A thoroughly charming and very sweet (tinged with melancholy) documentary about the making, and the aftermath of a 1981 Broadway play, Merrily We Roll Along, created by Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, and George Furth, that closed after only 16 performances. (The most famous, today, of the original cast is Jason Alexander). Coming off a number of Broadway hits, the creators took a risk on a story that is told backwards in time where young actors (ages 18-25ish) play characters from middle age to young adulthood. While originally unsuccessful, this play has been since produced thousands of time. This is a fascinating look at the creative process, the actors who made the cut for this show, and the dreams and lives of all in the years after the curtain closed. One of my favourites of the last while.
