FOLLIES' Only Showstopper- Page 2

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:53am

One problem this board runs into is that people often present their opinions as stone-cold, irrefutable facts. That is what the OP is doing when he says that "The Right Girl" was the "only showstopper" in the original production. Many people who post on this board saw the original production and can testify that this was not the case ("Who's That Woman" being the most concrete example). The elevation of opinion to fact is what people are taking issue with here, not the opinion itself.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:57am

Quit popping people's cherries, AC.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:59am

This board is no place to talk about what we did last night, Growl.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:01pm

We'll never be allowed back into the Little Pie Company again

[DAME]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:19pm

Look who the freaking cat dragged back. Oh WISHIHADATONY.. I remember all your lies and fabrications. I might have to go get my dedicated poop shovel and dig some out. I might have to get Marc Shaiman to help me.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 2:00pm

The elevation of opinion to fact is what people are taking issue with here, not the opinion itself.

Nicely put, that.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 3:31pm

The only truly satisfactory Follies was the all-Tony Lisbon Follies, which no one present during its one-week run will ever forget. Directed by Anthony Minghella and designed by Tony Walton. Tony Newley was the best Buddy ever (Tony Danza Wed. matinees) and Tony Hopkins surprised everyone as Ben. Antoinette Perry and Tony Franciosa wowed as the Whitmans. Toni Collette and Toni Braxton, both too young at the time, but were still sensational as Phyllis and Sally. Tony Quayle was an eloquent Dmitri. Minghella's decision to cast Solange as a drag role is still hotly debated, but everyone agrees that Tony Perkins acquitted himself well in the part. Antonia de Legronio (recently "hot" again to viewers of "True Blood" and Fiona Shaw fans everywhere) was the stunt-cast Hattie and most people agreed that she did fine, for a witch who had been dead for 450 years that is. Stella was a milestone in Tonja Pinkins' early career.

But the real showstopper of the evening was Toni Tennille's surprisingly heartfelt Carlotta. Toni, please come back to Broadway soon!

Reorchestrated to an all-fado scoring, rumor is there is a bootleg and that Terrence McNalley is writing a play about it.

[newintown]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 3:40pm

I, too, loved that production, but was less thrilled by the performances of Tony! Toni! Toné! (D'wayne Wiggins, Raphael Saadiq and Timothy Christian Riley) as the showgirls.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 4:59pm

An all-Fado Follies! That would be maravilhoso!


Imagine Amalia Rodrigues as Sally:

http://youtu.be/ke2F9vwpOCA


And Lenita Gentil as Carlotta:

http://youtu.be/x49wxpAwO6o

[Gaveston2]

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

I don't usually condemn the opinion of others so strongly here, but when somebody says the original production of FOLLIES was "dull" and "boring", I recognize he or she isn't giving an honest opinion.

The OP of FOLLIES was many things--too many according to some--and some viewers found it bewildering, some found the problems of the characters ultimately unmoving, some found its point of view too depressing. And many of us found it breathtaking.

But nobody was bored. That's just nonsense invented by those who think themselves cute to try to annoy those of us who love the show. I'm sure they are pleased with whatever responses they get.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:23pm

"But nobody was bored."

Not wishing to be confrontational, but, honestly, are you for real, here? Talk about passing off opinion as fact!

Just how do you feel you can speak for every member of every audience during the original production's year + run?

I think you should reflect a bit, and you'll realize how preposterous your assertion is.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:59pm

After Eight, you and I have already gone a few rounds over FOLLIES on other threads. No need to do it again. I don't believe half of what you say on this subject anyway.

So, okay, somewhere in the 9th row, there was a tired businessman whose wife dragged him to see the show. He enjoyed Alexis Smith's legs for half an hour and then he was bored.

But I assume we are talking about audience members who actually enjoy and care about musical theater.

I do not believe any such viewers were bored during the lush, original production of FOLLIES. That's not to say everyone loved it; I've listed any number of typical (and rather famous) complaints.

Nonetheless, there was simply too much going on for anyone who loves musical theater to get bored. AND it was staged by two of our theater's greatest directors. AND it was scored by our greatest lyricist/one of our greatest composers. AND that doesn't even mention the finest designers of the day.

Sorry. Maybe you're telling the truth that you HATED it. But you weren't bored.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:28pm

" But you weren't bored."

Oh, really? Well, thanks a million for letting me know. And here I was under the illusion for forty years that I was bored stiff!

Well, I needed a good laugh tonight, and you've given me one. So thanks.... I guess.

But if you're now going to tell me that I really didn't love Any Wednesday or Forty Carats, then I'm going to be very, very chagrined indeed.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:48pm

I have no opinion on your enjoyment of Broadway comedies of the 1960s. Now THERE's a genre *I* find boring, with a few exceptions, but to each his own.

When you and I last argued about FOLLIES, you insisted that the show's satire on traditional love songs was pointless because "nobody" ever took those songs seriously in the first place. You went on to insist that "nobody" ever took the love-conquers-all philosophy of theatrical comedy seriously!

So here I have spoken generally for the roughly 300,000 people who saw the original production (I'm guessing half-houses for much of the original run) of FOLLIES.

You had no qualms about generalizing for billions of people who have watched comedies over 2,500 years, yet felt the need to call me out here.

Methinks you are exactly the contrarian that in another thread you claimed not to be.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:03pm

^

You did not find 60's comedies boring.

:)

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:04pm

Yeah, I kind of did. But I'll grant you there were exceptions. Probably ones I haven't thought of in years.