‘Merrily’ Got There First

Regarding “Memento,” David R. Ginsburg suggests that Harold Pinter originated the story-told-backward gimmick in his 1978 play “Betrayal” (Letters, April 14). Well, kudos for knowing that, but, um, no. No less than George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart used the device earlier in their bittersweet romance “Merrily We Roll Along,” which opened on Broadway in the fall of 1934, and was recently musicalized by the equally distinguished Stephen Sondheim and George Furth.

MICHAEL SCHLESINGER

Sherman Oaks