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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2019 23:35:26 GMT
What do you think it will be like for a person seeing follies for the first time . Im seeing it tomorrow so hopefully it might improve ! It's not a show for everyone. It's not a huge crowd pleasing musical that some might expect it to be, but it's still a great piece of writing.
I hope you enjoy it!
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 20, 2019 7:50:54 GMT
What do you think it will be like for a person seeing follies for the first time . Im seeing it tomorrow so hopefully it might improve ! It's not a show for everyone. It's not a huge crowd pleasing musical that some might expect it to be, but it's still a great piece of writing.
I hope you enjoy it!
I personally love the show of course and I hope you enjoy it. However, it isn't what a casual theatre goer might expect. Titled Follies I think folk expect some kind of Ziegfeld Follies / Sunday Night at the London Palladium! One guy at the bar with his wife asked the barman if they could order interval drinks, and on being told there was no interval gasped "No interval? Two and a quarter hours without an interval!" I think his evening was ruined right there! |
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Post by jay78uk on Feb 21, 2019 8:26:19 GMT
Saw Follies last night with my partner. I saw it twice last time round and was v interested in seeing it a third time with the (half) new cast. This time we were sat further back than before- row D of the circle to one side- £28 a ticket with TIX. Other than the change at the end of losing my my mind, the show is unchanged from the previous production, other than the odd costume tweak- I'm sure the dancers for 'ah paris' were in stripey tops and berets last time round! Joanna Riding and Alex Hanson are great choices for Sally and Ben. They beautifully acted 'don't look at me'- the chemistry really came across. Riding's interpretation of Sally is quite different and I felt worked really well. Hanson has less room for manoeuvre with Ben but he fitted the role well. I suspect his final number will evolve in time- it didn't quite work last night- he didn't come across sufficiently as mr. whiz initially for the rest of the song to work. Janie Dee was, as ever, fantastic and Peter Forbes is a brilliant buddy- delivering his two key numbers with huge energy and believability. Last night Riding's voice sounded a bit strained at times, as did Dee- I wonder if they are both shaking off colds or throat infections- if so I hope them a speedy recovery. Last thought- this show definitely works best from the first ten rows of the stalls and not too far to either side- the problem with being so far back or to the side is that you miss much of the detailed humour and characterisation, particularly in the spoken sections.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 11:21:16 GMT
Can anyone tell yet if Riding is singing Too Many Mornings in Imelda's lowered key, or is she doing it in the original higher key?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 11:54:26 GMT
Last thought- this show definitely works best from the first ten rows of the stalls and not too far to either side- the problem with being so far back or to the side is that you miss much of the detailed humour and characterisation, particularly in the spoken sections. Thats definitely a problem i had from the side stalls, alot of the dialogue was played front and centre so i missed alot of the more intimate moments between Ben and Sally |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 12:18:32 GMT
I found it a much better experience this time in the third row centre of the stalls than last time in the side block.
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Post by Hana PlaysAndParasols on Feb 21, 2019 12:18:33 GMT
I also sat in the circle yesterday and find it fascinating how it always feels devastatingly sad from the circle and more of a show from the stalls! Can anyone tell yet if Riding is singing Too Many Mornings in Imelda's lowered key, or is she doing it in the original higher key? Can't say if it was the original, but definitely higher than Imelda. |
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Post by jay78uk on Feb 21, 2019 15:37:22 GMT
I also sat in the circle yesterday and find it fascinating how it always feels devastatingly sad from the circle and more of a show from the stalls! Can anyone tell yet if Riding is singing Too Many Mornings in Imelda's lowered key, or is she doing it in the original higher key? Can't say if it was the original, but definitely higher than Imelda. Hi I agree- I similarly found it much sadder from the circle! |
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Post by barrowside on Feb 22, 2019 12:29:39 GMT
That's very interesting - I found it incredibly moving from the circle. The beauty of both the piece and production became overwhelming and everyone in my row cried when Philip Quast started Too Many Mornings. I want to see it again and was tempted to go for the stalls but I really want as close to the same experience as before, cast changes not withstanding.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Feb 22, 2019 12:51:05 GMT
Saw it from stalls centre row C last night, could see the performances clearly which is my preference for plays but felt this would be better from the middle distance to really appreciate the staging and signature scenes, would watch from further back if I was ever going to see it again.
Not sure what drove me to see it again with the new cast but really appreciated the depth and darkness of the piece on second viewing which I missed the first time, not something I associate with musicals, always think of them as feel good entertainment which is patently nonsense.
