Follies Broadway return for summer season ?- Page 2

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 5:46pm

I think McDonald - at this point is pretty much a lock. I don't think anyone could say she isn't marvelous in the role.

I'd love for Follies to make it back. When I saw it I wasn't sure what to expect, and I don't really care for Peters, so I'd love to see Clark's take.

[binau]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 7:11pm

lupone76, your mum actually thinks Bernadette gave the worst performance on Broadway, ever? lol..there seems to be quite a backlash.

I think we should go into more detail than simply "poor" or "can't sing", "can't act" etc. because it is so vague, but what do you expect from "Sally" that Bernadette couldn't deliver?

From the moment she walks on stage till the moment she walks off stage she fully commits to playing a difficult, overwhelmed, crazed woman who is consumed by Ben. She looks and sounds "petite, pert, sweet-faced" and is "still remarkably like the girl she was thirty years ago".

Her line readings, many of which are on the cast recording seem consistent with this character. Notice how she says "Oh buddy...you came"..while hesitating and sounding resentful that he as at the party (It is ambiguous whether she is being intentionally obnoxious or just bad at lying). When she notices that Phyllis has 'came' she is much more friendly/happy, perhaps because she knows there is a correlation between Ben and Phyllis being at the same party. Indeed, notice how she casually drops "Is Ben still in Washington" to see if he is at the party, and her voice changes into girlish excitement with "He's here tonight?" when she knows that they are going to meet. This seems perfect/consistent with the character to me.

Likewise, the line readings leading up to "Loveland" are also some of my favourite. "It's getting late Ben, We should go" and "Please Ben, I'd like to go now"...I find it hard to describe what she is doing but it sounds just so, serious... as if they have already been in a relationship for 30 years and there is nothing unusual or strange about the request (i.e. she sounds practically deluded)

In terms of her singing, I love how she sings and acts "In Buddy's Eyes". I love how sad and reflective her sustained, slow vibrato notes sound throughout the song and how she often decrescendos on them (I also love how she does this in "Losing My Mind" on the "You said you loved meeee" line - although the cast recording does not capture this as well {it cuts off quicker}, or her hitting the low notes in the song compared to when I saw her, but still). Especially in the second half of Buddy's Eyes, I think the long sustained notes with slow vibrato and decrescendos make it so clear that she is 'lying' and is very sad. This seems so consistent with the character.....

I guess I just find it difficult to understand why people don't like her in this role because to me she seems to consistently and appropriately be playing and singing the character. Variety has been particularly harsh of her performance,

"Bernadette Peters, who gave a revelatory performance last season as Desiree in "A Little Night Music," makes a bravely original but ultimately unconvincing Sally. The character is admittedly unstable, but Peters plays it like something out of Albee -- thus seeming stylistically mismatched with everyone else. When those big ballads come along, we can't tell whether Sally is struggling with her emotions or Peters is just struggling with the notes." (lol, they are funny though) and "Victoria Clark replaces the miscast and vocally compromised Bernadette Peters"

I guess I just find it difficult to understand how people can quickly dismiss her performance as "not acted" or "not sung" when I feel it was a thoughtful performance and on paper she perfectly fits the character. I think a better example of questionable Bernadette-acting is her performance in NIGHT MUSIC. Her inconsistent accent and insincere/strange line readings and pauses were out of touch with what she achieved with her amazing "Send in the Clowns" (which might have made that moment even better, though).

Bernadette is one of the few Broadway stars left who can sell tickets (Victoria Clark is not one of them) so I don't know if re-opening would be a good idea, but if it means more recordings then why not :P, it's not my money.

Updated On: 5/18/12 at 07:11 PM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 7:56pm

qolbinau - i agree with everything you said. The thing to remember is Bernadette always makes VERY bold acting and singing choices. When she goes into a role she goes full throttle. Actors (and people in general) who make bold choices are often polarizing. You will either love it or hate it, which I think is amazing. I'd rather hear that people are torn by Bernadette's performances than think she was 'just ok'.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 7:58pm

I once heard that Peters has in her contract that a production can't release a follow up cast album when she deprts a show. And that's why Reba could do another AGYG. Anyone know if that's true? Would mean no Follies recording with Clark.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:07pm

Let's get real. There's no way they'd release another recording for Clark. She just doesn't warrant it - and I love her. If Peters and Stritch didn't get anything re-recorded in Night Music, there's no chance for Clark.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:08pm

Actors (and people in general) who make bold choices are often polarizing. You will either love it or hate it, which I think is amazing.

Exactly. I feel like the same thing happened with Elena Roger.

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:09pm

Honestly what would be the point of a cast recording with clark? To have maybe 4 songs recorded?!?!

