LOS ANGELES – Prior to its success on Broadway, “Merrily We Roll Along” underwent a reevaluation by Mark Umbers, who starred in “Hotel Portofino” and was part of a previous cast that examined the show that had flopped in 1981.
Director Maria Friedman, convinced of its potential, collaborated with composer Stephen Sondheim to refine the storyline.
When it premiered in London in 2012, Umbers starred as Franklin Shepard, a writer who transitions from composing to producing Hollywood films, portrayed in reverse. The musical saw success when older actors were cast, unlike the original Broadway production where younger actors failed to grasp the storyline’s depth.
During his involvement with the show, Umbers had the opportunity to question Sondheim about his character’s motivations.
“He was incredibly gracious and kind to me,” Umbers recalls. The role was loosely based on Sondheim’s life, “and I was portraying him in a peculiar way.”
The London production became a hit, moved to a larger venue, and was eventually filmed for posterity.
When Friedman decided to take the show to New York (with Jonathan Groff in Umbers’ role), she integrated the British and American casts, with Groff remaining engaged throughout. “He was fantastic and incredible,” Umbers remarks.
Despite efforts to ignore the British production in New York, Umbers was present during the reworking of “Merrily.”
“The initial sequence is set in Hollywood, where he’s producing mediocre work,” Umbers recalls. “Initially, I struggled to understand; rehearsals were uncomfortable. But once I delved into the character’s mindset, I realized he belonged to a different world.”
Drawing on his encounters with Hollywood figures in his career, Umbers embraced the essence of Franklin Shepherd and his associates.
