Dorothy Collins in FOLLIES- Page 2

[ahmelie]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:41pm

Just had to revive this thread, I didn't catch it the first time.

Dorothy Collins is amahzing. What I find so wonderful about her, is that she has such a gorgeous soprano voice, but it's not in an operatic way. It's so easy to relate to, if that makes sense. I don't know how to put it. It's warm. Bah, she's wonderful.

And, on the soundboard, the way she says "Oh God, it *is* tomorrow" breaks my heart over and over.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:49pm

I very much agree, that whole scene after Loveland is fascinating, Collins owns it for me.
That was very well-put, Norn, it was like that is the first time we're seeing Sally Durant without any masks.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:57pm

...& i love when she giggles, "OH Buddy, i just feel so GOOOOD!!!!"

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:03pm

My favorite bit is the "I should have died that first time...", too.

What makes it even more phenominal is when you stop to consider how little acting she had done before "Follies". What had she done, acting-wise? Some tours and some summer-stock.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:03pm

Oh, another one of my favorite lines she says that I had forgotten about is: "You know you're right...it's fun! Can you imagine it at my age having fun?" I just love the way she says it and then of course goes into her brilliant rendition of "In Buddy's Eyes."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:14pm

"youre my Sweet Ben; you're my little boy!"

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:18pm

I don't have too much to add but I basically agree with everything here--she really, as dazzling as Alexis and Phyllis is, is the key for me to Follies' heart. None of the later Sallys come even close (Alexis and the others are pretty hard to top too but haven't proved quite as difficult--Ie I'm pretty fond of Diana Rigg)

It does sound like she connected to her role very personally--Chapin mentions her abusive past marriage, etc. Of course that's true of many of the performers but.

E

[MOIFTY]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:47am

my favorite is her rendition of Losing my Mind. I've heard it sung by many, but no one does it better than Dorothy. Just Heartbreaking.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:58am

"why, when i get a feeling...i enjoy it!!
i just close my eyes & LET! IT! COME!"

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 9:03am

Re the change in the tone of her voice on the soundboard recording, I really like the way she'd dip down into that deeper register whenever her bitchy side would come out. Her "I don't have to," to Phyllis is the one example I can think of off the top of my head, but I know there are more.

I agree with norn's point about her dropping the pretense in the final scene, when she delivers all her lines in that deep, almost monotonous tone. It makes me feel like the entire bubbly Sally we saw (technically heard) through the whole show was nothing but a charade, her own folly, if you will.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 10:59pm

You saw the original "Follies" FIVE TIMES, PalJoey?!?!?!!?!!?

I now officially hate you.

And it pained me to see that Time Magazine with Alexis on the cover. I used to have a copy of it, but a the friend of a former friend who sublet from me threw it away with a bunch of other never-to-be-replaced things not knowing what they were.







Well, we're all waiting, PalJoey, tell us EVERYTHING....

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:56am

"oh how pretty!
can i keep it?"

[jv92]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 8:07pm

BUUUUMMMP!

Her first "Ta-da!" brings tears to my eyes. God knows why. But that last scene...My God. An unquestionably brilliant performance. Why on EARTH didn't she do another Broadway show? She was fabulous.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 9:19pm

I saw the original Follies with Dorothy Collins and she was undeniably great -- I would never think of taking that away from her. However, IMO, Barbara Cook's rendition of Losing My Mind in the 1985 Lincoln Center production was something else again. I still play it repeatedly and it remains, for me, the definitive recording of that song. Just my opinion and , yes, I still think Dorothy Collins was fantastic in the role.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:00pm

Well, when you've got Dorothy Collins, Barbara Cook and Victoria Clark to choose from, you should just give it up and refuse to choose.

[BNN]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:06pm

Having seen some footage (which is back on that site) and having heard my fair share of notorious recordings, I must say that her control over Losing My Mind will always overshadow any one else's attempt. The final "You said you loved me" on the soundtrack sounds wonderful, but in those illegal recordings she seems to scream a bit on "loved" which brings the perfect bit of madness to the song. I just wish I could have been there in 1971 to see it but I at least thank my lucky stars that so many other people did (including my own mother) to share their experience.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:16pm

Dorothy Collins gave an incredible and heartbreaking performance in Follies, and I don't think her performance can ever be surpassed. Heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking.

[gcal]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:39pm

I love every moment of her on the soundboard... especially "If you don't kiss me, Ben, I think I'm gonna die." Her's is my favorite of all of the major productions that I've heard. I love watching her in the footage at the moment after she says "twinkle in her eye" and she sees her younger self. Chills!