Since it first debuted in 1981, Merrily We Roll Along has become a cult classic amongst musical theatre fans. Its 2023 Tony Award-winning revival has given the production another resurgence in popularity, and it is great to see it staged by the current 3rd year WAAPA Music Theatre students.
Coincidentally, it’s been eleven years since I first saw the musical, in the exact same venue with a different graduating class.
The show follows three lifelong friends: composer Franklin Shepard, playwright Charley Kringas, and writer Mary Flynn. We see them try to make it big in the theatre, navigate complex relationships, and attempt to stay true to themselves and each other in the process.
Right from the opening number, this production has a lot of energy. As I’ve come to enjoy with WAAPA productions, there is plenty of choreography and moments of physical movement that are vibrant and visually appealing. The production team of Director Tom Heath, Choreographer Deby Holmes and Music Director Craig Dalton have guided the students well.
Performances were solid across the board. There are a few standouts that carry particular weight, driving home the show’s message and material. I absolutely loved Olivia Chatto as Mary Flynn. She is vibrant, always ‘on’, and injects energy every time she is onstage.
I really enjoyed Koert van der Laan’s rendition of Franklin Shepard Inc. as Charley. It’s a furiously fast patter song and he gives a very confident performance.
As Gussie Carnegie, Chloe Taylor oozes sex appeal and charisma and is a lot of fun to watch. Rachel Seo has the showstopper of the night with Not A Day Goes By. She injects a lot of energy and fun into the show, particularly in her Act Two group numbers with Charley and Frank, played by Nye Morrison.
I must give a shoutout to both Christina Anastasiadis and Abby Pukallas who give incredibly committed and hilarious featured ensemble moments. Their roles ignite huge laughs and oodles of comic relief. The pair are the definition of ‘committing to the bit,’ and I absolutely loved both of their roles as Pianist and Auditionee #1 respectively.
The ensemble as a whole works hard every moment they’re on stage. I loved watching subplots and subtle storylines as the story unfolded, and notably, went back in time, as is the narrative device of the show.
There were some sound issues during the opening night performances with lines cutting in halfway. Hopefully, this will be smoothed out as the season progresses.
There was a touch of uncertainty in one of the early Act Two numbers, It’s A Hit, a song that depends heavily on crisp cues between the band and cast. At times, the tempo and entrances didn’t feel fully locked in. This is something that will likely tighten as the season progresses.
The current cohort of WAAPA 3rd year Music Theatre students have incredible talent. When performing as an ensemble, they are a real treat to watch. Merrily We Roll Along is a beautiful show and one of Sondheim’s lesser-performed works in Perth. If you can get a ticket, I’d encourage you to get along.
Merrily We Roll Along is presented by WAAPA’s 3rd year Music Theatre students. It runs to 19 June at the Roundhouse Theatre, Edith Cowan University, 2 Bradford St, Mount Lawley WA 6050.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1378638
Website: https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/performances-and-events/performances/2025/merrily-we-roll-along
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/waapa.ecu/
Photo credits: Stephen Heath Photography
Content warnings: depictions of drug use, violence, infidelity, and scenes with coarse language.
