Merrily We Roll Along

Frank Shepard: Jim Walton (OBC) has undeniable potential, and does especially well in "Old friends", the original Frank version of "Not a day goes by". Still, his performance has serious flaws, and his "Our Time" in particular is painful to listen to. By contrast, Malcolm Gets (NBC) was quieter and subtler in the role, but "Our Time" is the character's most important moment, and he handles it terrifically. His spectacular vocals and soaring idealism contrast sharply with Walton's shrill, shallow delivery.

Charley Kringas: Lonny Price (OBC) is spectacular as Charley. Since Charley remains an uncorrupted idealist at the play's "end", casting a teenager in the role was actually a wise move, and despite his lack of experience, Price turns out one of the most skillful performances in all of Broadway history. I tell you, the kid's a prodigy! Adam Heller (NBC) was adequate in the revival (personally, I'd love to see him do Buddy in "Follies"), but most of Charley's personality is expressed in subtext, and without the tragic complexity Price gave him, he seemed rather boring.

Mary Flynn: Ann Morrison (OBC) is quite talented, and did an excellent portrayal of an angsty teen late in the play, particularly in the second half of "Our Time". Still, she simply sounded too upbeat to be convincing as a cynical middle-aged drunk. Amy Ryder (NBC), on the other hand, is perfectly suited to the role; she has a wonderfully expressive voice and does an excellent job of subtly altering her personality over time.

Beth Spencer: This role requires a measure of overacting, but Sally Klein (OBC) goes so over the top it's not even funny. Anne Bobby (NBC), on the other hand, kept her control and gave a charmingly flamboyant and very human performance.

Gussie Carnigie: Michelle Pawk (NBC) sounds like a real Broadway headliner, and she is just delicious as the show's evil seductress. Terry Finn (OBC) had only a brief dialogue bit on the CD, and she couldn't even handle that without making a fool of herself.

Joe Josephson: Famed comedian Jason Alexander (OBC) made this character funny and charming. Paul Harmon (NBC) was intensely annoying.

As for the individual songs...

Merrily we Roll Along: The song has excellent lyrics, deep and introspective, but in the OBC you can't hear them because the obnoxious Geoffrey Horne is shouting something pointless over them.

Like it was

Amy Ryder sounded far more authentic here than Ann Morrison, although I will say Lonny Price handled his dialogue bits extremely well.

Franklin Shepard INC.

Adam Heller's diction was better in this wordy monologue-song, but I prefer Price's more passionate version.

Old Friends

The OBC has better peformances by everyone except Ann Morrison, as well as two very interesting extra verses tacked on the end.

Not a day goes by

This song was blessed with two great performances, and I honestly can't decide on a favorite between Jim Walton's gorgeous vocals and Anne Bobby's intense acting.

Now you know

The OBC did a great job of setting the mood for this number, and Walton and Morrison are at their best. Still, Amy Ryder did a decent job of salvaging the watered-down, badly edited NBC version.

It's a hit

The OBC cast were much more interesting in this number, and some key material was cut in the NBC anyway.

Good thing going

Heller was by no means bad in this number, but Price blew him out of the water.

Bobby and Jackie and Jack

The NBC is far better; Sally Klein was at her worst here, and Lonny Price, for all his many talents, is no comedian.

Not a day goes by (reprise)

Due to an asinine recording job, you can barely hear Amy Ryder in this number. Thankfully, Ann Morrison does a fabulous performance here.

Opening Doors

Jason Alexander sings beautifully and projects a loveably pushy personality in this montage. Let me say delicately that Harmon does neither of these things. The rest of the cast is excellent in either versioon, except for Jim Walton, who foreshadows the problems with his next song in an unsubtle, extremely annoying performance.

Our Time

If not for Jim Walton, the OBC would have this one in the bag; they close it with a haunting ensemble chorus led by Ann Morrison that gives the song a beautifully profound feel. However, Walton was horrendous in the first half of the song, and because he was so utterly outclassed by Malcolm Gets' exquisite performance, the song overall is far more effective in the NBC.

Finally, as for the songs that were in both versions...

The Hills of Tomorrow (OBC)

A lovely song and an excellent opening. I appreciate its importance to the plot as the first song Frank ever wrote, but I think reprising it to close the show was not as effective as simply closing with "Our Time".

That Frank (NBC)

Weak as a plot climax. I understand that in the show, it was merely intended to "set up" a dramatic confrontation in the book scenes, but on the CD it was a noticeable letdown. Still, Amy Ryder's antics as Mary were fun and powerful.

Rich and Happy (OBC)

A powerful and disturbing climax and an excellent alternative to the shallow "That Frank", even if Walton could have performed it better.

Growing up (NBC)

A complex and thought-provoking song with a beautiful melody, performed extremely well by Malcolm Gets and Michele Pawk. I personally think it serves a necessary role in the play, and I'm very glad they added it to fill that void. It gives us a chance to see into Frank's mind, something none of the other songs do. Gussie's later reprise of this song, however, is watered down and, despite its beauty, completely unnecessary.

The Blob (NBC)

A satirically funny and mildly disturbing song. Part of it appears in the OBC, but Gussie's cynically witty second verse really brings it to life.

In general, I actually recommend you get both version if you get either. Each one contains wonderful moments the other one screws up. If you must get only one, though, get the NBC. It may not be as good is some places, but it has fewer flaws.