Sondheim fans who did not roll along to the Abbey Theatre in St Albans last week missed a real treat. 

Ever After Productions, which was formed several years ago in tribute to Sondheim, put on a fabulous version of his musical Merrily We Roll Along. 

From the first song, aptly named 'Merrily We Roll Along', to the final ballad, 'Our Time', this was a show to make you forget the lousy weather outside. 

And the excellent cast received equally impressive backing by the addition of a live orchestra on stage under musical director Clive Ogden, well-known to audiences of St Albans Musical Theatre. 

'Merrily We Roll Along' at the Abbey Theatre'Merrily We Roll Along' at the Abbey Theatre (Image: Cat Humphries) The production was in the hands of experienced director Dom O’Hanlon and it showed. It was slick, involving and cleverly managed on the Abbey Theatre stage with only minimal props. 

For those who don’t know the story behind the musical, we meet songwriter and producer Franklin aka Frank at a party to mark the premier of his latest movie. 

But while that may appear to be the pinnacle of his success, it is demonstrates only too clearly that his life is falling apart. 

The show then takes the audience on a fascinating journey back to the time when Frank, lyricist Charley and their friend Mary first came together and everything seemed possible to them. 

Stewart Jordan, who last year took the lead role in the company’s impressive production of Nine, was once again the main man as Frank. 

Although he did not visibly change costume or appearance as the scenes slipped into the past, his voice and acting skills made his character totally believable. 

He had first-rate support from Gareth Edwards as Charley and Elise Betts as Mary.  

The high spot in the first act finds Charley interrupting a TV interview to sing Franklin Shepard, Inc, a devastating attack on his former collaborator, which was mesmerising both in terms of Gareth’s voice and his timing. 

Elise as Mary dominated the stage whenever she appeared whether it was drunkenly accusing Frank of selling out their friendship, mooning over him at his marriage to Kat Boyd’s Beth or wandering into the trio’s first meeting in her pyjamas. 

Charlotte Gregory got completely under the skin of her character Gussie from her time as a dowdy secretary to her transformation into a star. As her one-time boss and then husband Joe, Matthew Gregory excelled at showing his decline. 

Space is too short to name all the supporting cast without which no show would be a success. Their voices, colourful costume changes back through time and dance routines were outstanding. 

It was a thoroughly entertaining evening by a musical theatre company that is going from strength to strength.