Podcast Summary: All Of It – Tony Nominee Daniel Radcliffe Stars in 'Merrily We Roll Along'

Date: June 14, 2024
Host: Kusha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guests: Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez
Main Theme:
A deep-dive conversation with Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez about their acclaimed performances in the Tony-nominated revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along—a show with a famously tumultuous history now revitalized to award-winning effect. The episode explores the show's emotional depth, the unique rehearsal process, and the performers' personal connections to its themes.

1. Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the remarkable journey of Merrily We Roll Along, from its legendary flop in 1981 to its triumphant, Tony-nominated revival. Host Kusha Navadar, sitting in for Alison Stewart, speaks with stars Daniel Radcliffe (Charlie Kringas) and Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn) about why this production finally works, what makes the material uniquely resonant today, and their creative processes in bringing these complex characters to life.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Infamy and Resurrection of Merrily We Roll Along

• The original 1981 production became infamous for its high hopes and rapid failure.
• Its backward-told story of friendship and ambition was “almost infamous,” but the current revival boasts seven Tony nominations, demonstrating its renewed power (02:00).

Avoiding Pitfalls of the Original (04:34–05:59)

• Lindsay Mendez: Director Maria Friedman’s approach was to “stand behind the words and the story,” centering on the pain and lived experience of older actors, rather than the “kids” originally cast.
• Treating the piece with the gravitas of a play anchored it. The songs become “gifts in between.”
• “By treating it like a play...these songs just kind of end up being these little gifts in between.” — Lindsay Mendez (05:38)

Centering Friendship Over ‘Selling Out’ (06:03–07:42)

• Daniel Radcliffe: Having first seen a successful production in London (2013), he came into the process unburdened by its history.
• Emphasis is squarely on relationships, not just commerce vs. art.
• “No one’s wrong in this story. Everybody just...wants each other, but also wants different things at the same time, which I think makes it so painful.” — Daniel Radcliffe (07:14)

Power of an Intimate Venue (07:56–09:40)

• Lindsay Mendez: The New York Theatre Workshop provided a vital, supportive environment.

• A “super sophisticated” audience and the safety of a tight-knit space fueled sold-out runs and company enthusiasm.

• “Every show feels like this kind of rare event to us. So it’s been really wonderful... though, yes, very tight.” — Lindsay Mendez (09:32)

• Daniel Radcliffe: Thrives on the chaos of a small space, the logistical challenges making for camaraderie and heightened energy.

• The audience’s closeness amplifies emotional reactions.

• “It emotionally, like, supercharges you for the scene. It’s really cool.” — Daniel Radcliffe (10:31)

Tackling ‘Franklin Shepard, Inc.’ (11:19–13:04)

• Daniel Radcliffe: Preparation was about “hours and hours and hours” of listening to the music and then breaking free to internalize it without cues.
• Challenge and excitement come from the number’s speed, intensity, and risk—“There’s always a risk of it going wrong, which is quite exciting, but terrifying… Hopefully, also makes it exciting for an audience.” (12:27)
• The unpredictability adds “an element of fear and excitement” for both cast and audience.

Ensemble Trust and Collaboration (13:04–13:43)

• Lindsay Mendez: The deep trust among Radcliffe, Groff, and Mendez makes every performance “open to anything happening”—“It’s not always going to be the same...but I feel so safe with them.”

Relating to the Story’s Themes (13:43–16:52)

• Mendez & Radcliffe: Both connect with the characters’ struggles—balancing ideals, practicalities, friendship, and creative ambition.
• Mendez notes the tension between following creative passion and needing stability—“I have a child and I have to eat and support myself and keep a career going.” (14:37)
• Radcliffe: His Harry Potter background gave him freedom to choose “things you love that you want to do,” relating to Charlie’s arguments. “I was freed from a lot of those pressures and was able to do the things I love, which is insanely lucky.” (16:25)

Reverse Chronology and Its Impact (17:10–19:46)

• Mendez: “If it played forward, these people would be completely intolerable.” The backward structure “lays out...hope in this kind of cautionary tale.”
• The “reverse reveals” are satisfying, allowing the audience to piece together the unraveling relationships.
• Radcliffe: Opening scene is “so toxic,” and he’s “glad every night” not to be in it. The backwards plot "makes you work maybe a little harder."

The Unresolved, Bittersweet Ending (19:46–20:45)

• Radcliffe: The show prompts reflection on friendship and time. “I have an old friend I should call,” he says, underscoring the show’s emotional reach.
• Offers a perspective that meaning remains, “even if [things] end in a way that’s less than ideal.”

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “By treating it like a play...these songs just kind of end up being these little gifts in between.” — Lindsay Mendez (05:38)
• “No one’s wrong in this story. Everybody just...wants each other, but also wants different things at the same time, which I think makes it so painful.” — Daniel Radcliffe (07:14)
• “Every show feels like this kind of rare event to us. So it’s been really wonderful... though, yes, very tight.” — Lindsay Mendez (09:32)
• “It emotionally, like, supercharges you for the scene. It’s really cool.” — Daniel Radcliffe (10:31)
• “There’s always a risk of it going wrong, which is quite exciting, but terrifying... Hopefully also makes it exciting for an audience.” — Daniel Radcliffe (12:27)
• “If it played forward, these people would be completely intolerable.” — Lindsay Mendez (17:31)
• “The opening scene is so toxic. I’m glad every night that I’m not in it.” — Daniel Radcliffe (18:38)
• “I have an old friend I should call.” — Daniel Radcliffe (20:07)
• “I feel so close to this story in all of these characters’ struggles.” — Lindsay Mendez (15:16)

4. Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:00 – Host sets the context, introduces the play and its history.
• 04:34 – Lindsay Mendez on Maria Friedman's direction and learning from the original's pitfalls.
• 06:03 – Daniel Radcliffe discusses focusing on friendship over commercialism.
• 07:56 – On benefits of small venues and engaged New York audiences.
• 09:40 – Radcliffe’s love for backstage chaos and audience energy.
• 11:19 – Radcliffe breaks down the prep and execution of “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”
• 13:04 – Mendez on on-stage trust and navigating chaos together.
• 13:43 – Both actors reflect on the story’s creative and personal themes.
• 17:10 – Mendez explains why the backward structure serves the story best.
• 19:46 – Radcliffe on the show’s lingering, bittersweet finale and what he hopes audiences contemplate after.

5. Conclusion

This engaging episode offers a rare look inside the creative minds behind the celebrated revival of Merrily We Roll Along. Radcliffe and Mendez bring humor, candor, and insight about the challenges of this notoriously tricky Sondheim show—delivering reflections on art, commerce, friendship, and the bittersweetness of time. Their camaraderie, trust, and reverence for the material shine through, making the episode both entertaining and deeply resonant for anyone interested in theater, creativity, or the challenges of sustaining dreams and relationships over time.