Review: 'Merrily We Roll Along'

Available Light ambitiously (and successfully) stages Sondheim

By Dwayne Steward

Metromix

Maybe it's the country's obsession with "Glee" or the fact that "Wicked" currently has its spell cast on Central Ohio, but for some odd reason Columbus has caught the musical bug. 

Evolution Theatre Company recently used "Boy Meets Boy" as its first foray into musicals, and Contemporary Theatre Company will do the same next month when it opens the season with the high-profile catch "The Last Smoker in America."

Available Light Theatre is also presenting its first musical, Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along." The show will run Aug. 19-Sept. 4 in Studio One of the Vern Riffe Center.

From what we saw at the Aug. 18 dress rehearsal, the group is in for another hit.

Going with a go-big-or-go-home mantra, Available Light produces a stellar Columbus premiere of a lesser-known Sondheim classic (originally a 1981 flop that has grown a cult following), complete with an über-talented 20-member cast, full-stage choreography and beautifully detailed period costumes.

The uplifting tale (book by George Furth) chronicles three estranged friends and their journey from optimistic dreamers to bitter and flawed sellouts, starting with the fallout's aftermath in 1976 California and working its way back to when the friends first meet in 1957 New York. The tale is orginally based on a1934 play of the same name by Geroge S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

The core chemistry between the three leading actors (Ian Short, Heather Carvel, Nick Lingnofski) makes the production a must-see.

Short leads the cast as Franklin Shepard, a famous Broadway-turned-Hollywood composer who is having a hard time with his decision to choose success over his family and friends. Lingnofski beautifully fumes as lyricist Charley Kringas, Shepard's long-time friend and collaborator whom he hangs out to dry. And Carvel is a vocal dream as writer Mary Flynn, a friend and devotee to the pair's work who turns to alcohol after discovering Shepard's love for her is strictly platonic.

A host of stellar performances are also given by supporting actors Kim Garrison Hopcraft, Michelle G. Schroeder and Scott Wilson.

A seven-person band—led backstage by music director Pam Welsh-Huggins—surprisingly fills out the grand nuances of Sondheim's moving score. Darin Keesing's minimalistic yet fully functional lighting and set designs seamlessly take you through the story's various time periods, while Robin Savage's costumes boldly declare a 1960's Hollywood/office-chic style (think "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" meets "9 to 5").

Sondheim musicals are known for having underdeveloped stories and overproduced emotions, and this is Sonheim to at ‘T,' but Available Light adds a brightened and moving touch that can't be ignored. As the season winds down and you kick yourself for all those summertime overindulgences, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to something ‘Light.' 

"Merrily We Roll Along" runs Aug. 19-Sept 4 in Studio One of the Vern Riffe Center, 77 S. High Street. Tickets are on Available Light Theatre's famous "Pay What You Want" system. For more information visit Available Light's Web site.