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tw1
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Post by tw1 on Feb 22, 2019 13:04:37 GMT
Felicity Lott is unwell and will not be performing the role of Heidi Schiller at opening night tonight. Replacement TBC.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 22, 2019 13:05:51 GMT
Felicity Lott is unwell and will not be performing the role of Heidi Schiller at opening night tonight. Replacement TBC. Chances are it will be Josephine who knows the role! Let's hope Felicity starts to feel better soon, she is the main reason I will be seeing the show soon! |
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Post by paulbrownsey on Feb 23, 2019 12:09:42 GMT
Felicity Lott is unwell and will not be performing the role of Heidi Schiller at opening night tonight. Replacement TBC. Isn't it odd that the theatre says "TBC", not "TBA"? To confirm something is to make more certain something that has already been provisionally announced, but there has been no provisional announcement of the replacement ... |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Feb 23, 2019 12:19:56 GMT
Saw this last night. I'm ignorant about musicals generally but really missed Imelda's stunning presence. A beautiful show though.
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Follies
Feb 23, 2019 12:49:23 GMT
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Post by Scswp on Feb 23, 2019 12:49:23 GMT
Felicity Lott is unwell and will not be performing the role of Heidi Schiller at opening night tonight. Replacement TBC. So who played the role then? |
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 23, 2019 12:53:53 GMT
Josephine Barstow
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Follies
Feb 23, 2019 13:36:07 GMT
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 23, 2019 13:36:07 GMT
I didn't realise till this morning that last night was press night. I'm sorry that there therefore won't be any reviews of Dame Felicity.
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Post by eugene24 on Feb 23, 2019 14:53:34 GMT
What do you think it will be like for a person seeing follies for the first time . Im seeing it tomorrow so hopefully it might improve ! It's not a show for everyone. It's not a huge crowd pleasing musical that some might expect it to be, but it's still a great piece of writing.
I hope you enjoy it!
Saw it last night and wow! What a dramatic piece of intelligent musical theatre! Need to see this again |
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Follies
Feb 23, 2019 16:17:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 16:17:40 GMT
5* - The Telegraph, London Theatre, The Stage, WhatsOnStage
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Post by lonlad on Feb 23, 2019 16:18:56 GMT
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Post by horton on Feb 24, 2019 0:12:18 GMT
We'll not see the like again! I'm so glad that the book finally works properly. And Janie Dee- what an incredible performance!
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Post by lynette on Feb 24, 2019 9:36:09 GMT
I really loved this, probably the first Sondheim I have enjoyed. I loved that it was about older people and I loved the big numbers and the presentation, costumes etc. For once ( in recent history) the Olivier stage made sense and the revolve had a point to it. Fab performances all round.
What I didn’t love was that there was no interval. In the time it took for my knees to become almost beyond hope and my bum to go numb ( NT needs a refurb) I could have flown to Italy. Why not an interval after the big dance number with the both sets of gals? I don’t want an ice cream. I just want to stretch my legs.....One hour and twenty ok no interval, powerful message etc etc as in some shows these days. But this was a musical and two hours and a half by the time the applause died down. As for a standing ovation, Fine, expect I could hardly move to get up in the time.
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Follies
Feb 24, 2019 9:46:31 GMT
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Post by raiseitup on Feb 24, 2019 9:46:31 GMT
There’s a behind the scenes takeover on the What’s on stage Instagram story by Gemma Sutton that’s pretty fun. The champagne is chamomile tea!
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Post by Mark on Feb 25, 2019 20:26:12 GMT
Going to give this another try on Wednesday. I wasn't 100% sure on my first visit - a preview from the circle. Now I was browsing the website and a 3rd row stalls seats dead centre pops up for the Wednesday Matinee and it seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass on. Love Joanna Riding so looking forward to seeing her.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 26, 2019 9:03:23 GMT
Saw this last night (having seen Follies once in the previous run).
The National Theatre was chaotic. Big queues to collect tickets and the machines were not working. They were letting people in just by showing the confirmation on their phone. Started about 10 minutes late. I did collect a real ticket, as I like to hang onto them.
Stalls were about 90% full. Circle about 50% full. It's not selling well.
I was on the back row of the Circle, which was full, presumably as they were the £15 seats. Some people moved forward but I was rather wedged in. Still, a good view to make out the scale of the production and even managed to pick out a few of the 42nd Street alumni in the current cast.
Enjoyed this more than my first visit, but it still feels long. Like others, preferred Joanna Riding as Sally.
Booked to go again at the end of the run, this time front Stalls. I do enjoy shows more from the front when I can see faces, but this is a good one to see from the back as well to compare things.
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