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:37pm

Listen to Bernadette on the cast recording. The way she says "IIIIIIIIIIIIII...dontwant. to fight. with. you Phyll!" is absurd and cartoonish. She starts the show completely batpoop and builds from that. Yes, Sally is obsessed and delusional, but she is NOT bipolar. I would never say it was a terrible performance, but I found her completely misguided in the role and every thing she did seemed fake. Her "Don't Look at Me" was completely rehearsed and trying to be cutesy, not a wrong interpretation, but I prefer Clark's excitement and nervous goofy energy. Bernadette played "Look at me NOW Ben! You are missing out! I put on a sexy red dress and will wiggle for ya!" a women with a mission. Clark plays "Look at me THEN, Ben!" and relies on his good graces. Sally is obsessed with the idea and memories Ben but this night is a last ditch insane effort and she knows it. However, I find it insanely interesting that their "Losing My Mind"s are played oppositely. Bernadette is strong crazy sexy Sally all night but turns into a quiet lost girl while Clark is nervous and shy but turns into a strong sexy siren chanteuse.

You are perfectly entitled to love her and sing her praises and I don't think you are "wrong." I'm just saying what I personally found Bernadette completely wrong for Sally Durant.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:54pm

Actually MANY people believe that Sally is indeed manic depressive. Long before Bernadette ever played the role.

Also, Bernadette's red dress was long gone by Broadway. Not sure why you brought that up.

Updated On: 5/18/12 at 08:54 PM

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 9:11pm

qolbinau, I completely agree with your assessment of Bernadette's performance. I also don't understand why so many people hated it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 9:24pm

But we can all agree Bernadette was doing a William Shatner impression throughout most of it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 9:27pm

We hated it because she was bad and boring. Thankfully there were other good performances going on around her that I was entertained.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 9:36pm

^ Like Rosalind Elias, who you called a "drag queen with a man's voice" - or something like that.

Updated On: 5/18/12 at 09:36 PM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 10:16pm

Unrelated and a few years late, but I'm rewatching the Sondheim Birthday Celebration from Avery Fisher right now and, goodness, Audra would be a divine Sally. Her performance in "Too Many Mornings" just blew me away again. Can we have another revival in 10 years?

[HorseTears]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 10:34pm

Audra did sound magnificent, but this can only work if she takes it easy on the bicep curls. Sally isn't supposed to look like a West Hollywood personal trainer is she?

Also, if you MUST see this production again, catch a flight to LA. If they couldn't sell enough tickets with Bernadette there's no way they're bringing it back with Clark. I doubt we'll see a Sondheim show mounted on this scale for years and years. Get ready for more teeny tiny imports with 3 musicians in the pit and 7 actors on stage...

Updated On: 5/18/12 at 10:34 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 10:36pm

Audra's voice was made for Sally, but everything else about her is Phyllis.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 11:03pm

Well she convinced me in she'd be great in "Too Many Mornings." Of course, now I just finished Marin Mazzie's "Losing My Mind" and it's hard to top that.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 11:36pm

They should play a month in ChiTown than take it to FLA where the audience will get more of the refrences and the theme of the play.

Bernie was a sublime Sally, different, unexpected and extremely touching. IMO.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 12:23am

This just PISSES ME OFF! SERIOUSLY...do you know how much I SPENT to see this 7 or 8 times (lost track...my bad) ALREADY!!!! I even made my way to DC DURING THE SUMMER to see this in fear that it wouldn't transfer!


That this just might return to NYC makes me so DAMN.....happy!

[madtownguy]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 1:48am

Follies was exceeding its running costs by more than two hundred thousand a week when it closed. It closed because Evita was coming in and Follies had to leave. There were no other suitable theaters available at the time. With suitable theater space available over the summer, this sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this happen.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 1:51am

Any truth to the rumor that HAIR is coming back for Another Summer of Love?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 2:09am

Just realized that the Palace will be open at the end of June until Annie... I could see it doing a limited engagement there for a few weeks. Fingers crossed.

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 2:30am

The palace is way to HUGE for Follies. Just think how much more fabric theyed have to purchase and hang to cover that entire theater...lol, though putting it in the Palace would be ironic since it the most famous vaudville theater, what the ziegfeild follies culture replaced.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 3:21am

They could always close off the balcony too.

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 5/19/12 at 9:41am

The revival had a running weekly cost of 625000 to 650000 and only towards the end of the run dipped below and in December did around that figure if not a bit more. August to October it turned a good profit. The marketing was those who want to pay will pay bucks so although audience figures dipped the avg cost of ticket paid was about 80 to 90 even towards the end. They never discounted huge offers until the last month.

If it came back I think they would put offers out.

I think it would suit well to the Al Hirchsfeld theatre for a 3 month run until it seems Into The Woods goes in...