Composer

:

Stephen Sondheim

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1981

Average_duration

:

76:29

"Merrily We Roll Along" is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth. The musical is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The musical follows the lives of three friends, Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn, and Charley Kringas, over the course of 20 years, starting in 1976 and moving backwards in time to 1957. The musical was composed by Stephen Sondheim in 1981 and premiered on Broadway in 1981. The original production was directed by Harold Prince and starred Jim Walton as Franklin Shepard, Ann Morrison as Mary Flynn, and Lonny Price as Charley Kringas. The musical received mixed reviews and closed after only 16 performances. The musical is known for its unique structure, which moves backwards in time, starting with the characters as successful adults and moving backwards to their idealistic youth. The musical also features a non-linear narrative, with scenes jumping back and forth in time. The score features some of Sondheim's most memorable songs, including "Not a Day Goes By," "Old Friends," and "Good Thing Going." The musical is divided into three movements, each representing a different period in the characters' lives. The first movement takes place in 1976 and follows the characters as successful adults, with Franklin as a Hollywood producer, Mary as a writer, and Charley as a successful composer. The second movement takes place in 1960 and shows the characters as they are starting out in their careers. The third movement takes place in 1957 and shows the characters as idealistic young people, full of hope and promise. The musical explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the price of success. It also examines the choices we make in life and how they can lead us down unexpected paths. The characters are flawed and complex, and their relationships with each other are often fraught with tension and conflict. Despite its initial failure on Broadway, "Merrily We Roll Along" has become a cult favorite among musical theater fans. The show has been revived several times, including a critically acclaimed production at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London in 2012. The musical has also been adapted into a film and a documentary, both of which explore the show's troubled history and enduring legacy.

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