Capturing the Broadway revival with vigor, ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ is again reborn

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Coming to you from the opposite end of the movie musical spectrum from where “Wicked” perches is Maria Friedman’s compact, propulsive film of her acclaimed revival staging of Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along.”

The acclaimed composer’s 1981 musical, “Merrily We Roll Along,” had a surprising journey. It initially failed, closing just two weeks after its debut, but gradually became a beloved classic. This is fitting for a story told in reverse order. A recent recording of a successful Broadway production, featuring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, powerfully demonstrates the musical’s impact. The show focuses on three close friends in New York City, and their story, unfolding backward over many years, is like carefully piecing together a broken vase – allowing us to see both the damage and what holds it together.

Sometimes, watching this feels like you’re right there with the performers. But this straightforward style, when done well, highlights what makes film unique: it can instantly bring you close to the action and characters. Talented actors and great music become the most compelling part of the experience.

Recorded stage performances often don’t get the credit they deserve, but this one is more than just a simple recording, and it works well. This is especially important considering Richard Linklater is making a film, similar to his ‘Boyhood,’ that will be shot over two decades – a truly distant and ambitious project, as Stephen Sondheim might say.

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It’s become unusual to see Broadway shows in movie theaters because making them is expensive and their success isn’t guaranteed. However, changes in both the Broadway and movie industries could lead to more of these filmed productions being shown on the big screen.

The story starts at the end, with a glamorous but faded Hollywood Hills party in 1976. It’s a scene filled with people trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Frank, once a promising musician, is now a successful movie producer, but he’s also unfaithful. Mary, a clever writer, is struggling with alcoholism and can no longer accept the person Frank has become.

Looking back at Frank’s life, we first see the consequences – his emotional collapses. Then, we understand the warning signs that came before, and finally, we witness the beginnings of his friendships, achievements, and romances. Daniel Radcliffe plays Charlie, a songwriter who prefers to stay out of the spotlight. It’s captivating to watch Jonathan Groff explore the roots of a difficult character, seeing Radcliffe transform from a critical coworker into someone full of hope, and to see the brilliant Anika Mendez reveal a story of unreturned affection. Krystal Joy Brown and Katie Rose Clarke also deliver powerful performances as the wives who suffer because of Frank’s relentless and selfish pursuit of fame and wealth.

It’s perfect that the story doesn’t end with a big, dramatic finish, but instead with the quiet, bittersweet scene of the finale, “Our Time”—a rooftop performance in 1957 filled with hopeful dreams. At a time when many films rely on spectacle, this version of “Merrily We Roll Along” reminds us of the power of focusing on a small group of characters and their intimate relationships, and how that can beautifully capture the complexities of life’s different phases.

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2025-12-06 06:01