Anyone going to the first preview of FOLLIES? — Page 8

And dirty drapes covering the auditorium- cheap and obvious.

Some of you people WILL never be happy. Always have to be picking on something. If the production left the Marquis theater in its regular state, some of you would be complaining that the theater is way too modern for the show, and that it takes away from the atmosphere of the piece. Now that there is an atmospheric design, some are still complaining. Let's face it, there will NEVER be a perfect revival of this musical. For many of us who weren't lucky enough to have seen the original production, this revival is very special for us.

Updated On: 8/19/11 at 01:45 AM

It's set in a theatre that's in the process of being demolished. Why is it wrong for it to look like that?

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It's wrong because it's not the original.

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Except, it seems, the creative staff of this production. I won't see this production in New York- I saw it in Washington. The best adjective for this production that I can come up with is "collegiate".

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I wish I'd been able to see the original production, but until a time machine is invented, I'll have to be happy with the limited clips we do have (and, yes, thanks PalJoey for pointing us in the right direction for all that stuff!) and revivals like the one now. This new production may not be as good as the original, but it has a lot of good stuff going for it. And I think that Boris Aronson might've thought the atmospheric set design was clever, though not necessarily what he would've chosen to do.

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No one can be blamed for being young. One can be blamed if one's theatrical expectations do not aim higher than whether or not the theatre is selling souvenir pillows or the changing color of a costume. Low levels of theatrical presentations result in low levels of theatrical expectations. Expect more, and let people KNOW you expect more. Settle for less, and that's what producers will happily give you, proving P.T. Barnum right. This production cost over SEVEN MILLION dollars? It's not on stage. Where is it?

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Updated On: 8/19/11 at 02:36 AM

Wow, justoldbill! You didn't like the show. OK. But why are you so offended that others do? Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with low expectations, but simply personal preference.

I saw the show just this past Wednesday matinee. I brought my 14 year old daughter. I have never seen any production of Follies, but was actaully IN one (non-professional) when I was 18 -- and played Hattie, no lie -- so there was some sentimental attachment.

I really enjoyed it a great deal. I was involved, I was mystified, I was entertained and I was moved. My daughter wasn't able to make too much of an attachment to it, not really knowing a lot about life regrets at 14. The majority of the audience seemed to LOVE it as evidenced by their thunderous applause.

PS...I used the broadwaybox code, at the box office the day before and got fabulous, row K seats in the center orchestra section. The show appeared to be sold out, I'm guessing in large part due to TKTS (same discount, I believe.)

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I'm not talking about palJoey - he has done a lot to make sure younger people (everyone, really) gets the opportunity to see whatever footage there is of the original production.

Aw, thanks, ljay--and you too, bwayfan. I love not being lumped in with the cranky old people...this time!

And remember: When I was a teenager and lucky enough to see all those shows of the early 70s, there were people telling me I missed all the best stuff...because I had never seen Merman in Gypsy, or Streisand in Funny Girl, or Garland live.

The white sheets are fine. Would Boris Aronson have come up with a better solution? Probably, but he's dead. Yes, of COURSE ghosts can close doors. Did Hal Prince and Michael Bennett come up with better ghosts? Definitely, but Michael is dead and the last thing Hal would probably want to do is direct Follies again!

This is the Follies we are given--let us rejoice in it. At least it is better than the Roundabout production.

There's a fine line between sharing memories and insights and pissing on other people's newfound enthusiasm. I have to ride that fine line every time I post here.

I bought the pillow because there ISN'T a pillow of the poster from the original production. And now the ghost of my beautiful Miss Holly lies against that pillow, like one of Flossie Klotz's showgirls, leaning against Boris Aronson's proscenium.

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Updated On: 8/19/11 at 08:36 AM

With a mother like that, who wouldn't be?

She probably gave it to him on closing night with a note saying, "Sorry another show failed. As always, Mom"

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justoldbill: "This production cost over SEVEN MILLION dollars? It's not on stage. Where is it?"

What do you think Bernadette makes a week? How about 28 musicians in the pit and a cast of 41? The costumes cost more than the set. Oh, it's on the stage, believe me.

And spare the rest of us yours.

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"So true. Sometimes, I honestly feel like older posters try to fault us for not having been alive for the original production."



Not true. The whole notion of faulting someone for not having been born earlier is preposterous. One is born when one is born, and that's that. And no one is trying to spoil anyone else's enjoyment of anything.

If anything, it seems to me that younger people are blaming the older posters for having seen original productions of shows and for finding them superior to revivals. Well, if that's how the oldsters feel, what's the beef? Why are you faulting them for voicing opinions just as you do? Yes, I saw the original production of Follies and found it superior to this one. Should I feel somehow guilty for having seen the original, and for feeling this way? Well, I don't, on either score.