Friends Talking About Friends with New Friends

A Conversation Series Review by Walter Murphy . . . .

Friends talking about friends who have stayed friends for decades could easily become off-putting to casual listeners. Fortunately for the audience at Wednesday’s conversation at the 92nd Street Y, friends talking about the friends in the play Merrily We Roll Along, are brilliant performers who know how to read a room. They were funny, self-effacing, introspective, and grateful for the opportunity to be on the stage, any stage.

The three principles of the hit play, Merrily We Roll Along—Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez—graciously discussed their roles and recent success of Stephen Sondheim’s sometimes maligned musical. Josh Horowitz skillfully led a conversation about the successes of each performer and segued seamlessly to video clips of the play to emphasize the theme of friendship. 

Merrily We Roll Along (MWRA) has had a checkered history. Originally presented on Broadway in the 80s, it ran for only 16 performances and was almost universally panned by critics. Revivals were attempted in subsequent decades with tepid responses. It finally found its footing and a positive reception in 2014 when a London production, directed by Maria Freidman, fulfilled the promise of a Sondheim-created musical.

With Ms. Friedman directing the current production, it isn’t surprising that it went from an off-Broadway run that sold out in 8 minutes and moved to Broadway, where its original run was extended three months and will end July 7, 2024. This Sunday, March 31st, will mark the play’s 200th performance. The three principles have been with the play since its off-Broadway beginnings. Clearly, they have become friends.

In the context of a conversation, it was enlightening to hear how much thought and work went into the actors’ performances. As a result of Mr. Horowitz’s questions, the audience learned that Mr. Radcliffe first saw the 2014 production in London and was impressed. Mr. Groff thought the off-Broadway run was a good workshop that allowed time to refine the performance. Ms. Mendez believed the gift, for her, is the show being in the moment and experiencing it as it happens.

An unexpected topic, for me, that came up from all three was the mention of their parents. Ms Mendez spoke of the support for her career by her family. Radcliffe’s parents were in the audience. Groff shared his mom’s thoughts about the play aligned perfectly with the key theme of the story: a show about people’s ability to change and remain friends. One of the bigger laughs of the afternoon was when Groff shared that his dad’s hearing aid was not working when he attended the show; but dad offered, “The dancing was great!”

The conversational format lets the audience learn about the private lives of the actors. We learned that Jonathan Groff sweats while performing. He sweats a LOT! And it is noticed by his fellow actors and the audience. It was pointed out that front-row audiences could be seen using Playbills as umbrellas. JK. Ms Mendez’s Frozen-obsessed daughter, who only knows Groff as part of MWRA, will have her mind blown when she learns that he is also the voice of Kristoff from the movie. Boom. And, oddly for such a well-known Brit, Radcliffe follows American fantasy football and his team is the Detroit Lions. Such details audiences learn when friends share.

Besides the humor, and there was plenty, there were personal insights about their work methodology as actors.

Radcliffe, despite considerable previous success on stage and screen, has finally realized, “I can do this. I got this!” when approaching a new challenge. Mendez shared she didn’t worry about who was in the audience on any given night (Horowitz pointed out that J Lo was in the MWRA audience recently) and believed being in the moment while performing produced her best performances every time. Groff emotionally recalled his journey from the beginning of his career, when he looked to escape into roles. Since coming out as a gay man, he now viewed roles as a way to explore himself within roles.

All examples of friends willing to share not just their foibles but also their feelings. The conversation revealed the people behind the personas. All established, successful actors, willing to share themselves with new friends for an afternoon. Time well spent.

Merrily We Roll Along: Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez in Conversation with MTV’s Josh Horowitz took place March 28 and was part of the Recanati-Kaplan Talks now in its 150th year at the 92nd Street Y. www.92y.org