Merrily We Roll Along
at West Springfield High School

Reviewed on May 1, 2015

Alex Bulova
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

"How did you get to be here?" sings the ensemble, while projections of newspaper headlines and baby photos flickered behind them. "How did you get to be you?" Though these questions may be aimed at Franklin Shepard, a bitter Hollywood producer who sacrifices decades of friendship for success, the messages are universal. What makes us who we are? Do our actions define us? And what is the true cost of success? These provocative ideas are explored with subtlety and thoughtfulness in West Springfield High School's impressive production of Merrily We Roll Along.

With a book by George Furth and a score by Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along opened on Broadway in 1981 to overwhelmingly negative reviews, closing after only 16 performances. Since then, however, the show has undergone multiple rewrites, and critical consensus has shifted, with several recent productions garnering acclaim. The musical, which is told in reverse chronological order, follows the lives of Franklin, Mary, and Charley as they pursue fame in New York City. Though they all eventually succeed in their own creative endeavors, it comes at the cost of their friendship and happiness, which is emphasized by the non-linear nature of the show.

Playing composer-turned-producer Franklin Shepard was Darion Roberts. With strong vocals and impressive musicianship, Roberts displayed a broad range of emotions as he gradually transitioned from a resentful middle-aged man to a young twenty year old, filled with optimism and hope for the future. Providing much of the heart of the show was Mallory Astrow as Mary Flynn. Through convincing physicality and an emotionally dynamic performance, Astrow completely embodied her character's de-aging, skillfully shifting between naïve and joyful to completely heartbroken. Completing the trio of friends was Scott Burrows as Charley Kringas. Burrows was simultaneously affable and sympathetic as he demonstrated terrific comic timing, especially in the standout number "Franklin Shepard Inc."

Several supporting actors elevated the show with notable performances. Playing Broadway star Gussie Carnegie was Catherine Ariale. With sassy one-liners and an absolutely outstanding voice, Ariale was a highlight in every scene she was featured in. Barbara Lawson played Beth Shepard, Franklin's first wife. Throughout her performance, Lawson captured both her character's content while in love and her devastation during her divorce with clarity and truthfulness. Guiding the audience through the decades was the ensemble of party goers and social elites. With high energy and terrific harmonies, the ensemble remained consistently engaged throughout the show, performing Barbara Lawson's choreography with precision and skill, especially during "The Blob" sequence.

Accompanying the actors throughout the show was the excellent Rolling Along Orchestra. With near-professional musicianship and flawless timing, the orchestra played an integral role in maintaining the pace and energy of the show. Also accompanying the production was the use of projections, which effectively communicated the setting of each scene using newspaper headlines and clips from TV shows. Further clarifying and emphasizing the various time periods of the show were the costumes, designed by Jessie Richardson. Utilizing fashion specific to each decade, the costumes not only suggested the passage of time, but also indicated distinct character traits in the leads. Though there were occasional sound issues, the actors compensated through projection and enunciation.

With excellent musicianship and a range of emotionally dynamic performances, West Springfield High School's production of Merrily We Roll Along brings to life an under-appreciated musical that deserves a second look.

Kayla Gwiazda
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

The Orchestra dominates over the challenging score, the lights finally dim. The audience is waiting with excited anticipation. The curtains open, but the show seems to end. West Springfield's extraordinary production of Merrily We Roll Along explores a funny yet heartbreaking story from the end to the beginning.

The 1981 Musical, Merrily We Roll Along, was written by George Furth and Stephen Sondheim and is based off the 1934 play of the same name. It maintains the basic structure and themes from the play, but encompasses the years from 1957 to 1976, to tell the story of Franklin Shepard—a talented composer who deserted his friends to become a movie producer. However, the story begins at the peak of his success and moves backwards in time to show the events that changed his life.

