WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
It’s been stated that “Dreams die hard”. While the sentiment may certainly not be what we desire to embody when it comes to pursuing aspirations and gaining the hoped for fulfillment, it is a truth that can manifest into reality. For celebrated theater director Lonny Price, it was this experience as a young actor in NYC circa 1981 that would change his life and the lives of all those involved forever. Broadway giants, lyricist/composer Steven Sondheim and director/producer Hal Prince, had a vision for their new musical, “Merrily We Roll Along”. Intended to introduce a whole new concept in how characters were presented, the project would utilize 16 to 25-year olds playing 40-somethings in a time-spanning tale told in reverse. It was daring, unconventional, and exciting.
As the two men toiled to choose their fledgling cast, production began in September 1981, lasting 6 weeks, until the opening preview showings began–to unsatisfied ends. Re-casting one lead role, which made a world of difference, the musical made it’s Alvin Theater debut, pulled off in grand fashion. However, critical backlash arrived, and after only 16 performances, the show closed. With everyone deflated, feeling the sense of “responsibility” for the show’s failure, it ultimately became a catalyst for so many of these young performers to deal with the emotional damage it caused and seek to move on towards the next steps of success in life, gaining new overall perspectives on what it is to succeed, truly acknowledging how one “worst thing” was indeed the best thing to occur.
Next, my Mind:
Filled with a bittersweet resolve combined with the triumphant realization of how the experience lead them each beyond the show’s foundering towards more successful ventures, Price’s documentary effort is a potent study in the actualities of theater life in addition to showcasing the absolute elation of a group of ambitious actors who got provided the chance to work with two of Broadway’s legendary names. Interviews with Sondheim and Prince alone sweep the viewer back to those amazing days along with archival photos and video footage illustrating the adventure it really was to bring their bold vision to life. Cast members James Weissenbach, Terry Finn, Ann Morrison, Jim Walton, Jason Alexander, Abby Pogrebin, and Tonya Pinkins among others all get screen time here, providing their own unique insights into how this affected and shaped their careers while still fondly recalling the joyous times of being a part of it all.
In 2002, the original cast reunited, performing a concert of all the songs from “Merrily We Roll Along”, further emphasizing the opportunity to re-discover the memories shared, the lessons learned, and paths explored that lead many away from the stage while some have come full circle. In it all, there’s the appreciation and awareness that, no matter the unfortunate fate of an original, unorthodox Broadway musical created by two luminaries and an enthusiastic cast, it all formed an adventure that allowed this intrepid group of artistic human beings the chance to shine for an abbreviated moment in stage history, a dream that lived, continues to do so, coming out the other side, indeed, for the better.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
