Anyone seeing FOLLIES in LA tonight?- Page 14

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 4:19pm

You won't find me arguing that White didn't deserve a Tony nomination. But if it's true that it came down to a choice between White and Houdyshell, I think the latter did more with less. Houdyshell has all the tools to overplay Hattie, yet she gets every laugh by underplaying the part instead. Having seen Ethel Shutta ham her way (delightfully!) through the role, Houdyshell was a wonderful surprise.

That said, I'd be very happy if White had been nominated as well.

***

Phantom, I found Clark much better just a few performances later. Maybe she's settling into Sally or they are finally letting her find the part in her own way.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 4:37pm

I honestly forgot all about her the second her song was over. I did not forget about Terri.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 5:15pm

qolbinau - thanks so much for posting those VC clips of In Buddy's Eyes and Too Many Mornings. I *really* want to like her, I do. But sometimes you just connect with the sound of someone's voice and sometimes you don't. She can't help what she is, I just think her voice is too strong, too formal for this role. You can really feel her trying to hold back on In Buddy's Eyes which I think is the best of the three songs, but it still lacks that knowing vulnerability of Bernadette and Dorothy Collins. She also sounded too assured and confident to me on her solo lines in "Too Many Mornings", but when Ron and her voices blend on the end of the song? That's heaven. I'll give her that. Much stronger finish than BP was capable of.

I guess, for me, the thing with her is that when she goes "full throttle" (or nearly there) on those upper notes, I stop hearing a human being emote and start hearing simply a voice singing. Singing very well, mind you.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 5:24pm

Having seen Ethel Shutta ham her way (delightfully!) through the role

On Miss Shutta's behalf, I resent the backhanded component to that compliment.

That wasn't ham. That was schtick.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 5:33pm

Ah, yes, joey, the famous pretend-to-kick-the-cat schtick from the Vilna Yiddish Theatre. "Schtick" it is, er, was.

I meant nothing backhanded about the compliment. In his book, Ted Chapin details Shutta's antics and the efforts to rein her in. I was merely acknowledging what I now assume to be common knowledge.

Personally, I thought she was wonderful! (Seriously, my point was just that it was a pleasant surprise to see an opposite approach to the role work so well.)



Updated On: 5/13/12 at 05:33 PM

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 11:08am

I saw the Sunday matinee yesterday. I was in my early 20s when I saw the 1970's production in Los Angeles (actually saw the performance where Ralph Edwards did his This Is Your Life episode!)

It's amazing how 40 years of living changes your perspective.. I guess I didn't fully understand the show back then (I had the emotional maturity of a 12 year old kid). Yesterday's performance moved me again and again. Absolutely superb. I hope to see it again -- this time with my 26-year old daughter (who is far more mature than most 60-year olds).

Follies has always been one of my favorite scores. Los Angeles is so lucky to have it for a few weeks. Bravos to the entire company.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 2:31pm

I saw the show over the weekend and very much enjoyed it. It brought a lot of emotions and was a wonderful experience. The theater was full when I saw it and loved the environment created even before the show began. It started out awkwardly since the audience didn't seem to know whether to clap as the actors entered or not. Elaine, received the loudest applause upon her entrance. People also clapped for Terri and Jan. However, as the show progressed, each of the featured solos received rapturous applause from the audience. Of the Act 1 numbers, Broadway Baby, Who's That Woman (Mirror Mirror) and I'm Still Here received the loudest cheers from the audience.

I do not need to reiterate how fantastic Jan Maxwell is in her role. Just give her the Tony. Ron Raines sang beautifully throughout the show although I found his "Live Laugh Love" somewhat lacking, at least on the night I saw it. Danny Burstein was also wonderful as Buddy. Unfortunately, by the nature of the character, even though his songs were technically difficult, he was overshadowed by the other leads (which in my book means he was successful in his interpretation).

Now on to Victoria… I adore Bernadette and thought she performed as Sally beautifully. Comparing Victoria and Bernadette is like comparing apples to oranges. That said, I very much enjoyed Victoria's interpretation more. She exuded the lack of confidence resulting from the choices she made since leaving the follies while portraying just a hint of crazy underneath. Her "Losing My Mind" was not as sultry as she had performed it at Encores but was still sexy… Sally finally letting who she thinks she is out. Yes she had the hands-on-the-hips pose as she did at Encores but there was a sense of discomfort in that stance which I thought was what Sally would have felt. In the musical interlude, some have commented that she just stood there but to me, it said that Sally was lost… an internal struggle between the sexy Sally and the housewife Sally and the realization that Ben was never hers.

