How to begin with FOLLIES

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

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!

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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.

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.

@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

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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

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