When: Thursday 22nd November
Where: Menier Chocolate Factory
Why: Given a spare ticket by a friend
I knew nothing about this musical before I saw it, other
than the fact that it’s performed going backwards in time, and various bits of
tunes thanks to hearing them from my dear friend Nikki (she was in a version at
the Edinburgh festival). Apparently it was a bit of a flop when it first came
out, and you can kind of get why – it doesn’t have the best tunes ever, could
be a bit bleak, and would be rubbish if not done with pace and precision. But
it was obviously redeemable, and this version, directed by actress Maria
Friedman, was great and was led by a brilliant cast. The show is both
sentimental and satirical, gutsy and full of complex, real relationships and
friendships, and shows the harsh fallout of showbiz and the pursuit of dreams.
As mentioned, it runs from the present day back in time, to reveal the paths
that the characters’ lives had already taken, giving it a sort of fatalistic
air (and also a brilliant excuse for loads of great costumes, as it spans
several decades). You can see it working quite well as a normal play, it’s got
that kind of plot – but the music does sort of sneakily infiltrate your head.
It’s the kind of music that grows on you and suddenly gets to you and draws out
a sneaky tear – particularly songs like the emotional and rousing Our Time.
The whole cast was really excellent and completely draw you
in to what turned out to be a catchy, very slick show. The three main
characters played by Mark Umbers (what a beautiful man), Damian Humbley and
Jenna Russell were outstanding and their chemistry as a close-knit trio of
friends was so believable and right, and their second-half performance of the
pacey Opening Doors was so polished and just genius. I loved Russell as
the loyal, desperate, vicious and thwarted Mary, and her attitude totally won
the audience over. Humbley as the rejected creative partner Charley was
masterful and his version of Franklin Shepard, Inc. was super-speedy,
rage-filled and despairing and just brilliant. Umbers (swoon) as Franklin
forces you to be intrigued despite being basically aloof and lost to his
friends, and wins you round with his charm. Josefina Gabrielle as Gussie was
also a winner; brassy and vulnerable and bitchy all in one. The chorus were all
very polished and superbly executed. I also totally knew I recognised Meg, who
turned out to be played by Zizi Strallen, from having an air of Bonnie Langford
about her. They’re a theatre dynasty.
I had my ticket by gate-crashing a friend’s university
musical society reunion to see Merrily in the place of someone who’d
dropped out, and at the end of this performance the whole row of them were
simultaneously weeping and whooping, which I think can only be a good sign. You
can catch Merrily… until 9th March and I totally recommend it
if you want an evening of quality musical theatre.
Brixpig x
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