I look forward to seeing the show again soon.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 4:11pm

Huey's Pop loved your post and especially your description of yourself when you first saw this musical; it's a mirror image to describing me when I first saw it. I was also there for yesterday's Mother's Day matinee and your comments and those of Wildcard were what I also witnessed.

The matinee had the same awkward audience reaction to the actors entering that Wildcard mentioned. I started out applauding but gave up quickly. The three already mentioned were the only ones that got any applause with Elaine Paige getting the loudest, but nothing in comparison to what I heard on the first night of previews. The audience at first seemed withdrawn but as mentioned when the solo songs were done each one got louder and louder ovations reaching the pinnacle with "I'm Still Here".

Enjoyed it just as much the second time and liked being able to look more closely for things I didn't see the first time around and there were lots.

The dresses did change from the 1st preview. The green was gone and definitely blue now. Even Danny Burstein changed his lines from green to blue when asking guests if they had seen his wife when describing the dress she was wearing. The "Losing My Mind" dress was definitely blue with only a hint of purple at the bottom from where I was sitting.

Was glad to see that Michael Hayes was back as Roscoe in "Beautiful Girls" such an improvement over that very young kid Guzman who did the first preview. Sammy Williams was much better this time with his song and dance with Susan Watson. Definitely must have been opening night jitters when I saw him the first time around.

The others were all great as they were the first time I saw them, but I'd say that Victoria Clark was even better then that first preview. Jan Maxwell looked like she was having a ball doing her numbers. Unfortunately in her Loveland number one of the ensemble dancers dropped his cane and it bounced not once, not twice but three times before he picked it up. Was really noticeable for the audience and I'm sure you saw it too Huey's Pop.

Thanks Gaveston2 for looking for me to find out if they had souvenirs. They did but not much, no pillow. All they had were the "Follies" shirt and souvenir program which I bought.

Not a big stage door fan but I had to go since I wanted a chance to maybe finally meet Elaine Paige and I did. All the actors came out between shows except for Victoria Clark unless I missed her. Met and chatted with Elaine :)--now I can die happy; Jayne Houdyshell, Ron Raines--long talk with him; Terri White and her wife :); and Jan Maxwell--told her she was my Tony winner!

In my conversation with Elaine Paige she talked about doing concerts in California beginning in January of 2013. You probably already know Gaveston2 but she's coming back to Palm Desert for one that has already been scheduled. I mentioned that she should come to Segerstrom Center for the Arts to perform in their concert hall where Ron and Victoria have performed. She asked where it was and then told I think he was her personal confidante to write that down and he said he knew where it was and would. Hoping it will happen as I'd love to see her in concert singing all the great numbers on the CD "Elaine Paige, Encore" which I brought with me and she graciously signed :)

Another wonderful day at "Follies" and I'll be back. Definitely buying tickets for the last show!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 4:48pm

I was told the reason they didn't have many souvenirs was that they sold them all out in NY.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 5:27pm

Thanks for the "return review", Wicked. We just got tickets to go back on June 6.

I really thought Clark might sound even better with a few more shows under her belt. To my ear, she sounded as if she were still testing the placement of some notes. She is the primary reason we are going back--but because we loved her, not because she was lacking.

In case you haven't been out here, the drive for you to come to Palm Desert (about 12 miles east of Palm Springs) is roughly the same as for us to go to LA, Anaheim or San Diego. The freeways all sort of triangulate in this direction, so all the driving times are roughly the same.

I mention this because you obviously love Elaine Paige. You could drive out here to see her and still drive back the same night. You could also stay over. Even though she'll be here during high season (February, 2013), I don't think the tourism industry is doing so well that you can't get a bargain at one of the local hotels.

***

Wildcard and Pop, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 7:36pm

https://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=376043

I really don't like Clark's Losing My Mind dress at all.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 7:54pm

I saw the show in DC/NYC and DO NOT remember the Carlotta ghost in "I'm Still Here" that you can see in that clip. Does anybody remember it in New York or was it added in LA?

