"Follies" Survey!

Why not,

Favorite recording: OBC recording

Least Favorite Recording: Lincoln Center Recording

Favorite book song: "Waiting For the Girls Upstairs", if "I'm Still Here" doesn't count.

Favorite pastiche song: "Losing My Mind"

Phyllis or Sally: Sally, it is the hardest role to do and the most emotional and heartbreaking.

Some have said that the show is really a study of the character Ben. All three of the other leads have a strong connection to him while lacking a conection to each other. Is this valid: Yes it is valid.

Were "The Team" (Sondheim, Prince, Goldman and Bennett) kidding themselves with the whole ghost concept: No. The show can not be done without it. It is expressed so well with the opening music.

Favorite version of "Losing My Mind": Dorothy Collins. But, I gotta say out of context Dorothy Loudon's version is amazing.

Favorite version of "Broadway Baby": ETHEL SHUTTA!!

"I'm Still Here": Yvonne de Carlo.

"Could I Leave You?": Alexis Smith. Nobody can touch her version!

Have you heard the OBC opening night soundboard recording?: No. How do you get it?

What did you think?:

You favorite...

Sally? Dorothy Collins. Followed by Barbara Cook.

Ben? John McMartin

Phyllis? Alexis Smith tied with Blyhte Danner at a close second. Smith's singing is better.

Carlotta? Again, Yvonne!!

Buddy? Gene Nelson

Hattie? Ethel Shutta. Do like Elaine Stritch too.

Was "Follies" robbed of the Best Musical Tony? Of course

Did Alexis Smith deserve her Tony? Yes.

Did you read "Everything Was Possible" no

Were you aware that when the show started production only 18 and a half minutes of the score were finished? I did

"Were "The Team" (Sondheim, Prince, Goldman and Bennett) kidding themselves with the whole ghost concept: I think it was what dug Bennet and Princes grave. The idea is so fantastic it became too impossible to actually bring to life. That said I do think it would work now. Audiences are a lot more comfortable with experimental theater these days"

You don't have the slightest inkling of what you're talking about. The 'whole ghost concept' worked 35 years ago (were you even around to see it?) and was a completely realized, successful, and involving aspect of the production.

"Some have said (and I agree) that the show is really a study of the character Ben. All three of the other leads have a strong connection to him while lacking a conection to each other. Is this valid?"

No, it's completely irrelevant and has absolutely nothing to do with the structural or thematic realization of the piece.



Alexis Smith
Amidst The Rubble Of A Broadway Theater, NYC

You don't have the slightest inkling of what you're talking about. The 'whole ghost concept' worked 35 years ago (were you even around to see it?) and was a completely realized, successful, and involving aspect of the production.

Wow you're a sweetheart!!

And poor Ciaron McCarthy just embarrassed himself by making that ignorant and laughably unsubstantable comment about the concept NOT working.

I don't feel embarrassed at all. I know plenty of people who saw the orignal show who said the ghosts could be distracting and were often placed in awkward places.

Why would I be embarrassed? It's a musical survey. I'm not gonna run and hide because you disagree.

The ghosts worked so mind-F*CKingly well in Michael Bennett's staging that it is possible no subsequent staging will EVER hold up.

So mind-f*ckingly well? If it is the end all of the piece why did Clive Barnes mention everything else but that in his review? He gives it one mention.

Favorite version of "Losing My Mind": Barbara Cook!!!!!! Why haven't more people said her!

I am just NOT a Cook fan...she has a great soprano, yes, but she doesn't emote well. I've never been touched by her, from "Music Man" to "Carrie" she has always been a chore to listen to.

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I absolutely find Cook's "Too Many Mornings" and "In Buddy's Eyes" rather superb and touching.

C for Company, that's my favorite part in her "Losing my Mind"! 'You said you Loved me, or Were you just being Kind......"

Updated On: 10/28/06 at 02:05 PM

Favorite Recording: Lincoln Center 1985 Concert

Least Favorite Recording: Except for the addition of "Country House," I can't stand the London Cast Recording

Favorite Book Song: "Waiting For the Girls Upstairs"

Favorite Pastiche Song: "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through"

Phyllis or Sally: Phyllis, Sally is too weak for me to feel much sympathy for her role

Some have said that the show is really a study of the character Ben. All three of the other leads have a strong connection to him while lacking a conection to each other. Is this valid: Never seen the show live, but I've read the published script and the show seemed to be more about Sally to me.

Were "The Team" (Sondheim, Prince, Goldman and Bennett) kidding themselves with the whole ghost concept: Were they?

Favorite version of "Losing My Mind": Dorothy Collins' is pretty definite

Favorite version of "Broadway Baby": A tie between Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters in her Carnegie Hall Concert album

"I'm Still Here": Nancy Walker sings a great version in the 1973 Sondheim Tribute recording

"Could I Leave You?": Alexis Smith, though once I hear Donna Murphy, this is probably will change

Have you heard the OBC opening night soundboard recording?: Was not aware that there was one, must be quite great to hear given all the terrible cuts the score went through in the OBCR

What did you think?: See above

Your favorite...