West Springfield's production dazzled and captivated the audience with impressive musical and acting talent which the entire cast displayed. The trio of best friends excelled together with their well-timed lines and magnetic chemistry. As Franklin Shepard, Senior Darion Roberts commanded the stage with his mature voice and conveyed Frank's reverse character development with seamless ease. Fellow Senior Mallory Astrow amazed the crowd with her dynamic character choices and elegant voice as Frank's best friend, Mary Flynn. Scott Burrows, as Charley Kringas, particularly shined in his number "Franklin Shepard Inc.", showing off his incredible acting skills with his hilarious facial expressions and gestures.

Among many of Merrily's gifted supporting actors, Catherine Ariale as Gussie Carnegie displayed not only an impressive vocal range, but also captivated the audience with her flirtatious and intimidating persona. She was absolutely brilliant in the "Act Two Opening" and "Growing Up", wowing the audience with her truly beautiful and alluring voice. As Beth Shepard, Barbara Lawson added to the grandeur of the second act with her stunning soprano range in songs like "Bobbie and Jackie and Jack" and "Not A Day Goes By". The gifted ensemble took on many roles while having constant, lively energy and made the transitions between decades look effortless.

The technical elements of the show helped West Springfield's production transcend from a good production to a great production. The projections above the set flawlessly heightened Frank's storyline and environment as he moved backwards in time. The student-made costumes designed by Jessie Richardson were consistently period, but also managed to reveal important traits and elements about a given character. Despite a few sound issues throughout the show that made some words inaudible, all of the technical elements in Merrily amplified the audience's experience and enjoyment of this complex storyline.

With its talented and energetic cast of comedic and dynamic characters, coupled with impressive costumes, anyone who saw West Springfield's Merrily We Roll Along would agree that "It's A Hit".

Santiago Mallan
HB Woodlawn
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Get ready for a great night of hilarity and heartbreak at West Springfield High School's production of Merrily We Roll Along.

Merrily We Roll Along is a 1981 musical by legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim with a book by playwright George Furth. It follows a trio of struggling teenaged artists in New York City in 1957-- A playwright, a composer, and an author-- as they struggle to make do and hope to hit it big. The audience follows them over the years as they finally meet with success and money, only to have it tear them apart. The story has a big trick up its sleeve, however: it is told backwards. Beginning with the end in 1976, each scene skips back through the years, and we see the group of friends unshatter, their dreams reform, and their hearts soften and grow young again as they trek further into the sunny past. The result is a heartbreaking and haunting play which makes you think long after the curtains go down.

A show with such a complicated premise comes with its fair share of challenges. Firstly, being Sondheim, the music has a level of complexity and sophistication perhaps beyond what could be reasonably expected of a high school production. Rest assured, however, West Springfield's sprawling pit orchestra was more than prepared to handle whatever key changes or awkward intervals Mr. Sondheim could throw at them, and a talented ensemble rose to the occasion, singing their hearts out during the many transitions and reprises throughout the play undeterred by a few dips in microphone quality here and there.

Perhaps more daunting than the music, though, is the unique challenge of portraying realistic character development in reverse. That said, the leads of the show did phenomenally. Scott Burrows played the stiff and squirrely playwright Charley Kringas with brilliant finesse and physicality, keeping the delicate balance between comedy and tragedy throughout the play. Mallory Astrow portrayed wisecracking writer Mary Flynn perfectly, staying remarkably in character and imbuing the role with an unmatched level of nuance and subtlety. Darion Roberts as the corruptible composer Franklin Shepard gave the audience a truly dynamic performance; whether singing, dancing, or playing the piano live on stage, Roberts sported an incredible range and talent.

Barbara Lawson came out of nowhere in the second act in the role of Beth Shepard, Frank's first wife, her lovely voice and chemistry with the other actors making her a fan favorite. Finally, Catherine Ariale's sultry performance as the serpentine temptress Gussie Carnegie featured absolutely stunning, professional-level vocals which stood unparalleled in the production.

The magnificent acting and singing was heavily aided by a sparse but dynamic set and flawless period-setting screen projections. The costuming was phenomenal and immersive, with not a button or stitch placed out of period.

Mary Margaret Chalk
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

When its comes to glamour, fame, and fortune, is there anything that an aspiring musician wouldn't sacrifice? West Springfield puts this very question to the test in their production of Merrily We Roll Along as a determined young man puts friendship and family on the line to follow his dreams.

