Bernadette Peters as Sally in FOLLIES??

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:41pm

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

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:45pm

She'd sound beautiful on the songs but I can't really see her as Sally. Phyllis maybe.

I had no idea Kennedy Center was doing this.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:54pm

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.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:56pm

I guess it's time for me to plan a trip to DC to see FOLLIES then!

I would love to see her fill in for Vanessa Williams when she is out for her scheduled leave in SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, as well, but I'm sure that would just be a pipe dream.

As an aside, Vanessa as Phyllis and Bernadette as Sally has always been my dream...

The rumor still is that Bernie is doing ANYONE CAN WHISLTE as the Mayoress at City Center in the Spring, though I have to admit that her lack of material from that show last night (and the premiere of 2 FOLLIES songs) leads me to believe that may not be true any longer. Frankly, I'd prefer her to do Sally in FOLLIES while she still can pull it off. After all, she has some years left to do the Mayoress and Mrs. Lovett still.

P
Updated On: 11/10/09 at 03:56 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:59pm

"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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 4:02pm

Sally is really a horrible, nasty woman who uses her apparent vulnerability to mask a rancid bitterness.

People always forget that part and think of her as soft or placid. Phyllis gets the bitchy one liners but she has a heart. Sally is the hard one...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 4:54pm

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.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 5:30pm

PLEASE let them use the original book, or have them contact me to rewrite it for them. If they use the revival version (or Papermill!) I'll scream!

Peters wouldn't be my first choice for the role, but I could see it, I guess. She's no Judith Ivey, though.
Updated On: 11/10/09 at 05:30 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 5:32pm

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

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:45pm

You sound like Arthur Laurents before Bernadette played Rose: "She'll bring out SEX in the part that no one has ever brought out before. What this role needs is SEX. Bernadette will give her SEX."

What has sex got to do with Sally?

And when did Bernadette Peters become a sex goddess anyway?

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 10:02pm

"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

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 11:57pm

Bernadette Peters would be perfect for Sally. Forget her age: she doesn't look it, sound it or act it. Besides, she's already played Sally before and did a smashing job of it. She did it as Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE in 1984. Dot is really a young version of the hard-bitten, lost Sally and Peters nailed that role. She'd be wonderful in the role of Sally and would make "Losing My Mind" an unforgettable experience.

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 11:57pm

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.

[moljul]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 12:00am

"Am I the only one that finds Bernadette incredibly sexy?"

No Pgenre, I don't think you are alone. The link below gives you a lot of evidence to back up your opinion as well.


Fever

[binau]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:38am

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!

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

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:43am

Bernadette has said she wants to play Sally before? Are you sure you aren't thinking of the recent interview in which she said she wanted to play Mrs. Lovett?

[binau]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 1:55am

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.
"

[binau]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 2:09am

Oh my God. I just had a shocking, revelation.

What if there is a full scale Kennedy Center revival of FOLLIES recorded for television, with Donna Murphy reprising her Encores! role (Phyllis)! *dies*.

Updated On: 11/11/09 at 02:09 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 6:31am

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

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 8:21am

"...with Donna Murphy reprising her Encores! role (Phyllis)!"

If they go with Peters as Sally, they'd have to go with an older Phyllis as well. So, if anyone were to reprise Phyllis, I'd suggest Dee Hoty (Papermill) would be a good fit.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 9:34am

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).

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:29am

Maybe Michele Lee as Phyllis?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:53am

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.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:56am

How about Sigourney Weaver as Phyllis (Sondheim's original choice for the 2001 revival). Or even - gasp Betty Buckley.

Let Patti do the Mirror Number. And bring back Mandy Patinkin to do Buddy.

Hey why not? This could be the last shot these stars have at doing the show.

I think Peters looks as good at 61 (or better) as Dorothy Collins did in the OBC in her late 40s. The only way it wouldnt work is to cast Peters opposite people like, yes, Donna Murphy. If you keep the ages consistent, its not really an issue. Its not as if Sally gets pregnant and we have to suspend that kind of belief with a 61 year old actress playing the part...

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:57am

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).