MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Following an acclaimed 5-star reviewed production of Sondheim’s Assassins at The Chelsea Theatre and The Edinburgh Fringe in 2016, BB Theatre Productions is excited to present another Sondheim classic, Merrily We Roll Along, during the first week of the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe. BBTP’s mission is to bring local talent to the national stage, producing shows with professional production values, a stellar cast and professional band, and this show is no exception. A poignant and uplifting musical, this heart-rending show explores friendship, ambition and the pressures of show business.
Starting at a hedonistic Hollywood showbiz party in 1976 and working its way back to the New York rooftop in 1957, Merrily We Roll Along portrays the story of three friends who we join at the end of their friendship, tussling with disappointment, heartbreak and disillusionment with fame. The story moves back through time, each musical number perfectly scored to reflect the genre of its era and the emotional roller-coaster of its characters. The musical score is punchy, lyrical and contains some of Sondheim’s most sparkling narrative writing including Our Time and Old Friends. As two of the friends try to make it into show business, we hear some of Sondheim’s own early frustrations with agents not daring to make the break from traditional musicals.
The reverse chronology time structure heightens audience emotion, wistfully pointing out the artistic and personal compromises faced by the characters along the way. A must see, both for Sondheim aficionados, but also for anyone with a passion for musical theatre.
C venues – C (Venue 34) 5-12 August 12.10pm
