Follies

Yes, agreed - it could be that. I just think Sally's story is more poignant too - the idea of living your life day in and day out, knowing that you love someone, but it will never really materialise into the ideology you have in your head. Although I'm male, I very much identify with her predicament. (And I like Sally's songs better - very superficial, I know!)

Interesting that after preview #1 there is scant mention of the performances. Leads me to think they aren't "there" yet. Mind you, some will never be........

Enjoy anthony40!

I'm jealous Anthony! I really wish i was seeing it again. Its stayed with me all day.

Have a great time. We here in NYC have to wait til the telecast in November. Please give us your thoughts on the performance!! 

In case anyone is unfamiliar with the 'drum': www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/file/9401/view

Good god, well that video, the sets used look amazing with the drum revolve. But I get the sense for this production it is fine without one. This seems (correct me if I am wrong), a show that works with simple sets rather than making it overly complicated.

Back from Preview 2.

Have never seen this Sondheim before.

What works is the glorious set, the exciting start, and the 2 up tempo numbers.

What doesn't work is most of the rest of it.

It seems to have no drama, weirdly, for a musical, and yet the many characters shout at each other and argue as though a lot is at stake. The problem is we don't see enough of their younger selves, bar a few sentences, to really feel for them in their old age. It's a strange beast. I found it hard to care for either the women or the men. And I need to care about the people on the stage.

By the second half it just seemed to become a lot of set piece numbers, with the different characters Folly's. Then one of the men had a scream and collapsed, and then they all walked off. But it left me unmoved, even when those on the stage were acting moved.

It's a great idea to have a show about a reunion and memories and conflicts of the past (and this is staged well by Cooke having the younger selves permanently ghosting the older selves, albeit mostly as mutes), but the conflicts were high stakes enough. You took my husband. I took yours...

It's probably too close to Staunton's Martha to see her in this role, as a lot felt similar to that performance. But I do love that laugh she does. Janie Dee was really good, and you could feel her pent up rage from the start. Even when dancing. A sign of a great actress.

The mirror number (is it?) was when the show finally sprang to life, and the audience were able to clap rapturously (it felt like they wanted to from the off, but weren't allowed, if that makes sense?). And Janie Dee's Folly's number was great too. But apart from these, there didn't seem to be much spectacle in the numbers to match the spectacle of the set (really impressive).

I always do an audience check around me if I'm feeling a bit bored or disconnected during a show, and I looked around the stalls and realised I wasn't the only one. Not that people were slumped in their seats, but there was an ever increasing air of disappointment as the show went on that "this is what it's going to be". The occasional number of joy or energy, but then back to the dramatically lacking script and story, or some very slow songs.

I think if you go wanting to absolutely love it, you will be fine. But if you go not knowing what to expect or expecting an evening of music and drama coming together, you won't quite get it here. But I think that's less the fault of the production and more of the show itself.

I wanna hear more about Tracie Bennett! How does she do on the big number, following apprehension some on here had before?

Yes, the title "Follies" can be misleading - it ain't 42nd St. The same goes for "Ragtime". I am going on Friday evening. I am notoriously difficult to please. I love this show, although it is problematic.

Yep, it is a dark show, and the title tragically ironic.