With music written by Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along takes place between 1957 and 1976 and explores the journey of up and coming Franklin Shepard and his two best friends on their quest for success in show business through memorable musical numbers, laughter, and emotional discovery. What makes the narrative unique is the backwards structure, with the story beginning at the peak of Shepard's fame and descending in time to his humble, young adulthood.

The audience was transported from the current elegance and high status of Shepard's successful life through past years to where the journey to his dreams all began. The seamless transitions back in time were represented through projected photos on frames suspended above the stage accompanied by the melodic voices of the chorus creating an all encompassing environment for each depicted year.

Devoted lead actors stood out as a driving force behind the production with strong emotional commitment. Darion Roberts as Franklin Shepard portrayed the excitement and drama of chasing one's dream not only with strong vocals, but with his gifted musicianship on the piano accompanying himself and others in numbers such as "Growing Up" and "Good Thing Going." Roberts also captured the bond with his partner, Charley Kringas (Scott Burrows), depicting how a once harmonious friendship, both in the musical and emotional sense, is put to the test when fame and wealth are so close. Burrow's comedic timing and spirit made his most notable number, "Franklin Shepard, Inc." a hilarious success as he humiliated his partner, Shepard, on national television. The third of the best friend trio, Mary Flynn, was played by Mallory Astrow, who was able to master her character development exploring how youthful spirit and hope do not always last through the fight for professional success. Astrow offered deep emotion throughout the story that had the audience in sympathy with her, and with her secret love for Franklin Shepard.

The women of Shepard's life added dynamic and drama to the story. Franklin Shepard's once loyal and trusting wife Beth Shepard (Barbara Lawson) revealed the familial strain that fame comes with. Lawson's angelic voice moved the audience in her number "Not A Day Goes By" which she sang to her husband once at the peak of their love and again at its downfall, emphasizing emotional loss. Contrasting Beth Shepard's sweetness, Gussie Carnegie (Catherine Ariale) oozed allure and grace with a rich voice as she experienced fame herself and ended up with Franklin Shepard. Gussie and her ex-husband, Joe Josephson (Brandon Pelar), provided humor throughout show, through their lavish lifestyle and energetic relationship.

Although there were few issues with sound because of spotty microphones, the cast had an increasingly energetic presence on stage throughout the production that allowed their strong harmonies to carry. Scene changes, time transitions, and the variety of songs were accompanied by a talented orchestra that perfectly balanced the actions and voices on stage. The crew also did an impressive job with costume design, as every cast member was clad in an outfit matching the period even with the current date constantly changing through the show.

Merrily We Roll Along was an entertaining production that reminds everyone that even through life's adventures and successes, we should remember what is ultimately most important to us.

Skylar Watkins
Thomas Edison High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

When we're young, we're naïve. We're innocent. We're dreamers, and lovers, and most importantly friends. The world is at our feet, and we think nothing will ever get in the way of our relationships or our dreams.

Picture this: three friends- Franklin, Charley, and Mary- with big dreams living in New York City. Frank has just come back from the military and is rekindling his love for music. Charley and Mary are aspiring writers. Mary is head over heels in love with Frank, but doesn't know how to tell him. These three friends have open hearts, but the city corrupts them. It doesn't happen all at once; it happens gradually, over almost three decades. Success chews them up and spits them out. I just described one of the biggest cliches known to mankind. Now try to picture this: looking at the friendship backwards. We meet a corrupted Frank in Bel Air California, 1976. He's sold out to the movie industry. He's cheating on, and leaving, his second wife. He's lost the two most important people in his life- Charley and Mary. Going back in time from 1976 to 1957, Merrily We Roll Along by George Furth with music by Stephen Sondheim shows us just how fragile our dreams really are, and how irrevocably they can be destroyed.