Sally? Barbara Cook

Ben?: Laurence Guittard

Phyllis?: Lee Remick followed by Alexis Smith

Carlotta?: Yvonne DeCarlo

Buddy?: Gene Nelson

Hattie? Elaine Stritch

Was "Follies" robbed of the Best Musical Tony? I think so

Did Alexis Smith deserve her Tony? I prefer Collins in the cast recording, though I'm sure Alexis Smith was marvelous in the book scenes, was not around so can't tell

Did you read "Everything Was Possible:" I've read the intro, gotta keep reading

Were you aware that when the show started production only 18 and a half minutes of the score were finished? I was not aware but I'm not surprised, isn't Sondheim known for being a procrastinator? He always comes up with brilliant results though

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Favorite recording: One not yet mentioned.

Least Favorite Recording: Of the commercial recordings, probably the concert.

Favorite book song: "The Road You Didn't Take"

Favorite pastiche song: "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues," followed by "Uptown, Downtown" if we want to count it.

Phyllis or Sally: Sally

Some have said (and I agree) that the show is really a study of the character Ben. All three of the other leads have a strong connection to him while lacking a conection to each other. Is this valid: Ben is arguably the central character to the degree that there is one, but I certainly wouldn't say that the show is really a study of any one character. Ben is the one whom they all either want (Phyllis and Sally) or envy because Ben has something another character wants (Buddy envies him for having Sally's love), but Buddy and Sally certainly have a strong if dysfunctional connection.

Were "The Team" (Sondheim, Prince, Goldman and Bennett) kidding themselves with the whole ghost concept: No. And Clive Barnes probably slept through half the show.

Favorite version of "Losing My Mind": Dorothy Collins.

Favorite version of "Broadway Baby": Ethel Shutta

"I'm Still Here": Yvonne de Carlo, though Nancy Walker's was also great.

"Could I Leave You?": Alexis Smith.

Have you heard the OBC opening night soundboard recording?: Yes.

What did you think?: The performances got better later in the run. It's too bad that they got Gene and Yvonne on a night when they went up. Too bad it's not the whole show. But it's OK.

You favorite...

Sally? Dorothy Collins.

Ben? John McMartin

Phyllis? Alexis Smith

Carlotta? Yvonne De Carlo

Buddy? Gene Nelson, though Harvey Evans was also great in the Long Beach production. I've never heard Sondheim say that Gene Nelson gave one of his favorite performances. He did say that John McMartin did.

Hattie? Ethel Shutta.

Was "Follies" robbed of the Best Musical Tony? Yes, but worse things have happened.

Did Alexis Smith deserve her Tony? It should have gone to Dorothy.

Did you read "Everything Was Possible"? Yes.

Were you aware that when the show started production only 18 and a half minutes of the score were finished? No, and I think it's not true, at least if by "when the show started production," you mean when rehearsals started. Where did you hear this?

I think it might be accurate to say that they started rehearsals with all but eighteen and a half minutes of vocal music that would be in the final version already written, namely:

I'm Still Here
The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues
The Story of Lucy and Jessie
Live, Laugh, Love

AFAIK, all the other songs in the final Broadway version of the score were already written when rehearsals started.

Even if I've forgotten something and there were one or two more songs not yet written when rehearsals started, it wasn't more than that and that leaves a lot more than eighteen-and-a-half minutes already written. Even Sondheim would not dare go into rehearsal with so little written, nor would Prince. There would have been nothing to stage.

Updated On: 11/21/06 at 03:31 AM

Favorite recording: None are 100% great, but I think Papermill.

Least Favorite Recording: London

Favorite book song: Too Many Mornings

Favorite pastiche song: One More Kiss, followed by Losing My Mind

Phyllis or Sally: Phyllis

Some have said (and I agree) that the show is really a study of the character Ben. All three of the other leads have a strong connection to him while lacking a conection to each other. Is this valid: I suppose it's valid, but if it's "about" any one of the 4 leads, I'd say it's Sally.

Were "The Team" (Sondheim, Prince, Goldman and Bennett) kidding themselves with the whole ghost concept: Absolutely not!

Favorite version of "Losing My Mind": Donna McKechnie

Favorite version of "Broadway Baby": Ethel Shutta

"I'm Still Here": Carol Burnett, followed by Polly Bergen

"Could I Leave You?": Blythe Danner

Have you heard the OBC opening night soundboard recording?: No, but SWEET JESUS, how can I get my hands on it?!?!?!?!

What did you think?: N/A
You favorite...

Sally? Donna McKechnie

Ben? Laurence Guittard

Phyllis? Blythe Danner

Carlotta? Carol Burnett/Polly Bergen

Buddy? Gene Nelson

Hattie? Elaine Stritch...her "I havent danced in 30 years" on the concert recording is F-ing PRICELESS!

Was "Follies" robbed of the Best Musical Tony? probably...I wasnt around back then & havent seen Two Gentlemen

Did Alexis Smith deserve her Tony? Yes, probably, and Blythe Danner deserved the one she DIDNT win for Phyllis.

Did you read "Everything Was Possible"? Heck yes.

Were you aware that when the show started production only 18 and a half minutes of the score were finished? ummmm....nope.