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Post by andromedadench on Sept 5, 2017 23:05:48 GMT
All the comments on here re. the current production are fascinating. I saw the original Hal Prince version on Broadway (Winter Garden) in 1972 and found it totally original and thrilling. But even then I was aware that it wasn't a total success. I was partly involved in the 1987 London production which had a very strong cast (well, casts really, as several of the principles changed half way through the run) but, once again, was not really a bone fide hit. I now realise that the most enjoyable version was the partly staged New York concert (still available on DVD) with the best cast it has ever had including Barbara Cook, Elaine Stritch, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Remick and Carol Burnett. The numbers were beautifully sung and minimally but smartly staged and the actual book was cut severely. And I now realise that was the reason I enjoyed it the most of all the productions I have seen. Sondheim is seen here at his witty, inventive best but the actual dialogue linking the numbers just doesn't add up to a solid dramatic structure. You can throw as much spectacle and clever staging at it as you can afford (as Hal Prince did originally) but there is still no weighty text or story to drive the evening along. There - it's taken me 45 years to work that out! Thank you so much for this post, oldstager. I had never seen a production of Follies before this one, so this clears up a lot for me. I noticed the lack of dramatic structure but wrote it down to the fact the show is a kind of a homage to the variety genre. Otherwise, I enjoyed the production. I wish Janie Dee had more dancing numbers as she's wonderful, and I didn't think much of Zizi Strallen's acting, but I'd love to see it again. It'll probably all smooth out over the course of the run.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2017 23:16:52 GMT
Just got back to my hotel after seeing this evening's performance and I can honestly say that this production has exceeded all my expectations in so many ways. I first heard the OBC of Follies in the early 70s when a friend of mine sent me the LP from the USA. As soon as it was in my sticky hands it was played and played very much like Company had been a year or so before. The difference was that Company came to London but Follies didn't. I bought the Random House book a while after so it gave me a good idea of what to expect but no production ever materilised. Fast forward to the Shaftesbury Theatre version in the 80s which satisfied my longing to see Follies to some extent but didn't really show the depth of the characters or the underlying obsession between the past and the present. My next vision of Follies was in Madrid, obviously in Spanish, but lovingly directed by Mario Gas who is well known in Spain for being a Sondheim champion. That version was worthy of more than one visit and it had some stellar performances. So that brings us to the stunning production that I have just seen. Wonderful acting and vocal work. Imelda's vulnerability was spot on and her version of Losing My Mind broke my heart. Janie Dee showed the acerbic Phyllis and her most cruel but also at her kindest.Philip Quast vocally was perfect as Ben and Peter Forbes showed the right amount of tongue in cheekiness as the unfaithful Buddy. Josephine Barstow and Tracie Bennet also excelled in their roles as did so many others. The whole production really has left me with the feeling that I have had a long standing dream come true. It was so right in every way! I just wish I lived in London to be able to see it a few more times. Hopefully it will be recorded for release on dvd one of these days.In the meantime thanks for the memory Follies crew and cast.
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617 posts
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Follies
Sept 6, 2017 7:09:41 GMT
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Post by loureviews on Sept 6, 2017 7:09:41 GMT
I have to admit I thought some were miming too. I'm so glad some one else mentioned it! I didn't think the voice was coming from the source. Maybe that's a sound issue. Odd though! It's because they have microphones, which is unusual for the NT. I was four rows back from the stage and saw no evidence of anyone miming.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 6, 2017 9:47:25 GMT
Press Night tonight! It has to get 4 and 5 star reviews I would have thought?
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2,263 posts
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Post by theatreian on Sept 6, 2017 9:51:20 GMT
Yes will be interesting to see the critics view after all the comments on here. Can't wait for my visit next Friday.
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Post by sf on Sept 6, 2017 11:06:28 GMT
Saw it yesterday afternoon.
Mostly loved it; the direction is terrific for the first three-quarters of the show, but stumbled during the Loveland sequence. Ben's breakdown and the ensuing chaos were nowhere near as strong as they should have been, and I don't think it was Philip Quast's fault. The final scene was very good indeed. Staunton gave a brilliant acting performance but the music is not a comfortable fit for her voice, Janie Dee was superb, and I liked the way Cooke made much greater use of the ghosts. Tracie Bennett's Carlotta a truly brilliant performance. Wonderful to see a production that uses the original book with only a handful of very tiny changes, and it shows how bad the revised version is (or rather, how bad the revised versions are, although the script seen at the Shaftesbury has never been performed since). The two hours and 20 minutes flew by, and I'm very glad I'll be seeing it again in December and January. Not perfect, but a richly-textured, complex, intelligent production of difficult material. It takes a few missteps, but a lot of it is thrilling.
I even bought souvenir merchandise - a 'the coffee cup/I think about you' mug and a 'still here' pin - and I never do that.
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2,263 posts
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Post by theatreian on Sept 6, 2017 14:52:27 GMT
Thanks for the info on the Mug. My partner collects these and we were not sure if they would do one. Will pick one up next Friday when we see the show at last.
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1,119 posts
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Follies
Sept 6, 2017 16:33:47 GMT
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 6, 2017 16:33:47 GMT
Thanks for the info on the Mug. My partner collects these and we were not sure if they would do one. Will pick one up next Friday when we see the show at last. All info on the NT shop site. There is other stuff as well.
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Post by dazzerlump on Sept 6, 2017 17:08:20 GMT
I'll definitely be getting a mug and maybe even a badge or two
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 19:09:43 GMT
It really does deserve 4 and 5 star reviews... and if every review doesn't pin Tracie as the standout, it is just criminal!
