How to begin with FOLLIES

[CJ N2N]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 10:52pm

Being a huge fan of Bernadette Peters, I'm considering begging my parents to bring me into the city so I can rush FOLLIES before it closes. The only thing is, I've never heard anything from it, so I'm wondering where I should begin and how I can really enjoy it. I just got the Original Broadway Recoding from my library but have yet to listen to it. Any other albums I should listen to?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:00pm

I would recommend listening to the songs on the new 2011 recording. Skip the scenes though.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:04pm

Why don't you just go and see it?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:07pm

If you can get your hands on it/read it before you get to the show, the book "Everything Was Possible" by Ted Chapin will greatly enhance your viewing of the show in addition to listening to the wonderful new recording, as ljay said.

When I saw it this year for the first time in DC, I went in fairly blind (other than hearing the "famous" songs, largely completely out of context), and absolutely fell in love. The most important thing is that you see it, because it's a fantastic show that's getting a great production on Broadway with a top-notch cast. I hope your experience at the show is as unforgettable as mine and the many others on this board who have been equally entranced by it!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:09pm

Sorry, but reading that book before you know the show is just a bad idea. Without knowing anything about it, what's the point in reading the history of it?

Go see the show and if you like it, listen to the original cast recording. If you love it and want to know more about it, read the book. But just go and see it. Why do you need to know it before going?

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:16pm

I've always felt it's better to see a musical for the first time without knowing a note of the music beforehand. The sense of discovery makes the experience so much stronger.

You can always listen to the album afterwards.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:18pm

Yeah, that book is a little much to be expected to digest before you see the show. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend listening to whole songs. Go to Amazon or itunes or whatever, listen to a couple of the samples, see if you dig it and just go see the show.

[Dennis-in-ct]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:20pm

FOLLIES is fantastic ... Go see it !!!

I am not sure younger people can really get it. I say if you are over 35 you will get more out of the show. In other words, more life experience. Tell your parents the show is aimed at their age group.

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:24pm

Dennis,

Younger people can get it.

[Dennis-in-ct]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:29pm

@AfterEight ...I am sure you are a mature soul my friend. Glad to hear you got something out of the show.

We can't get the songs out of our heads. The cast was so wonderful when we got our CDs signed at Barnes and Noble, I wish this could be around for the Tonys

[AMH]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:30pm

I knew virtually nothing about FOLLIES when I saw the show, and I thought it was terrific!

You don't need to do a ton of research before you see it; you'll still understand what's going on. It's really about your own personal preference in approaching something like this. Just do what works for you.

Enjoy the show!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:30pm

Maybe I'm just one of those people who likes to know as much as possible about a show before I see it, but I thought that the book explained the show as much as it gave the history. Granted, I did read it after I saw it once, but I feel like I personally was able to appreciate the scope of the show more once I'd read the book, and even enjoyed it more the second time on Broadway once I'd done all the research on it. I do think that it might be worthwhile to go into it blind, but the OP seems to want to research it at least some going in, so that's why I suggested the book. Just my two cents.

[Dennis-in-ct]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:36pm

I did a lot of reading on the show after I saw it. The characters are so interesting and complex that I had questions.

[AMH]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:43pm

Some research is good, but I don't think an excessive amount is necessary to fully enjoy the show.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/4/11 at 11:45pm

Just to clarify, I am not saying that listening to recordings/reading the book are NECESSARY before seeing the show, I'm just saying they could possibly enhance the experience, and a request for such research is the entire point of this thread. As I said above, I myself went in pretty blind and was fine.

[Simon4]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 12:31am

I'd leave Chapin's book until after you've seen the show once. It won't mean as much without having seen it.

I would, however, familiarize yourself with the songs. I'd actually highly recommend reading the chapter on FOLLIES from Sondheim's Finishing the Hat. An acquaintance with the intricacies of the lyrics is probably the best preparation for seeing the show. You don't, however, need to read the book or listen to the scenes on the new cast recording.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 12:46am

I disagree, I think Chapin's book works well if you know the show from CD. Depending on your level of geekiness (of which I rank very high) you could see if your library has the libretto too--mine has both the original and the recent one.

[artisn'teasy]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 12:48am

Really, just go see it. It's simply stunning and not hard to follow even if you don't know a thing about it. Listen to the OBC if you like, or maybe even the previews of the revival cast on amazon. If you're really, really concerned about knowing about the plot before you go in (which isn't necessary) a simple google or wikipedia search will suffice. Don't spoil too much before seeing it live.

[Simon4]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 12:58am

You know what, I take back some of my earlier comments.

Reading Jim Goldman's original libretto could be a help, as it'll give you a richer understanding of the characters.

If you've made the effort to learn the show from a recording and the libretto, then, yes, Chapin's book will be rewarding. But it's less useful without any prior knowledge of the show.

I'd still make as my first priority the lyrics.

Ideally, you'll see the show twice. First time with minimal preparation, second time obsessing over everything that fans of the show obsess over.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 1:04am

I think Simon's last comments make a lot of sense. It's a show that either people will love or not--your appreciation of it can grow (or diminish) but it seems to make an impact one way or the other. I got into it when I was 12, and hated s a kid hering frompeople on the Sondheim mailing list (yes, pre forums) that there was no way I could appreciate it. In a way they were right--aspects of it have spoken to me much more as I've become an old man of 31, but I think my initial reaction has remained true.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 5:49pm

There are a lot of us here who fell in love with the show as teenagers without knowing much about it beforehand.

All you really need is an open mind and a willingness to accept that musical theater needn't always tell a linear story.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 11:46pm

Just go see it. Screw the research, just go and let the show happen for you.

[broadwayfever]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 12:01am

Just make sure you drink some type of caffeinated drink before and during the show. Otherwise, the sleep monster will find you.