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 7:57pm

They modified Paige's wig also.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 7:57pm

Yes, Carlotta's ghost was in the number in NYC. She seems more prominent in the video though.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 8:16pm

I really don't like Clark's Losing My Mind dress at all.

I don't really understand the animosity towards that dress. (Maybe because it looked great from the mezzanine.)

Seen up close, I agree it isn't particularly memorable, but what's to dislike?

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 8:27pm

I guess because it doesn't really have a shape to the skirt and kind of looks frumpy. I don't know why they had to change it from BP's design.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 8:29pm

I thought it was the same design of BP's dress, it just looked bigger in the back or something. lol. I wonder what Victoria Clark would've looked like if she had the same hair or costumes that BP had before. I do not care for the party dress they have her wearing, though.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 8:38pm

Bernadette's 'Losing My Mind' dress is one of my favorite costumes in recent memory. The simplicity and elegence of it, the way the trim of the shoulder seemed to be almost falling off her in disrepair was so perfect for the song.

I don't know why they had to change it. Is Clark a big enough star to demand new designs?

Updated On: 5/14/12 at 08:38 PM

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 8:49pm

Yes Clark is.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 9:00pm

Thanks for all the responses.

I love the blue party dress and I think the silhouette is perfect for Sally's character.

I see what everyone means about Peters' Loveland dress: it is striking. But Clark's fuller skirt extends the silhouette she's been wearing all evening. (Best of all was Dorothy Collins' "Jean Harlow" dress, but as FOLLIES teaches us: we mustn't live in the past.)

Frankly, Peters' Loveland dress could have come from an episode of last season's PROJECT RUNWAY. Clark's dress is better suited to the FOLLIES period while continuing the scheme of "classic" designs.

All of this is IMO, obviously.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 9:07pm

any pictures of Dorothy Collins loveland dress? Or others from different productions?

[HorseTears]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 9:09pm

"Make me look frumpy and misshapen! I'm Tony Award winner Victoria Clark, dammit!"

I actually wouldn't be surprised if she requested a new design. She has to be aware of how many people are comparing her to la Peters. Smart move, I'd say. It's just unfortunate that the result was that shapeless, lumpy afterthought. Very few women in their 60s are going to have BP's figure, but surely something more flattering could have been designed for Clark?

If anyone can look at the BP dress and the say that the VC dress is just as good? Some WalMart coupons came in the mail today. I'll save them for you.

Sounds like there were many confirmed bachelors and their mothers there on Sunday. I love hearing these reviews from those of you who saw the original ORIGINAL production, by the way. Keep 'em coming!

BTW - I don't suppose Florence Lacey comes out to the stage door does she?

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 9:11pm

think i found it. it's quite stunning, not sure how i feel about her hair with it though.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 9:43pm

BTW - I don't suppose Florence Lacey comes out to the stage door does she?

Yes she did. She was out in the first big wave which included Piel, Watson, Williams, Babatunde and many ensemble members who all passed by too quickly to get autographs. As I said I saw them all except for Victoria Clark and Danny Burstein and I was one of the last to leave stage door after the Sunday matinee. On my way to my car even saw Elaine Paige and other castmembers eating dinner between shows at the outdoor restaurant by the Mark Taper.

Thanks Gaveston2 for the info about driving times. Have decided to purchase a ticket for the February concert when the tickets go on sale with a weekend trip to one of the nearby Indian casinos :)

For the Sondheim SoCal fans don't forget there's a second makeup "In Conversation with Sondheim" with Christine Ebersole & Brian Stokes Mitchell at OCPAC on July 13th. If there are any remaining tickets you can buy them here http://www.scfta.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1151
Can't wait to hear Ebersole do "Losing My Mind" again. It was glorious the first time around w/out Sondheim there; he's going to love hearing her rendition.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 10:16pm

Thanks! I really don't remember the ghost anytime I saw it, but I believe you since I was probably too enthralled with the song.

I don't get the Loveland dress change either. Maybe Clark required straps or is too chesty for the draped shoulder detail? Maybe the detail of Bernadette's design was too expensive to remake? Maybe it was in Bernadette's contract her designs were hers and hers alone? Just theorizing.