Merrily We Roll Along - Guildhall School of Music and Drama

has anyone seen merrily before
is it any good?

Yes and yes

One of Sondheim's best - I guess depends what you thought about Company and Follies though!

I enjoyed this last night. It is a long production (2 hours 45 minutes).

The theatre isn't actually in the Barbican Centre at all (despite security telling me to go through that way), but best accessed from the street through Guildhall School itself. Once you're in, it's traditional tiered layout, good views from everywhere. I sat front row, which was fine. There's a huge orchestra pit.

This is a Sondheim I've never seen before, but very much in his best known style. It took me a while to get into it. The cast were good, some better than others, but the changing ages thing got a bit confusing with telling who was who, with everyone being student age to begin. The set, costumes and overall staging are better than some West End productions and many off West End. Quite a few microphones turned on late early, but this improved as the production went on.

No cast member names, unfortunately, as they're not on the website, but the actor playing Charles came across best to me. As to whether Merrily is a hidden gem or not, I'd have to see it again (possibly in a different production) now I've worked out the plot.

This is worth catching if you have a spare show slot.

I agree with all of the positives above - I'm very much 'Marmite' with Sondheim, sometimes I love his stuff, other times I want to find a way to make all of the speakers stop working using telekinetic powers that I sadly don't have. But this was enjoyable. Musically it reminded me a lot of Company. Strong performances from most, and production values higher than some professional shows. Also don't be put off by front row tickets sold as 'restricted view', you're eye level with where the performers stand and you miss nothing. Legroom is also awesome 😀

Complete fluke I found this but here:

www.gsmd.ac.uk/drama/final_year_actors/final_year_actors_2018_19/

You have to go in via the headshots to find out the roles. Strange how there's not a cast list but I suppose you would recognise Charles.

 

Can't believe I missed City Of Angels! Gutted. We definitely need a Drama School Productions thread. I'm still not over missing Newsies either!

I didn't but my friend did yesterday. Reported it was very good and his friend played Donna / Oolie. Lot better than Rose Bruford's which I didn't see...but it was too ambitious apparently for an actor muso show. The music is so hard having had to learn it at college (the opening!!!!)  My college also did the show a few years ago for their grad show. Iabsolutely loved the Donmar production. Best show I've seen there, Sweet Charity was OK but COA was world class.

LAMDA are also performing Merrily this week and next, but the website says it’s sold out. Another one I spotted too late.

Really interested to read that the RCSSD production of Chorus Line was of a better standard than the West End. I did not see it, so am unable to comment, but I did see the Production of Grand Hotel the previous year. I have to say that this was distinctly average, apart one or two solid performances. I would say the same for the standard of the current graduating year.
Compared to Arts Ed, GSA I would suggest that these students are just not at the same level. A quick glance at the cv's of the current year shows that several of Acting]MT] students have left the school without representation. I find it quite alarming that after 3 years of training, for whatever reason these students cannot attract agents to sign them.
I wonder how many prospective students do their research on final "destinations" in terms of agents etc before they apply?

There is a 3 yr BA Hons course in Acting [MT].
It runs alongside the Straight acting BA and the Acting [[CDT] courses.
The emphasis seems to be more on acting, but it should still be possible to compare the productions with those of other schools.