The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) third year musical theatre students showcase another Broadway hit. This production of Merrily We Roll Along is an emotionally charged piece about relationships, love, success and friendship.
Written by Stephen Sondheim, and last year completing a successful run on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along uniquely tells the tale of three friends’ relationship in reverse chronological order.
The musical opens in 1976 with an extravagant party to celebrate Frank Shepard’s latest success and eventually takes us back to 1957, on the roof of an apartment building where the three friends meet.
The three friends Frank Shepard, Charley Kringas and Mary Flynn are played by Nye Morrison, Koert van der Laan and Olivia Chatto. They all have a dynamic presence on stage and their performance is presented with humour, sensitivity and charm.
Morrison as Frank, leads the audience back through the highs and lows of his life’s choices with sentiment and compassion. Chatto compellingly and convincingly portrays Mary Flynn throughout her performance. She possesses a controlled and commanding voice.
Van der Laan cleverly carries off the rapidly paced number conveying the frustration he feels towards Frank, Franklin Shepard Inc, with confidence. And when he and Morrison perform their duets, it is done with an impressive warmth and striking harmonies.
All three manage to perform rousing renditions of Old Friends as it is performed at various times throughout the show.
Rachel Seo plays Frank’s first wife, Beth Spencer. Her performance is heartfelt and emotional. Her performances of Not a Day Goes By is full of angst and loathing when fighting for a divorce from Frank and in the reprise, love and adoration for Frank on their wedding day.
Chloe Taylor as Gussie Carnegie, Frank’s successful actress and second wife is seductive. Often surrounded in red light, she vies to seduce and draw him into an affair and eventually marriage. Jock Lander as her husband Joe Josephson does a great job managing to reverse time.
In the first act he successfully portrays a husband disillusioned with love while his wife carries on an affair with Frank in front of his eyes. While in the second act he depicts a man full of hope, adventures and new love as he meets Gussie.
The chorus transition the audience through time and the choreography is tight and slick. Smooth, striking poses contribute to the dance sequences. In one number the chorus shuffle around the stage, sideways, backwards and forwards to the delight of the audience.
A cleverly designed set propels the audience back in time as large digits in the set count back through the years. At the start of the performance a grand piano sits centre stage and is cleverly manoeuvred around to represent various scenes. The set is simple yet oozes charm and the sentiment of the era.
The orchestra perform on stage throughout the show. They are surrounded by lightbulb lighting that cleverly flashes to the beat of the overture and sets the mood for Sondheim’s score.
The costuming is bright and colourful, and the cast wore some gaudy designs true to the sixties and fifties. I had visions of the costume department at WAPPA having a hoot of a time as they raided the local op shops in the area.
Don’t miss the chance to see this Sondheim classic. Merrily We Roll Along is a performance with grace, passion and sentiment. Witness the life of three friends lived in reverse and how the choices made, shaped the future.
Merrily We Roll Along
Roundhouse Theatre, Bradford Street, Mount Lawley
Performance: Friday 13 June 2025
Season continues to 19 June 2025
Information and bookings: www.waapa.ecu.edu.au
Images: Chloe Taylor and Nye Morrison – photo by Stephen Heath | Koert van der Laan and Nye Morrison – photo by Stephen Heath | Nye Morrison and Olivia Chatto – photo by Stephen Heath | The Ensemble of Merrily We Roll Along – photo by Stephen Heath | The Merrily We Roll Along Orchestra – photo by Stephen Heath
Review: Craig Dalglish