“Merrily We Roll Along” is a nursery rhyme. It’s also the name of a Stephen Sondheim musical comedy, though not one that is generally considered one of his massive hits. It did poorly on Broadway in the 1980s. Subsequent productions underwent considerable changes but the show never returned to the Great White Way. All that leads us to a recent London production, which turned out to be a bonafide hit.
British actor-turned-first-time-director Maria Friedman’s reportedly brilliant West End revival of the story of three life-long friends, told in song and in reverse, has earned rave reviews and a cinematic screening across the pond. The recording will be shown in various movie theaters tonight all around the country, including the NorthPark Center AMC. Sondheim called it the best production of Merrily he’s ever seen, which means you want to see it, too. Tickets are only $15—usually these things cost more. I would not look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, I would just go to La Duni for dinner.
Also this evening, Texas’ official state photographer (we do, in fact, have one of those) makes a stop at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Wyman Meinzer was given the title in 1997 by then-governor George W. Bush, and he’s been logging miles with his camera ever since. He’ll talk about his life and work during tonight’s conversation.
For more to do tonight, go here.
