Like a backwards running time machine, Merrily We Roll Along takes us on a journey back in time to show us how a famous Hollywood filmmaker (Franklin Shephard played by Jim DeSelm) got to where he ended up, and the relationships littering his road to success like road kill along the way. It’s a classic story about youthful dreams, ambition and drive, and how bonds can fray on the climb to the top. At the end of his life, Franklin finds himself upended by getting to the top of the mountain and then wondering if it was worth the effort.
With a live orchestra in the background (Conductor/Pianist Aaron Benham, Percussion Tony Scandora, Bass Jackson Kidder, Reeds Matt Beck and Lara Regan, Trumpet Jered Montgomery, and Trombone Matt Kowalski) and a vocal-powered cast from top to bottom, Porchlight yet again gives Sondheim fans a chance to relish the composer’s signature sound. Some of these songs are standards of torch singers far and wide, or ones your mind’s ear hears as Sinatra—Good Thing Going, Not a Day Goes By, among others. This is GREAT music.
This writer was also WOWed visually at the very start, when Projection Designer Anthony Churchill begins to show his stuff. A mosaic of images catapults the story from its mid-70’s time post to today—very today, replete with #MeToo signs, Trump in his most Orange Hitler stance, and more. How fun! Churchill’s ability to bottle the zeitgeist continues as the story rolls the clock back, even thinking to include that iconic clip of Lucy and Ethel trying to keep pace in the chocolate factory. Churchill’s eye for detail even included meshing a bridge image with the trim in the Ruth Page Performance Center, the Porchlight’s new home. Just exquisite!
While this projection design signals place and time, the period perfect costumed cast (Bill Morey, Costume Design) sings up a storm, dancing into an ever changing kaleidoscope pattern on the stage (Musical Staging, Christopher Pazdernik). From a Hollywood poolside party to a Manhattan soiree, the ensemble scenes are the word “voluble” come to life. (Ensemble: Kyrie Anderson; Larry Balducci, Katherine Condit, Christopher Davis, Andrés Enriquez, Frederick Harris, Michelle Jasso, Bernell Lassai III, Cisco Lopez, Alanna Lovely, Liz Norton, Khaki Pixley, and Jonathan Stombres.)
While the entire cast is lively, the six leads make this show especially memorable (Neala Barron as Mary Flynn, Matt Crowle as Charley Kringas, Jim DeSelm as Franklin Shephard, David Fiorello as Joe Josephson, Keely Vasquez as Gussie Carnegie, and Aja Wilshire as Beth.)
For those who have seen and admired Neala Barron performances around town, you too may be struck by how playing Mary Flynn, one of Shephard’s best friends, finally gives her a chance to also show her acting chops.
DeSelm brings a clean cut presence and clear voice to his part, always making his Shephard believable in a sort of Mitt-Romney-Can-Sing kinda way. It’s but a quick minute or so, but when he gets to be solo on stage to silently telegraph his feelings after the It’s a Hit number, you truly get why everyone loves him.
Aja Wiltshire’s rendition of Not a Day Goes By should earn her a gig in every night club in the country, if she so desires.
But the lead among leads, from this writer’s point of view is triple threat Matt Crowle playing Charley Kringas, Shephard’s lyricist who is forever disappointed in their never getting around to making “Take a Left Turn”, THE play they always imagined they would produce to change the world. It’s when Matt Crowle is fast-talking Charley singing Franklin Shephard Inc. early in the play that he shows us his magnetism most. This writer was reminded of being charmed as a child by Danny Kaye.
Sondheim finds solid partner in Porchlight Music Theatre
How interesting to note that Merrily We Roll Along was, in its first staging, a bit of a flop. As with Marry Me A Little, this writer imagines that Sondheim must find deep satisfaction with Porchlight, and especially Director Michael Weber.
Merrily We Roll Along is the top pick for musical theater junkies, who also might want to note the free screening on February 13 of the film Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, directed by Porchlight Advisory Board Member and the Charlie Kringas of the original production, Lonny Price.
