Anyone going to the first preview of FOLLIES? — Page 4

What? No pictures of preset? Come *on*, people!!!

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CPD, Elaine's new coif definitely makes her look taller, but she's still the shortest person in the cast. When I saw her as Norma Desmond, she was wearing heels AND a turban, and she still looked like she hadn't reached puberty. (Height-wise, that is.)

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Is Mary Beth Piel in a wig?
and does Raines still have a beard?

Can anyone describe the staging differences in Lucy/Jessie?

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Here ya go.

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Okay, Mongo *not* like the ceiling treatment *one bit*. It's bad enough that the walls make it appear everything is inside a circus tent, but the ceiling just puts it over the top by about seven kilometers.

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Wow. I love what they did with the theatre. For those who have seen the show, do you think Derek McLane will snag a nomination for his design?

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It would be a sin if he gets a nod for that set. There basically is no set, and adding more ugly drab drapes is just cheap, yes I am judging from the picture. Thank goodness there is Star Power on the stage, it's just a shame, because a set for this show could be an imaginative delight.

>> a set for this show could be an imaginative delight

In Aronson's hands, it was. I never appreciated how complex his set was until I saw the model on display at the NYLPA. Unbelievable the things he did with depth and shadow that put many of today's designers to shame.

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Sean, get THE THEATRE ART OF BORIS ARONSON, if you don't have it already. There are great pics and much discussion of the FOLLIES set, plus all his other glorious work.

went yesterday and:

ok so im a Follies Virgin i had never heard any music or seen anything from the show but when i heard Bernadette & Sondheim i knew i had to see this before i went back to college.

I saw it tuesday The show blew my mind away. Jan Maxwell is a obvious standout she is simply spectacular as Phyllis. Bernadette gave a heart breaking performance as Sally( and the new dress is perfect) Both Ron Raines and Danny Bernstein were outstanding i was really blown away by there performance.

the sets were very nice the theater looks amazing, far better then the pictures.

Overall it was the most amazing experience i have ever had in a theater and the experience was furthered by being able to meet the cast at the stage door (except for Elaine Paige) i will never forget that night or this show, anyone who is curious about this show should see it!!!!!!

I just came home. I rushed it this morning. Sadly, the Mezz was about a third full- I was able to move to the center of the second row at intermission.

It was my first time seeing a production of Follies, and it's the last main Sondheim score I never really got into until recently.

I have to say, I was blown away by the production. The weak link in a very, very strong chain was, for me, Ron Raines (when Ben and Buddy reunite, Ron accidentally said "Danny!" but then quickly covered it up). Of the four principle roles, he was the least fleshed-out for me- and his final breakdown was sort of anticlimactic.

However, I thought the other three were all outstanding and award-worthy. Bernadette sounds and looks gorgeous- her Sally was pitiable, but I never found her "pathetic". Deluded? More than likely manic depressive? Naive? Absolutely.

Danny Burstein was incredible. He made "The Right Girl" work incredibly, and his "God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues" was both comedic and laced with the sadness of understanding. His exit following that number, hat in hands, was almost heartbreaking- but what actually was heartbreaking was his leaving with Sally. He goes to put his arm around her- and then doesn't. Jeez.

Jan Maxwell really shines in Act Two. I believe they've changed a deal "Lucy and Jessie" since DC (based on what I've seen around). The choreography is more Phyllis-centric and less about athletic chorus boys. She more or less poses and shows off her legs most of the time, which I think is fine and works, although I still long for her to do "Ah, But Underneath". But she sells what she's got beautifully. Her "Could I Leave You?" is outstanding, a breakdown of bitterness but also a show of strength.

The ensemble women are all great. "Who's That Woman?" stopped the show, as did Jayne Houdyshell's "Broadway Baby". Houdyshell really is a pleasure to watch- seeing her delight at performing once again revives what has become a classic, done-to-death song. "One More Kiss" was beautiful, but what really made it for me was Rosalind Elias taking the stage. Someone said she did it with trepidation or hesitance. I didn't feel that. Yes, there was a hesitance. But I felt that it was the hesitance that a performer feels when they walk onto the bare stage of an empty theatre. They have material they can do- a monologue, a song. There are memories- especially in Heidi's case. But there's no one there. Is there? The opportunity to do something is there, but it's...it's an odd feeling to jump into it. That's what I got from her slowly moving downstage to start her song.

Elaine Paige was fine. I found her self-indulgent in the way I find Patti LuPone to be. Her "I'm Still Here" is good, until she starts shouting at the end, which was rather inexplicable.

I thought the design elements were all beautiful. The costumes, including Sally's much-discussed dress, were all great. I really loved the Loveland bed of roses. The lighting I found to be exemplary.
The set is, I think, fine. It's a theatre interior. It does what it needs to do and goes no further, and conceals no tricks nor does it try to be anything but a realistic depiction.

The feel of the theatre is amazing. I believe someone complained upon seeing the drapery that it looked like the inside of a tent- I had no such feeling of it in the theatre. It honestly looks, aside from the seats and various other things they could not cover, like a crumbling theatre. Funnily enough, a row of house lights at the back of the mezz were on the fritz, flickering on and off before the show. Hardly planned but also appropriate.


As a whole, I came out of the show moved and pensive, and also exhilarated. The rest of the audience, it seemed, was in the same boat- all discussing performances and lyrics as they walked out.

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It's great to hear FOLLIES virgins feeling the powerful jolt this show can provide.