Follies Revival in the Fall?- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:37pm

The difference is CHICAGO isn't trying to emulate the Ziegfeld Follies. I didn't see the production live but have since seen the archival video of the Encores FOLLIES - and its great for a concert production, but I maintain it would be hugely disappointing to have that minimalist production as the actual Broadway revival.

I'd rather see City Opera do it with the budget it deserves.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:37pm

I would indeed miss Worley, but won't she still be in Drowsy in the fall?

I liked Baranski's acting, but why not help the lady out, and transpose it down a whole step for her? It was obviously too much for her. Otherwise I wouldn't mind if they replaced her.

And they'll also need a new Young Phyllis. Jenny Powers was quite fantastic though.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:38pm

Maybe she'll realize Grease is not the word if she wants to do something artistically fruitful.
Here's a thought, perhaps we shouldn't trust this article. It did talk about Christine Ebersole losing a Tony and we all know that won't happen.
Updated On: 4/6/07 at 01:38 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:44pm

Well, as everyone has pointed out each time this comes up, the chances of it happening are slim. I'd still love to see it happen, though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:47pm

So shoot me but I think Rizzo is one of the most fun roles for a woman in musical theatre. I think its a way more artistically satisfying role than "Young Phyllis."

Apparently they tried every key ever written for Baranski and she sounded terrible in all of them.
Updated On: 4/6/07 at 01:47 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:48pm

I'm trusting Riedel and Thesbijean with this. It looks like the unknown producers (Weisslers?) are really trying to make this happen.

As long as the 4 leads are the same, I'm fine with keeping concert it style. The leads were AMAZING. Though I think there will be some changes to the set, costumes, etc for the better. Like the transfers of Wonderful Town, and The Apple Tree.
Updated On: 4/6/07 at 01:48 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:49pm

If the transfer indeed happens (as slim as the chances are), they should keep every single person in the cast except for Baranski. Although, I thought she was excellent in the book scenes, her "I'm Still Here" was the most disappointing moment in the show for me. However, if she gets enough rehearsal time, she might do a better job with the song. I cannot imagine this FOLLIES without JoAnne Worley, though. She was the best in an incredibly talented and ingenious supporting cast (Mimi Hines, Anne Rogers, Robert E. Flitch, Dorothy Stanley et al were top-notch), and her "Who's That Woman?" stopped the show opening night.
I'm glad that they're waiting for Murphy to finish her LoveMusik run, though I highly doubt the Weisslers are the ones behind this project if Donna Murphy is indeed taking part of it. Though perhaps they put their issues in the past the way Arthur Laurents did with Patti LuPone (after all, I think if Murphy's Phyllis were eligible for the Tonys this season, she'd be Ebersole's biggest competition).
Who knows? Call me naive but this article made my day.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:51pm

If we're assuming/expecting Ebersole to be avilable (will she want to play GG forever?), why not have her as Carlotta???

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 2:21pm

While Carlotta is a fantastic role. I don't think Ebersole will want to downsize like that after her amazing role(s) in Gardens.
Plus I think she'll need some much deserved rest after GG.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 2:30pm

I didn't see the Encores! staging (after all I live in Ohio), and heard nothing but how glorious the cast was. This is the first i've heard about Baranski's letdown performance. I'm just cruious: what was so wrong with it?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 2:31pm

^ She couldn't properly sing I'M STILL HERE. The ending was too much of a stretch for her, and she strained to sing it.

Otherwise, I thought her acting was fabulous.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 2:38pm

On the archival video I actually thought her acting was worse than her singing - she just didn't have a handle on how to play the song - and she tried 86 different interpretations as she was singing it. Ultimately she was just miscast. She is not Carlotta.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 2:40pm

^ I don't know what performance you saw on the "archival video."

But by the latter performances it was said she improved A LOT all around. And even she said her performance grew a ton by Monday's performance.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:00pm

Maybe with a proper rehearsal period she would be better. But it still doesn't change the fact that she's miscast in the role.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:03pm

I was going to say that either Roundabout or MTC would be smart to pick this one up....then I realized that Roundabout produced the last one.

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:08pm

I actually think Ebersole would want to take a smaller role. The article even states that GG has taken an emotional drain on her, so why wouldn't she want to take a breather and play Carlotta? She would still have a showstopper anyway.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:11pm

I agree with MB about Baranski. Her acting was nothing to write home about, cold and remote and then downright hostile when it came to her song.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:15pm

I really don't see Donna Murphy or Sondheim,for that matter, getting anywhere near a Weisler Production.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 3:30pm

He was near their hit production of GYPSY...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 4:58pm

Apparently they tried every key ever written for Baranski and she sounded terrible in all of them.

Why Michael Bennett, that's the MEANEST thing I've ever heard you say!

I hereby bestow you with this week's Arthur Laurents Humanitarian Award.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 7:23pm

I know for a fact that Mike Nichols SAID he wanted to do it after the Encores staging--but everythign else is speculation

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 7:27pm

I hereby bestow you with this week's Arthur Laurents Humanitarian Award.


- LMAO!

[jv92]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 11:39pm

Ditto.

Folks, when Sondheim endorsed a Weissler production, that was before Grease and Chicago and before stunt casting. Though Zorba starred Tony Quinn and Gypsy starred Tyne Daily, two big stars, they were stage vets and didn't run nearly as long as their other two shows. I doubt he'll let Follies go down the same path as Chicago. It's a shame John Kander has, though not all of the stunt casting has been that bad. As of late though...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 1:16am

MB, why did you think Baranski was miscast as Carlotta? Who do you think would make a convincing and effective Carlotta in the proposed revival (I recall you mentioned Adrienne Barbeau)?
At the post-matinee talk, Baranski did say that she approached the song as this big Sondheim anthem and was very intimidated by it. Then she decided to let all that go and approach it as a series of one-liners. I'm not sure it worked, but at least she recognized that her lack of rehearsal didn't help much.
I'm curious no one is talking about Victor Garber. He just did that pilot with Laura Benanti and he also has said repeatedly that he feels satisfied doing an Encores! every year and that's it, at least to my knowledge he has no desire to do a long-run.
It'd be great to have the whole cast transfer though.

[OOTI2004]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 1:48am

a little off topic but not really...

It was mentioned that the transfer would be lacking in sets and costumes, obviously thats how it occurred with Chicago, but when they transferred Wonderful Town was it kept at a concert like production or made into more of a full-scale revival?