​This musical, originally directed by Hal Prince and featuring a captivating score by Stephen Sondheim, tells the story of a fractured friendship but in reverse. It commences in 1976 with the bitter parting of three middle-aged pals and concludes in 1957 with their hopeful first encounter in college. The 1981 production of the show, with its predominantly teenage cast, received harsh criticism for its confusing design and backward narrative structure.