I saw the Broadway production 3x, including the closing, with a dear "old friend" of more than 50 years. -spoilers- Truncating the Overture and cutting The Hills of Tomorrow in revisals are, I believe, fatal errors. Without them, there's no buffer: you start off seeing the characters at their unsympathetic worst, especially the iodine-throwing - and I don't think the show ever recovers. Thank you, Aurora Spiderwoman, for posting this!

@njatty

Жыл бұрын

I also saw the original three times, including the first preview. Agree totally with you. Also think the younger casting works much better. The show was written to be performed by young actors. Great videos!!!

Fascinating to see how warmly the show was received at curtain call! It doesn’t account for people who walked out but those who stayed seemed to enjoy it.

we need to see more of this one...... How could this show not have gone on ....and on.....and on. In a way i still think, casting this with a YOUNG cast, is the right way to do it. the Opening and Coda add something way deeper.

I’ve always found it fascinating that Sondheim and Prince were this brave and willing to try something so different at this stage in their careers. Usually you find this type of work at the beginning of someone’s career. I think it just speaks to how rare these two really were. Add to that that both would go on after this to have some of the truly great achievements in their respective careers. They were simply the best and this is proof that even in “defeat” they gave us things that were so remarkable! Thank you for posting this Spiderwoman!

This is amazing, I love the original and the revival of 1994. My favorite Sondheim. Thank you for posting.

What a time to be alive. 😊

How wonderful and joyous it is to be able to watch this so many years later. I used to listen to the cast recording non-stop in the mid-80s and tried to imagine what the production was like. I had seen pictures, but this is fantastic. Thank you so much Spiderwoman!! 💙

This, I think, is my favorite musical. I like it's current version; but I am not sure it has ever found it's perfect form. I liked it in it's original production, with the Hills of Tomorrow and all the great young voices. It is easier to follow as a story now, and the sadder parts of the story work well with older actors/actresses. I think some of the problem of the original show was actually the sets/costumes/staging.. not that the cast was very young. The music has always been brilliant, and the character relationships real and touching.

What a joy to see this again. Thank you!

Amazing piece of theater history, and in such great quality, thank you Aurora ❤

Thank you Aurora!!! I understand why they cut the graduation frame. But this ending…. So missed.

Merrily, indeed! Grazie, Santa Spiderwman! Peace & joy be with you...Lukerdog

I saw the 2nd-to-last performance, the Saturday matinee!

Grooooovy!

Some of Sondheim's best music. Some strange casting and costuming choices does NOT a bad musical make. This is a great story, great meaning, and great music.

How could critics kill such wonderful music?

Saw the off off broadway Merrily last week. (January 2023). Soon to come to broadway. They fixed it. Hated all the older versions. The new actors are not Unbearably despicable and it's comprehensible. Loved it.!😄

Omg I just realized, I have no idea what the alternate lyrics in the Old Friends Encore reprise are!

Few months ago I saw the proshot of the famous London production. I loved Merrily for years for its music, but something about its structure just doesn't click. For example, all melodrama in Frank's life feels unnesessary, and we don't hear about his real thoughts and feelings much. And the show ends kinda abruptly, without a proper resolution. That being said, I hope Merrily will get a framing device again, in the movie at least. It feels more satisfying that way.

@carl2499

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip on the London one!

Miserably We Plod Along. "It's still backwards!" - Ron Fields

Haber si entiendo, esto es del 81 pero hicieron otra versión en el 2013 y en el 2023 y ahora van a ¿hacer una película?

The sloppy joe sweaters did them no service

This is definitely not my type of a musical. But, Thanks for Posting

I love this musical. I am not very fond of the cast for the film now being made of it though. Hope they exceed my expectations of actors whose parents bought them into the business.

@Dan_G.R.S.

Жыл бұрын

Paul Mescal (of the brilliant Aftersun and future Gladiator in Ridley Scott's sequel) has replaced one of the other cast members that was categorically a piece of shit in real life. It's an improvement!

At least we know Frank Shepard turned out fine. He changed his name to Old Man Sid and started shacking up with Adam Sandler's hot girlfriend in Big Daddy

I'd loved the score for years when I finally got the chance to see a revised version of this show at the Arden in Philly. Most enjoyable and much less cheesy than the original, though I can't imagine what a 'woke' audience of today would make of it.

@4dultw1thj0b

Жыл бұрын

Lol what problems would "woke" people have with Merrily? If anything Charley's their guy.

@jamessheridan4306

Жыл бұрын

@@4dultw1thj0b I understand there's a major revival of it coming our way soon so I guess we'll find out.

@Gel677

11 ай бұрын

​@@jamessheridan4306way to not actually answer their question

Thanks for finding this.I saw the show on opening night, and it' was a mess. I'd like t o say that recent revivals have changed my opinion of the show, but I'm sorry: it's still a mess. Sometimes you have to follow Steve Sondheim's advice and "you have to move on."