Bernadette Peters as Sally in FOLLIES??

Last night at her concert, Bernadette sang "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Losing My Mind." ATC is speculating about her playing Sally in the upcoming Kennedy Center production of the show. Apparently she has approached the director about doing it. I would imagine it's definitely as Sally.

I have mixed feelings about her in the role. Part of me think she could be the amazing, the other part worries it could be a disaster. She's clearly out of the age range for both Sally and Phyllis, but luckily she can probably still pass for 49.

http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1793158

Thoughts from the FOLLIES fans? Is she more of a Phyllis?

Updated On: 10/3/10 at 03:41 PM

Yes she's too old but it hardly matters. She doesn't look it, and if you cast everyone else in the same age range, why not? If I were the director of the Kennedy Center production I'd jump to have Bernadette Peters involved.

Oh and she'd definitely be a Sally. I totally see it. She'd be able to bring the sardonic manipulative quality to the role thats often missing.

"She'd be able to bring the sardonic manipulative quality to the role thats often missing."

That is such a good point. She wouldn't be the cute/harmless Sally. She would definitely show the character's manipulative side more than other actresses.

I think she'll be good, but Victoria Clark recently re-envisioned the character pretty much as MB just described, so she would be left to do a version of what Vicky Clark already did.

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I think Bernadette will bring a sexiness to the role that Clark, lord love her, never did and never could. You have to believe that Buddy wants to bang her, then and now, or else it doesn't work, whether or not they actually do, then or now. The staging at Papermill was my all-time favorite for this number because for the first time you understood all of this in a deliberate way, and a good way to portray the emotion of the song; this was a sexual relationship, and an emotional one, between Ben and Sally, but the sexuality is what Bernadette will bring to the role and make her a good candidate, despite all the naysayers and bitter bettys.

P

"You sound like Arthur Laurents"

In all the years I have been 'round these parts, that is BY FAR the highest compliment I have ever been afforded by anyone. From PalJoey HIMSELF no less!



Am I the only one that finds Bernadette incredibly sexy? Am I the only one that thinks playing up that sexuality could be a valid character choice considering Sally is willing to throw away a 20 year marriage (despite Buddy's infidelity) for a mere kiss with Ben... COMPOUNDED by the fact that she is a little nutso and throwing herself at Ben while being actually sexually attractive (sorry Delores, Barbara and Judith!) or even plain horny maybe would entice him even further given his sexless ("passionless lovemaking once a year" is sexless by modern definition, anything less than 8 times a year is - just fyi) marriage to Phyllis? Maybe I'M just nutso (and/or horny).

P

Bernadette Peters has always been a sexy woman. Vargas one of Playboy magazines prominent artists illustrated her for one of her album covers. She even made the cover of Playboy in 1981.

She is incredibly sexy.

Bernadette performed Fever at the Adelaide Cabaret festival too, which I caught on Australian cable. (Release on DVD already PLEASE). She does come across as sexy.

Though I can't really judge. Unless she has been lying about her gender all these years.

WHEN IS THE FOLLIES KENNEDY CENTER REVIVAL HAPPENING?

Bernadette explicitly stated in an interview she *wants* to play Sally. This plus the songs makes me convinced it is true. Even if Bernadette massacres the part any director who would turn her down is silly IMO, so I think it could happen!

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Updated On: 11/11/09 at 01:38 AM

I'm sure. BUt they are related.

In this interview she was asked if she wanted to play Lovett,

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=features&sc3=&id=89110

She said "I started looking at that role", BUT "you know what role I would love to play is Sally in ’Follies.’ That’s the one. The music, the role, everything about it.
"

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When is this Kennedy Center Follies supposed to be??? I need to buy tickets for every performance immediately!

Ugh. No Dee Hoty. I can't stand her sing-song speaking voice. I agree, though, if the are going to cast a 60+ year old Sally you've got to have a Phyllis that looks the same age as her. And I do like Bernadette Peters and I do think she looks great, but ultimately I don't think she looks like someone in her late 40s.

As for Sally needing to ooze with sex or whatever, I don't really think that's the case. I'm not saying she's sexless, but it's not the 49 year old Sally Ben is seeing when he looks at her at the reunion; it's the younger her. And the allure of sex with her is hardly what makes him entertain starting things up with her; he had sex that very day with someone else. He's as desperate as she is to go back to a time where he isn't the man he is today (today in the context of the show).

Well, you can still want Dee Hoty. No one ever listens to me anyway. :)

I still think Vanessa Williams should be Phyllis. Somewhere. Somehow. I know there are others on this board. Maybe we could storm Sondheim or something and demand it. Or hold him hostage until Vanessa Williams is cast. I'm open to suggestions.

I think Vanessa Williams would be an excellent Phyllis, but she couldn't really play opposite Bernadette (who would be good, but not as sublime as Victoria Clark was).

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