Inland Valley Repertory Theatre is back with an entertaining mid-sized revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Merrily We Roll Along at the University of La Verne.

It’s party time circa 1976, and famed Broadway/Hollywood composer Franklin Shepard (Allen Everman) finds himself surrounded by “the movers” and “the shapers” who have helped him reach the top, if only Frank hadn’t forgotten what it was that once inspired him.

Then, in a move that might at first stump audiences unfamiliar with the musical’s reverse chronology, Furth’s book jumps back in time to 1973 and the New York TV studio where Frank and his longtime best friend/lyric-writing partner Charley (Bobby Collins) are being interviewed by TV journalist KT (Amanda Grieg) about their collaboration, Charley’s rant about “Franklin Shepard Inc.” making it abundantly clear that these “Old Friends” can never again make it “Like It Was,” to quote three of Sondheim’s best Merrily songs.

As Merrily We Roll Along progresses backwards, we meet the women in Franklin’s life including first wife Beth Spencer (Amanda Gillette Colclough), the third member of his nightclub act with Charley back in Greenwich Village circa 1960, and Gussie Carnegie (Amanda Valdes), the Broadway star who becomes Frank’s second wife.

Most important of all is the song writer’s onetime closest female friend Mary Flynn (Kirklyn Robinson), revolted after twenty years by Frank’s career trajectory and his choice of chums and ready to forge on ahead in life without him.

Other supporting characters include bigwig producer Joe Josephson (Patrick McMahon), lawyer/deal maker Jerome (David Diamsay), aspiring screenwriter Ru (Chris Nevarez), bubble-headed would-be actress Meg Kincaid (Emily Martin), and Frank’s elementary school-aged son Frank Jr. (Fenton Colclough).

Merrily We Roll Along’s reverse chronology proves an inspired choice, tempering the joy and optimism of three 20something best friends with the knowledge of how sadly it all turned out and leading to the most poignant of happy beginnings.

Director Frank Minano has smartly reunited three of IVRT’s most talented alums to play Merrily’s lead trio and surrounded them with over a dozen company favorites and newbies.

Everman’s talents as both singer-actor and musician serve him in good stead here, the multi-hyphenate not only playing the role to engaging effect but occasionally accompanying himself on the Steinway grand.

Collins’ boyish charm makes him a terrific choice to play Charley, who finds himself increasingly frustrated by his songwriting partner’s ego, repressed rage that comes out in a showstopping “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”

And stealing every single scene she’s in, Robinson is on fire as a heartbreaking (and heartbroken) Mary, forced to sit back and sing her heart out as Franklin keeps falling for women who aren’t her, the SoCal stage star bringing the house down with an emotion-packed “Make It Like It Was.”

Valdes and Colcough are in fine vocal form as the women Franklin married, for better but mostly for worse, and McMahon is perfectly cast as Hollywood bigshot Joe, a man you do not want to tangle with in a contract negotiation.

SoCal musical theater favorites Greig, Martin, and Spies head a multitasking ensemble alongside those previously mentioned and Juliana Baioni, Alfonso Garcia (Bunker), Lucas Longoria (Tyler), and Jacob Miller (Scotty), all of whom harmonize to perfection in addition to acing their featured turns as movers and shakers and “people that fill the papers.” (Special snaps to Greig and Miller for their amusing aged-up cameos as Beth’s very conservative parents.)

A stage designed for small concerts and recitals limits what scenic design there is to Jeff Deard’s occasional assorted set pieces moved on and off, but Cameron Harris scores points for his lighting design as does costume designer Mark Gamez for his myriad period fashions, though Gamez confuses late-1960s styles for JFK-era fashions.

Last but most definitely not least, music director Ronda Rubio and the production’s seven-piece orchestra provide Grade-A accompaniment throughout the show, sound designer Nick Galvan expertly mixing live instrumentals and amped vocals.

Hope Kaufman is assistant director. Sarah Fountain and Alex Limones are production assistants. Marc MacKenzie was in charge of set construction.

Broadway’s recent star-studded Merrily We Roll Along revival not only earned the kind of raves the 1981 original did not, it reawakened interest in a musical only the most diehard Stephen Sondheim fans are likely to have seen. IVRT does these theatergoers a great big favor in giving them a chance to do just that.

Ann and Steve Morgan Auditorium, 1950 3rd St. La Verne.
www.IVRT.org

–Steven Stanley
July 28, 2024
Photos: DawnEllen Ferry

Tags: George Furth, Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles Theater Review, Stephen Sondheim