Recently, the West Springfield High School Spartans presented this eye opening Broadway musical. Some might say that this content is too heavy for high schoolers, considering that the issues our main characters deal with are alcoholism; adultery; divorce; and the overall theme of dying dreams, but the Spartans handled the content extremely well and with impressive maturity. Darion Roberts, Scott Burrows, and Mallory Astrow (Frank, Charley, and Mary respectively) perfectly portrayed their relationship, and the concept of going backwards by becoming just slightly more youthful each time we saw them. Scott Burrows carried the show with his humor, and overall perfect interpretation of Charley, while Mallory Astrow as Mary carried the show emotionally. Other knockout performers included Frank's first and second wives: Barbara Lawson as Beth (who shined especially in the second act) and Catherine Ariale as Gussie (whose overall sass combined with extraordinary vocals made her the perfect Gussie).

The set, special effects, and costume crews helped portray the time shifts in a beautifully simplistic way. Most of the set pieces were painted in shades of grey to represent areas of the mind that aren't remembered clearly. Special effects consisted of three hanging projection boards which showed photos of the cast, newspaper headlines, scenery, and sometimes even video to portray which year was taking place. The costumes were spot on with each member of the ensemble wearing a decade appropriate costume in the different scenes. The main characters were also decade appropriate, but always seemed to stand out in whatever situation they found themselves in. The quick scene changes, for both costume and set, were seamless and deserve a standing ovation. Speaking of standing ovations, the pit orchestra was crazy in the best kind of way. They may have been the best high school pit orchestra I've ever heard.

I wish I could look back in time like Frank, Mary, and Charley to see this show again. The West Springfield Spartans deserve many applause for their outstanding performance of Merrily We Roll Along.

Tyler Larkworthy
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Money can't buy love. Friends are forever. Success isn't everything. As West Springfield revealed in their poignant production of Merrily We Roll Along, when we forget these lessons, we are certain to fall hard.

Written by George Furth (book) and Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics), Merrily we Roll Along opened on Broadway in 1981 to negative reviews, going on to run for only 16 performances. The story is told in reverse; starting in 1976, the show centers on Frank Shepard, a rich producer and past music composer. Going back through the years, we see how Frank progressively gave up his friends and love for music to gain fame, suffering a tumultuous divorce after an affair with one of his lead actresses, Gussie.

West Springfield's cast tackled the challenge of such a unique show admirably. Supported by a superb ensemble, the show's leading and supporting actors managed to excellently demonstrate the reverse development of their characters, making subtle changes in their energy and reactions that reflected the different periods of their lives. Meanwhile, the student orchestra underscored the show brilliantly, deftly handling a challenging Sondheim score.

As the suave yet troubled Franklin Shepard, Darion Roberts committed to his character. Whether soulfully pounding his piano—which Roberts played live on stage—in "Growing Up" or excitedly celebrating his first glimpse of success in "It's a Hit," Roberts captured Frank's rise and fall artfully. Opposite him was Mallory Astrow as the ultimately disheveled and disillusioned Mary Flynn. From Astrow's devoted pining for Frank to her bitter opening rant, she highlighted her fall from grace excellently.

Scott Burrows embodied Frank's best friend and foil, Charley Kringas. Burrows showed off his comedic flair and exasperation in "Franklin Shepard, Inc." Capturing the seductive Gussie Carnegie, Catherine Ariale sported a spectacular voice. Barbara Lawson portrayed Beth Shepard, demonstrating her tenderness and commitment in "Not a Day Goes By (Act 2)." Also notable was Grace Duah, who garnered many laughs for her tenacious portrayal of the newswoman, K.T. Brandon Pelar played the once successful producer Joe Josephson, maintaining a New York accent and effectively demonstrating the changes in his life due to his divorce with Gussie. An extremely engaged ensemble supported the show, most notably as rowdy party guests in "The Blob."

Costumes, which ranged from flashy ‘70s bell bottom pants to smart ‘60s tuxes and cocktail dresses, articulated changes in time periods and themes, becoming brighter as the show progressed to parallel Frank's reverse development. A minimalistic set, featuring city skyline pieces and detailed projections, provided a compelling backdrop. Although it was occasionally difficult to hear actors above the orchestra, the sound crew worked admirably to handle 21 headset microphones.

"How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?" In this cautionary tale, West Springfield affirmed that the road to success can sometimes lead to failure as well.