An idea: GREASE and FOLLIES are the exact same musical

[bmwpjager]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 2:50pm

Think about it: a series of songs that further mood character and theme over plot, set up as characters looking back on the past, they both have had three Broadway productions, a number near the beginning of the show about looking back (Summer Nights, Waiting for the Girls Upstairs), they both debuted in the 1972 Tony Season and lost to TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.
Only exceptions? GREASE lost every award it was nominated for, FOLLIES won seven, including best score. GREASE went on to become the longest running Broadway musical. FOLLIES closed after less than 600 performances, not making a dime. GREASE is now a staple musical, performed everywhere from Broadway to your local community church. When I see it, I want to claw my eyes out. FOLLIES is one of the most under-produced Sondheim shows, and though contains perhaps the most perfect score in musical theatre history, it remains unknown to most current theatre students (though hopefully the revival will correct that ). And I love that show with every fiber of my being... However, ask any one of the street what the story of Lucy and Jessie is, they'll either think you're crazy or direct you up or downtown but if you ask them what goes with awopbabalobop, and they'll most certainly answer awhopbamboom.
...just a thought :)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:05pm

No offense intended, but what the hell are you on?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:12pm

A new street drug -- "Smileys."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:14pm

Hot buttered popcorn
Giant-sized Coke Zero
Dim the lights
Comfy chair

I'm totally ready for this thread. Will it be in 3D?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:15pm

God, how I wish FOLLIES ended with Sally and Buddy flying off in a car.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:17pm

I had to re-read three times- do you REALLY think Follies is "unknown to most current theatre students" ? I'd bet if you checked 100 "theatre students" IPODs you'd find "Follies" on 98 of them and "Grease" on 2.


Updated On: 12/7/11 at 03:17 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:18pm

Several films are also exactly the same

"King Ralph" and "Lawrence of Arabia"
"Son in Law" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
"Freddy Got Fingered" and "Natural Born Killers"
"The Garbage Pail Kids Movie" and "ET"
Updated On: 12/7/11 at 03:18 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:25pm

An idea: Jordan Catalano and blactor are the exact same poster

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:28pm

It's true...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:39pm

Birth of a Nation and Blackula. SAME EXACT MOVIE.

*slurp*

*munch*

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 4:08pm

No... just no.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 4:14pm

Oh, Phyllis...drop some smilies and have some nachos. You'll feel so much better.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:09pm

I bet that paragraph sounded a lot better in your head before you typed it out.

[BirdOnWing]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:23pm

I would say that Grease 2 is one of the most underrated musicals.

Follies was ok. Why are we paying top dollar to watch performers past their prime?

Love Grease though :) :) :)

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:57pm

^That is easily one of my favorite posts to ever be posted.

[BirdOnWing]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 6:08pm

Glad to see you agree with me themysteriousgrowl!
I'll be your girl for all seasons.

::)

[SNAFU]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 6:27pm

Damn, I read the original post and got high!

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 7:06pm

I..um...huh...WHAT!?

Follies is hardly unknown. Most theater fans heard of it and many know it.

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 7:09pm

BirdOnWing, I don't think he was agreeing.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 11:49pm

[Kad]

Posted: 12/8/11 at 12:53am

"Cool Rider" is so much better than watching that washed-up nobody Bernadette Peters sing "Losing My Head" or whatever that song is called.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 12/8/11 at 2:14am

After reading this thread, I'm a little bit in love with this idea.

I'm also very, very drunk.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 12/8/11 at 4:31am

Comparing Grease to anything but a huge pile of dung is insulting to any self respecting theatre person. Comparing it to Sondheim is grounds for deportation.

[NoHSMisNotAMusical]

Posted: 12/8/11 at 7:53am

BirdOnWing- You are either on drugs or trolling. If you're not, GTFO. I think I've realized how to troll this board.
Say You Hate Sondheim + Diss Broadway Legends + Say You Like A Crappy Musical = Angry Theatre People

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/8/11 at 8:39am

All of a sudden, I'm seeing a new ending for FOLLIES. OMG, why didnt I realize this before? Her husband's lost his mind in his last musical number; their best friends are trying to put their shattered marriage back together — and it's up to her. Yes. Phyllis has to emotionally bring all this together, for the sake of everyone: herself, her family, her friends, and the thousands of people sitting out there in the dark. So she runs to centre stage, opens her arms wide, and sings...

THE SUN WILL COME OUT
TOMORROW.....