THE BASICS: MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG runs April 26 – May 12, Thurs & Fri 7:30 p.m., Sat 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. at the Shea’s Smith Theater, 658 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14202. (716) 847-1410. Click here for tickets.
RUNTIME: 170 minutes with a 15 minute intermission
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: An entertaining story told chronologically backward about the demise of friendship between composer Franklin Shepard, writer Mary Flynn and lyricist & playwright Charley Kringas. Merrily We Roll Along is a story of the changing tides of friendship, as well as the temptations and difficult choices that come along with being successful. Beloved music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this Broadway classic is sure to impress with upbeat and intricate musical numbers.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION:
Merrily We Roll Along is an intriguing story and entertaining musical about three friends and the ups and downs of their friendship over the course of three decades. It starts my favorite way any musical starts, a strong opening group number with crisp vocals by the whole cast. We’re then introduced to the character at the center of this story, successful composer Frank Shephard, through the lively song “That Frank.” Hats off to Josh Wilde for an astounding performance as Frank Shepard.
Charley, played by Jordan Levin and Mary, played by Alexandria Watts, display the beautiful friendship their characters have through the song “Old Friends.” It also reveals the more complicated friendship they have with Frank, leading you to wonder what brought it to this point, which you’ll learn as this musical works backwards through reverse chronology of events.
Alexandria Watts completely embodied the emotion of Mary’s character, especially during her performance of “Like It Was.”
But Jordan Levin stole the show with his performance of “Franklin Shepard, Inc.” The audience was completely captivated during this entire number and they roared with applause at the conclusion.
Gussie Carnegie, played by Kelly Copps (also the co-founder and creative director of the Second Gen Theatre), stunned the audience with her regal performance of the “Act Two Opening” and just in general with her elegant voice and strong stage presence.
Maria Pedro blew us all away, as usual, with her raw performance of “Not a Day Goes By” and her vivid facial expressions throughout the show, giving the audience some unexpected good laughs from her reactions to the other characters.
This cast was strong through and through from the most seasoned performers down to the youngest performer on stage, Carter Riccio. Sitting in the front row of this intimate theater, at some point throughout the show I got to hear each of the character’s voices nice and clearly at. I was especially impressed with performances by Sofia Matlasz, Brittany Bassett-Baran, Kris Bartolomeo, Stevie Kemp, Valentina Rodriguez, Louis Colaiacovo and Jake Hayes.
Excellent direction by Michael Gilbert Wachowiak, beautiful costumes by Jenna Dramberger and simple yet creative prop design by JC Hartloff. There were some mic issues throughout the show, but I’m sure nothing more than opening night kinks to work out.
I loved getting to see the band through a semi-transparent screen behind the stage. Bravo to music director and keyboardist Allan Paglia for leading the band through the beautiful score. The music in this musical is a bit repetitive, but if you have a fondness for this Sondheim classic I’m sure it’s just music to your ears!
Merrily roll into the Shea’s Smith Theatre before May 12 to see this delightful performance, along with all your theater loving friends! The Second Generation Theatre family would love to have you join them as they celebrate their 10 year anniversary with this Sondheim special.
Click here for tickets.
HERD OF BUFFALO RATING SYSTEM
FIVE BUFFALOS: Exceptional quality – a rare rating. Whether it’s a hilarious comedy or a touching drama, if this is your kind of show, missing out would be a mistake!
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of exceptional quality. If the genre and content match your preferences, it’s worth seeing.
THREE BUFFALOS: Despite minor drawbacks, it’s a solid production and a pleasant evening at the theater. Keep your expectations in check, and you’re likely to have a good time.
TWO BUFFALOS: If you’re a self-proclaimed theatre enthusiast who simply adores attending shows, go ahead and give it a try. However, if the genre and themes don’t resonate with you, you might want to explore other options.
ONE BUFFALO: This might not be the best choice for everyone unless you have a compelling reason to attend, like having family or friends involved in the performance. It’s probably a good idea to skip this one.