Sunday, May 28, 2023

Play review - "Merrily We Roll Along" by Kaufman and Hart (1934)

 Ballsy move from the team. A famous flop - but there's so many characters! Would've cost a fortune. Really interesting. Goes backwards. All about selling out.  This was a thing with all these 30s playwrights. Clifford Odets banged on about it. They all did sell out. But what is that? Good on the playwright hero for making a good living! That's hard`! He entertained people.

The real issue is that his central betrayal isn't enough. He shouldn't have gotten married so young after the war. If they'd done some other betrayal - like he's gay and tried to be straight, or ripped off someone. Great moment splashing iodine. Powerful drama. Real scope.

Odd this lives on via a musical. I guess no one remembers The American Way.

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