New Kennedy Center FOLLIES website & cast info- Page 2

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 12:26am

I have never seen any incarnation of Follies nor do I know any of the songs outside the ones that everyone knows. I find it so interesting that all of you are such "Follies" experts that you can call out the costume sketches as appropriate or not. And that people know the original book and what changes have been made. I wish I were that big of an expert on a show. I've noticed this kind of fanaticism for "Follies" and "Company" for the most part. Is it a Sondheim thing? I really can't think of a single show I know that much about. I guess I have a lot to learn!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 12:35am

Either the drawings are mis-nsmed or the designer didn't read the script (wouldn't be s first). The Follies gowns look stunning.
Hal Prince is no dummy, he and others understood that any show about the FOLLIES would be heavy dance oriented and he found the perfect co-director Bennett, As in all Bennett shows the dancing was very organic from one moment to the next, at times you didn't even know a dance was going on and Bam, there it was. BOLERO D'AMOUR was one of those moments and it was brilliant. And I agree, finding good dancers 50 or 60 or older is not that hard, especially the classic ballroom-tango type that would make it work.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 12:59am

I think it really depends on the person and the show, Cockeyed. There are a handful of shows I know very well, and Follies is one that's at the top of the list, mainly because it's one of my(if not my very) favorite shows and I was into it from the time I was about fifteen. Some twenty years have passed and in that time I've seen several productions, been in a production, gotten my hands on every version of the script and as many audio and video clips (both licit and illicit) that I could find. And a couple of years ago I had the great fortune of analyzing every last bit of minutiae of this show with a dear pal who no longer posts here, C is For Company. We called it Folliology and I consider myself the world's foremost Follies scholar. :) Plus, I can't discount the posters on this board who actually saw the originally production, who are always willing to share their thoughts and memories, especially PalJoey. Lord knows, at least he was there!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:07am

I suppose a part of my problem is that the shows that I know well I haven't seen multiple incarnations of, so it's hard to judge what works and what doesn't based on just the one production I have seen usually. I look forward to getting to know more shows very well and hopefully one day I'll be an expert on my very favorite show! And hopefully one of these days I'll get to see Follies!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:37am

Are you able to get to DC? You should try to see this production of it!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:39am

I am working a show here in New York and we have the same weekly schedule as them. It might be a possibility later in June, but it'll be a hard one to plan ahead. If I can, I definitely will. I hope you and all of the other Follies fanatics love it!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:44am

I'm traveling from the Midwest to see a Wednesday matinee. Just thinking about it makes me sick from excitement! Bernadette! Jan! Linda! Elaine! OMG!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:45am

I have scouted two possible dates that would work...we'll see what I can do!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:51am

They've simply labeled the Sally and Phyllis sketches backwards.

You can tell because the black low-cut long gown has Bernadette Peters-like hair. It's clearly her outfit for "Losing My Mind."

And the short red dress is incorrectly labeled "Sally," but it's clearly Phyllis's "Lucy/Jessie" outfit.

The labels are not the costume designer's. They were clearly misapplied by some insensitive computer drudge, who should be appropriately disciplined for the mislabeling and the mental distress it caused here on BroadwayWorld.

Bolero D'Amour will be missed. But I'd rather miss it than sit through a bad one.

Welcome, Cockeyed Optimist. This is not from Follies but it can be your new theme song:

http://www.megavideo.com/?d=M4QPH1IL

Updated On: 4/30/11 at 01:51 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 5:46am

CockeyedOptimist2 I think that's more than fair--lots of us, even guys like me in Canada have such love for these shows, and have traveled to see them not done well--but yeah it's hard to compare with the originals. I do think Bennett's contribution to Follies is underated--vastly--and to see any of his numbers cut is an injustice.

I feel very protective of the Prince/Sondheim shows (Hell, the Prince/Kander and Ebb shows too) and I have no right to. But on a forum like this, I will bitch and moan that I think an important number is cut. Even without seeing it--and I wish I could. Updated On: 4/30/11 at 05:46 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/30/11 at 1:10pm

I keep forgetting Susan Watson is in this, very exciting!

[SondheimFan5]

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

YES, Susan Watson!!! This is such an amazing cast, I hope it comes together and is a good production (aka - not a decent production with great potential)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/2/11 at 2:50pm

With it opening on Saturday, I have to make a decision if I want to avoid comments and any clips that might surface, as it will still be another three weeks before I actually get to see it. I'll be dying to hear what the word on the street is, but part of me wants my experience of this production to be as pure and unspoiled as possible.

[snookyookums]

Posted: 5/4/11 at 4:25pm

I don't think anyone should be held to the original concepts of costumes. From what I've heard from the cast, the costumes are unbelievably off the hook - I don't think anyone will be disappointed. Those who quibble over original versus revival will always find fault with something. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the artistry.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 12:18am

What does "off the hook" mean?

And who in this discussion has been holding anyone to the original concepts of costumes?

Can you explain?

[snookyookums]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 2:57pm

Off the hook = unbelievable, amazing, fantastic. And if you read this thread, several people mention what the characters are 'supposed' to be wearing. That is all I'm referring to. Not trying to start a fight. I just think people should reserve judgment until they see the show - it's hard to see from a sketch or two what the full picture will look like.

[snookyookums]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 3:02pm

I have to amend this now - turns out the long black dress IS labeled incorrectly. Both dresses are Sally. Sorry for the confusion! Just goes to show I shouldn't post at all. Updated On: 5/6/11 at 03:02 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 12:47am

Just received word that the red dress is INDEED Sally's party dress. Not sure what I think about this! Updated On: 5/6/11 at 12:47 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 1:01am

A sketch of Jan Maxwell's costume for "Lucy and Jessie" can be seen in this article.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150472-DIVA-TALK-Catching-Up-With-Follies-Star-Jan-Maxwell

Updated On: 5/6/11 at 01:01 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 1:05am

That looks like a great "Lucy and Jesse" dress!

Apparently the sets and costumes are ABSOLUTELY amazing.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 1:01pm

Was able to find a date that worked and I am taking my mom for her mother's day present on June 14th. Thanks to all of you and your enthusiasm for getting me to commit to buy tickets. I'm very excited!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 1:31pm

Gregg Barnes also designed the costumes for the Papermill revival of FOLLIES, which were beautiful. He certainly knows the material.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:31pm

So were the costumes mislabeled on the wesbite? Does Sally indeed wear a chic short red dress instead of something she "made herself"?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:43pm

Yes, the costumes are mislabeled. Sally wears the dark purple vertical jeweled sash dress that is labeled as Phyllis's during 'Losing My Mind.; Sally's red dress is entirely accurate to what is online, and she wears that the rest of the show. The Lucy and Jessie dress above is also accurate.

EDIT: Is there typically a line about her having made the dress herself? I don't recall one being in this production, and it certainly isn't one that she would have made herself! It's quite fashionable in a plain way, but compared to what the other ladies are wearing, it seems the most homely of the lot.

Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:43 PM