Merrily We Roll Along
Theatre/Theater
July 7 - August 12, 2007
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth
The authors of the landmark "Company" reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise and the high price of success.
"Merrily We Roll Along" begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). The show ends with a touch of rueful irony, as the three best friends at the start of their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the worlds waiting to be conquered.
Stephen Sondheim and George Furth expertly blend the excitement and energy of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional contemporary story about the importance of staying true to one's ideals. Like "Company," "Merrily We Roll Along" is a modest-sized show that crackles with the wit, humor and intensity that embody the spirit of New York City. With a brilliant "Broadway-style" score and that deep insight one expects from any Sondheim endeavor, "Merrily We Roll Along" is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.
"On the day the show closed, I found myself irresistibly drawn to the Alvin to listen to part of it again. ...The passion of Mr. Sondheim's music remained unmistakable..."
-Frank Rich, New York Times
Reviews
"[Nathan] Bouldin serves as a solid anchor for the production. He provides a sense of charm that makes the unpleasant protagonist somewhat likable. And his strong voice blends nicely with that of [Andrew] Block, who gets the most out of the script's humorous moments."
"The other memorable performance belongs to [Rachel Rawlins] Prescott, who shines in one of Sondheim's strongest songs, 'Not a Day Goes By.'"
Steven Stanley, LA Stage Scene says "Nathan Bouldin is a tall and striking presence as composer Franklin Shepard and Andrew Block does fine work as lyricist Charley Kringas"
"The very good Ellen Caranasos completes the trio as Mary."
"Aileen-Marie Scott brings Broadway star Gussie Carnegie to bold and brassy life, and lovely Rachel Rawlins Prescott is a standout as Franklin's ex-wife Beth"
"the important thing with a Sondheim show is the music (and the acting) and in this production's case, both are solid"
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