MEF on "Follies" (Barrington Stage Company)
MEF on "Follies" (Barrington Stage Company)
MEF on "Follies" (Barrington Stage Company)#0
Posted: 7/14/05 at 9:49am
I was originally not planning to post a review of the Barrington Stage Company's production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies for three reasons: It is playing in the middle of nowhere (Sheffield, Massachusetts); it only runs through Saturday; and the rest of the run is sold out. But after the incredible theatrical experience that I had, I knew I had to share what I saw.
The production, directed by Barrington's artistic director Julianne Boyd, is stunning and ravishing in every sense of the word. It resembles the mediocre Roundabout revival in some ways (it is a scaled down production, and Ms. Boyd has lifted several elements), but when you are dealing with Follies, the score is the only thing that really matters. And how it is represented here!
As Sally Durant Plummer, the ex-ingenue who gave up fame and the glamorous life for quiet domesticity in Phoenix, Kim Crosby is giving one of the best, truest and most nuanced performances I have ever seen. EVER. With a look, a simple glance, she manages to transfix an entire audience. When she starts to sing, you are appropriately bewitched. And by the time she belts out the greatest of Sondheim torch songs, "Losing My Mind", you will have tears in your eyes (I have never heard the song done better). Hopefully, this production will take Ms. Crosby out of semi-retirement for good.
Matching Ms. Crosby toe-to-toe is the always-enjoyable Jeff McCarthy, who is a commanding yet soulful Ben Stone. He really gets the poetic aspects of Ben and flaunts them at every opportunity. His duets with Ms. Crosby and the appropriately devilish Leslie Denniston (a Phyllis for the ages), you simply cannot take your eyes off of him or the stage.
The rest of the supporting cast is uniformly fine: Lara Teeter is a terrifically smarmy Buddy; Donna McKechnie's "I'm Still Here" is worth the price of the ticket alone (and tickets are a steal, with $52 being the top price); Marni Nixon is smashing as Heidi Schiller, and performs a gorgeous "One More Kiss". The one low note for me was Joy Franz's Solange. She seemed almost catatonic during "Ah! Paree", and wasn't even trying to do a French accent.
After seeing this show, I started wondering one thing: Why is it that the two best musical theatre productions that I saw this year (the other one being the Paper Mill's stunning minimalist production of Ragtime) weren't in New York? Aside from The Light in the Piazza, Broadway seems to be barren when it comes to thought-provoking musicals. All of the truly stunning theatre has been banished to the provinces, it seems.
Sadly, this simply brilliant production closes Saturday. It is worth the roughly four hour drive to the Berkshires. Go if you can, and hope that somebody cancels their tickets!
Updated On: 7/14/05 at 09:49 AM
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#1
Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:17amWow thanks MEF. Wish I could go. Good to hear that the talented Crosby is back in full force. I've always liked her more than most people seem to, and glad that she found a big role to triumph in.
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#2
Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:18amI hope that this will lead to a full-fledged comeback for her.
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#3
Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:28am
I wish I could see this production. I think Follies is a very interesting show that several companies seem to mess up.
"After seeing this show, I started wondering one thing: Why is it that the two best musical theatre productions that I saw this year (the other one being the Paper Mill's stunning minimalist production of Ragtime) weren't in New York?"
New York is not about talent, it is about playing the game. That's why companies like the Roundabout are allowed to phone in entire productions (although I have seen some improvement with them). The Roundabout "Follies" was one of those "meh" moments, it was ok but not what it really should have been.
If NYC had inspired and talented directors, there would be more wonderful theater moments.
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#4
Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:46am
MEF I was there last Saturday night! Great great show, sadly it really is inthe middle of nowhere. Diane Houghton's "Broadway Baby" nearly brought down the house, and heck Donna McKechnie can still dance up a storm!
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#5
Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:50amHoughton's "Broadway Baby" was glorious, indeed!
Swing Joined: 6/7/05
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#6
Posted: 7/14/05 at 11:53amtheyre doing HAIR next, right? aren't ryan link and denise summerford going to be in it? i love denise summerford! anyone know anything about it?
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#7
Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:02pm
Scroll down a bit...
http://barringtonstageco.org/
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#8
Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:21pmThanks MER you beatme to it!
re: MEF on 'Follies' (Barrington Stage Company)#9
Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:37pm
What's frustrating is that I live in MA and this theatre is still almost 4 hours away.
I might make the trip though for HAIR. We'll see.
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