael Kripchak) and Mary (Katie Pickett) meet as struggling young adults in New York City and remain friends throughout the years.
Frank and Charley used to work together writing songs, until a recent event ended their relationship permanently. Sondheim's use of repeating melodies and lyrics throughout the show, contextualized with different emotions, evokes both sadness and nostalgia from the audience.
Any feelings of grief or sorrow, however, are quickly overshadowed by the overwrought, overplayed and overdone executions by the actors.
The current production of Sondheim's classic, performed at the Cambridge YMCA by the Longwood Players, is many things, but merry is most defintely not one of them.
The original Broadway show, which opened in 1981, received poor reviews and lasted only 16 performances. It was revisited successfully in 1985 and, after more revisions, was revived in 1995 by the York Theatre Company.
Over the years, it has been nominated for Olivier, Drama Desk and Tony Awards for both the score and performances.
Progressing in reverse chronology, Merrily We Roll Along tells the story of Franklin Shepard, who starts his career as an idealistic musician but later develops into a commercial Hollywood producer.
Beginning at a party celebrating his latest motion picture release, the play goes back in time through Frank's life, to when Frank and his best friend, Charley, are sitting on a rooftop, discussing composing a political musical show.
Filled with Sondheim classics like, "Not A Day Goes By" and "Our Time," Merrily We Roll Along carries a powerful message within its story about personal integrity and friendship.
The songs and characters are moving, and both are helped and harmed by the undeniably earnest performances of the cast.
The show, essentially a story of friendship, is undeniably sentimental. Frank (Don Ringuette), Charley (Michael Kripchak) and Mary (Katie Pickett) meet as struggling young adults in New York City and remain friends throughout the years.
Frank and Charley used to work together writing songs, until a recent event ended their relationship permanently. Sondheim's use of repeating melodies and lyrics throughout the show, contextualized with different emotions, evokes both sadness and nostalgia from the audience.
Any feelings of grief or sorrow, however, are quickly overshadowed by the overwrought, overplayed and overdone executions by the actors.
Be the first to comment on this story