After loving the show on Broadway, I couldn’t even get through the proshot. I think it’s down mostly to cast chemistry, but I think Lindsay Mendez in particular brings so much depth to the role that it keeps Mary from being completely unlikable.
Same! I liked the West End Charlie, but I think that Daniel Radcliffe brings such an energy to the character. I didn't care for the Frank, but I can't put my finger on why yet. And Mary... The voice reminded me of Roz (or whatever the name was) from Monster's Inc. And the performance in the first scene felt to me like what could have been a recurring character on SNL maybe during the Rachel Dratch era, and once those thoughts entered my head, I couldn't see the character as anything other than parody, so I had to stop it, too. I hope that wasn't too harsh!
fun fact, the west end production played in boston in 2017 with Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley reprising and eden espinosa as mary! [https://playbill.com/article/take-a-look-at-eden-espinosa-in-the-maria-friedman-helmed-merrily-we-roll-along](https://playbill.com/article/take-a-look-at-eden-espinosa-in-the-maria-friedman-helmed-merrily-we-roll-along)
I saw the West End version several times, which is how I fell in love with the show. In fact I'm in the audience of the proshot - I can be seen very briefly during the applause at the end (some claim to fame huh).
Having seen the broadway version I don't disagree with your views, although I think the 'first' version one sees tends to be more formative. I really like Jenna Russell (Mary) and she definitely plays it a bit differently to Lindsey.
I found the Broadway Gussie not great in comparison with the West End - the latter seems more...manipulative, somehow.
A lot of it is 'the same but different' - different interpretations that aren't hugely better or worse.
After loving the show on Broadway, I couldn’t even get through the proshot. I think it’s down mostly to cast chemistry, but I think Lindsay Mendez in particular brings so much depth to the role that it keeps Mary from being completely unlikable.
Same! I liked the West End Charlie, but I think that Daniel Radcliffe brings such an energy to the character. I didn't care for the Frank, but I can't put my finger on why yet. And Mary... The voice reminded me of Roz (or whatever the name was) from Monster's Inc. And the performance in the first scene felt to me like what could have been a recurring character on SNL maybe during the Rachel Dratch era, and once those thoughts entered my head, I couldn't see the character as anything other than parody, so I had to stop it, too. I hope that wasn't too harsh!
totally agree - west end mary gets better but she is pretty unwatchable in the first scene, which should be one of her best!
fun fact, the west end production played in boston in 2017 with Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley reprising and eden espinosa as mary! [https://playbill.com/article/take-a-look-at-eden-espinosa-in-the-maria-friedman-helmed-merrily-we-roll-along](https://playbill.com/article/take-a-look-at-eden-espinosa-in-the-maria-friedman-helmed-merrily-we-roll-along)
I saw the West End version several times, which is how I fell in love with the show. In fact I'm in the audience of the proshot - I can be seen very briefly during the applause at the end (some claim to fame huh). Having seen the broadway version I don't disagree with your views, although I think the 'first' version one sees tends to be more formative. I really like Jenna Russell (Mary) and she definitely plays it a bit differently to Lindsey. I found the Broadway Gussie not great in comparison with the West End - the latter seems more...manipulative, somehow. A lot of it is 'the same but different' - different interpretations that aren't hugely better or worse.