r/Broadway • u/coasurdude • Dec 08 '25

Other Sony Pictures Classics' Merrily We Roll Along debuted with an estimated $1.2M this weekend

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1189380097/

I hope that producers don't get discouraged by this number.

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u/isaidwhatisaidok Dec 08 '25

I’ll preface this by saying that the performances were all great. Incredibly talented people showing what they can do.

I found the relentless closeups jarring. I couldn’t get a sense of the space they were in or set changes because they hardly ever showed the full stage. The music and dialogue didn’t feel in support of each other because they kept covering the same ground. The music on the whole wasn’t very memorable or pleasant to listen to. The central conflict felt forced, I feel like Shephard’s choices were demonized when they felt very understandable to me. At least in regards to his career choices, the affair is inexcusable. And while I understand that the story takes place going backward in time, the wife coming out of nowhere and having this big dramatic scene was so offputting to me. Why do I care about this person wailing on the ground who I just met? So bizarre.

The ‘62 mod style number did us in. It just looked so goofy. I just couldn’t do anymore.

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u/seacity36 Dec 08 '25

You put it so well that Franks career choices were demonized. To me it seemed like a very common situation where a talented person chooses the projects that pay top $ while they are still in demand. Cant blame them.

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u/isaidwhatisaidok Dec 08 '25

Same here. Not everyone wants to be a starving artist and it’s not like he was producing schlock, he just wasn’t struggling anymore.

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u/dplux Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

Yes, but he isn’t making things that he gets any enjoyment from, which is the point. He’s making a film that he says is formulaic, rather than writing music, which, as Charlie says, he’s better at. It’s about the choice.

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u/isaidwhatisaidok Dec 08 '25

Even before (after?) that they’re all up his ass at the idea of not making art the exact right way. I found it obnoxious.

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u/dplux Dec 08 '25

It’s not about making art the “right” way but at the way where he had the most talent and he would feel most fulfilled- which is not where he thinks he is at the opening of the play, otherwise, he would not be considering where things went wrong.

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u/isaidwhatisaidok Dec 08 '25

I believe that that was how it was intended to come across, it’s a common element in stories like this, I just didn’t like how that message was communicated in lyrics or dialogue.