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Post by loureviews on Sept 6, 2017 20:03:46 GMT
It really does deserve 4 and 5 star reviews... and if every review doesn't pin Tracie as the standout, it is just criminal! The more I think about it the more I realised how much I enjoyed it. So many great performances to choose from. Will be very interesting to see what the critics make of it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 20:11:48 GMT
It really does deserve 4 and 5 star reviews... and if every review doesn't pin Tracie as the standout, it is just criminal! The more I think about it the more I realised how much I enjoyed it. So many great performances to choose from. Will be very interesting to see what the critics make of it. I agree, especially performance wise I realise I enjoyed it much more than I thought I did. I thought whoever sang Broadway Baby was fabulous too, that was the point at which I started to really get into it. Also god bless Zizi Strallen and the other one who got to shine near the end. I was a bit let down at first that for a lot of the show they just lurk (literally!), so it was nice to see her get to do proper dancing toward the end.
Although, I found the Loveland transformation a bit underwhelming, purely because I had heard that it was a big moment, I was wondering how they were gonna do it. I was expecting it to be a bit more dazzling, but they couldn't do much with it because of the set of the show anyway so you get what you are given. I also felt it dragged on a bit in that Loveland medley, after Imelda's number you were kinda just waiting for the last two to come up so it could end. But thankfully Janie's number at least was fantastic!
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2,263 posts
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Post by theatreian on Sept 6, 2017 21:25:37 GMT
Not long to wait for the reviews. Will be interesting to see how they marry up with views expressed on here by our own critics!
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Post by abitoftap on Sept 6, 2017 21:28:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 21:58:53 GMT
I rarely agree with Michael Billington but this time his thoughts match mine. Its a production that has stayed with me, weeks after seeing it.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Sept 6, 2017 22:00:12 GMT
4 Stars - Treneman in The Times, she actually seemed to like something for a change.
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2,706 posts
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Sept 6, 2017 22:27:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 22:41:59 GMT
Shenton tweeted as well he saw the first preview as well as tonight, but wasn't allowed to say.
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2,706 posts
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Sept 6, 2017 23:02:15 GMT
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Post by nash16 on Sept 6, 2017 23:25:52 GMT
Well, the critics have been starved for a while... Quite a bit of overlooking the faults going on, or is it me?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 23:32:28 GMT
Well, the critics have been starved for a while... Quite a bit of overlooking the faults going on, or is it me? Gosh! Someone liked something you didnt?? Imagine that!
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Post by gra on Sept 7, 2017 0:06:24 GMT
Well, the critics have been starved for a while... Quite a bit of overlooking the faults going on, or is it me? Sorry. I think it's you. This is a very fine production. (and I've seen a good few over the years!)
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2,706 posts
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Sept 7, 2017 0:20:12 GMT
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 7, 2017 0:50:57 GMT
Hey Quentin Letts God bless his lace socks, has put a new spin and take on Follies, that no one else has noticed - that theatre that is set to be domolished isafter all set to be an office block!!! Silly me and similar posters on here, thinking it was going to be a new Lidl.
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Post by frankubelik on Sept 7, 2017 5:25:47 GMT
Much as I wholly disagree with these reviews, what does it matter? The show is sold out and will not transfer. Quentin Letts really is a poor reviewer though - to call the faded opera singer a "hoofer" is rather pathetic and Billington's day is clearly over. I had to snigger at his comment about Imelda's voice dissolving at the end of Losing My Mind - it's because she can't sing it!!!! I have been rather pleased to see some posters here agreeing with my previous comments though which I had thought would be very unpopular.
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 7, 2017 5:37:15 GMT
If I not said so previously, welcome to the Board frankubelik
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Follies
Sept 7, 2017 5:59:43 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Sept 7, 2017 5:59:43 GMT
Hey Quentin Letts God bless his lace socks, has put a new spin and take on Follies, that no one else has noticed - that theatre that is set to be domolished isafter all set to be an office block!!! Silly me and similar posters on here, thinking it was going to be a new Lidl. Was it always going to be an office block? I'm sure on one recording I have Weismann says it's going to be turned into a car park or car lot? Hopefully one of our Sondheim experts can put me right.
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475 posts
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Follies
Sept 7, 2017 6:58:22 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 7, 2017 6:58:22 GMT
Having seen the 1987 version twelve (yes 12) times as a callow youth with the same obsessions as others now posting on this board, it was flawed but fabulous. Diana Rigg did indeed dance in "Who's That Woman?" but a back injury put her out of the number later in the run. Her costume and wig were also softened. Special mention for Julia McKenzie's Sally who broke my heart on every occasion; she was amazingly consistent and vocally stunning live. Kathryn Evans deserved a better production but she comes a very close second and gave a nuanced performance (and is a great dancer too!) and Mary Millar in Kerryson's Leicester production was also superb. (Liz Izen played young Sally and is now in the RNT version - perhaps she is covering Imelda?) The Landor version was a wonder and extremely well cast; there was a "pro-am" version in Northampton (with the late Louise Plowright and Alex Giannini) and I even went to Madrid to see it done in Spanish! I am nervous about my forthcoming visit and cannot help take my baggage and casting doubts with me. We shall see.
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475 posts
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Follies
Sept 7, 2017 7:03:52 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 7, 2017 7:03:52 GMT
Sorry for sending the above quote, I was trying to refer to it in a post. This article states that the European premier of Follies was in 1985 at the Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester , with Mary Millar as Sally, Paul Kerryson as choreographer . I wanted to ask if they also did this in Leicester ? www.folliesbroadway.com/wythenshawe.htm
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 7, 2017 7:19:03 GMT
Sorry for sending the above quote, I was trying to refer to it in a post. This article states that the European premier of Follies was in 1985 at the Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester , with Mary Millar as Sally, Paul Kerryson as choreographer . I wanted to ask if they also did this in Leicester ? www.folliesbroadway.com/wythenshawe.htmYup, 1994
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