The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread- Page 14

[elmore3003]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 9:51pm

PalJoey wrote:
I think you meant "can of worms."

As Bette Davis said when Joan Crawford died--and this is best appreciated read aloud in an extravagant Bette Davis imitation:

"My mother told me never to speak ill of the dead. Only good. Joan Crawford is dead. GOOD."



Yes, I indeed meant "can of worms."

I remember when Dck Cavett asked Bette Davis about Miriam Hopkins. She answered, "God was very good to the world; He took her from us."
Updated On: 5/16/11 at 09:51 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 10:32pm

You know, at the time, there were some that quibbled about the Papermill
Production, citing that it was too slick and clean, but it really was the last major staging of FOLLIES that came anywhere near the size and the scope of the original. In hindsight, it's a bit of a shame that it couldn't have transferred- it at least had glimmers of the brilliant vision that made the musical legendary-much more so than the current DC production or the Roundabout stagings.

I wonder if we will ever see a major production again that will utilize Vincent and Vanessa and the other characters that haven't been seen since that Papermill production. I keep thinking the next truly great staging of FOLLIES may not happen until it enters the repertoire of opera houses
Updated On: 5/16/11 at 10:32 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 12:15am

Or until we're all dead.

Like the way the Israelites had to wander for forty years in the desert before they could cross into the Promised Land, until all who had tasted the bitter fruits of slavery had died.

Follies may have to wait 40 years till all the bitter fruits who have tasted...no, wait--

...till all those who have tasted the bitter fruits...no--

Never mind.

Let us rejoice, for this is the Follies we are given. I will go Sunday and appreciate it and rejoice in it, even if just for Susan Watson.

[everythingISpossible]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 12:34am

"As we all should probably have learned by now, to be a Stephen Sondheim fan is to have one's heart broken at regular intervals." -Frank Rich

Boy did I have my heart broken at the Wednesday evening performance of Follies at the Kennedy Center. I've struggled for days if I should write anything as I hate to say anything negative about this beautiful show. But unfortunately I have to agree with what several others have already stated.

Bernadette's voice is not a good fit for Sally's songs. Maybe she could have done it 15 years ago, who knows. And the mugging has to stop. Some of her choices as so wrong for the moments that she plays them, it's baffling.

Speaking of baffling moments, why or why are they forcing Jan Maxwell (who I adore and loved through most of this production) to do that terrible rendition of Lucy and Jessie that makes her look so awkward and uncomfortable. Has Warren Carlyle never had to stage a song around a non-dancing star?!

And then there's the direction. I really wish I could have seen Mr. Schaeffer's other production of Follies to compare and contrast but boy did he miss the boat on this one. From the literalizing of the conceptual metaphors, to the painfully long exit and entrance lags, to the obvious fact that actors on stage don't know when exactly to freeze or not or notice the ghosts or not. Again this has all been discussed at length, I just had to throw in my two cents so I can sleep tonight.

I really, really wanted to love this production and I probably went in with my expectations rediculously high, but it broke my heart to see a production with so much potential fall so short.

I won't go on anymore but I was wanted to note that before the performance began an announcement was made that Regine was sick and unable to perform. Because an understudy was not ready, the role of Solange was to be cut from the performance, including Ah, Paris! Well it certainly made for some very awkward moments and transitions. I have not seen anything written here about her missing other performances, but from her reviews it sounds like I lucked out...

Updated On: 12/5/14 at 12:34 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 12:38am

That's very...odd. I've never heard of that happening before where they just cut a role from a show. Interesting.

[binau]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 12:51am

In an Australian COMPANY that Sondheim was actually in the country for, they cut April's character (IIRC) because there was no understudy available.

http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com/2007/07/sondheim-not-happy.html

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 12:52am

That is odd. I thought Goldenboy said her understudy DID go on?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 1:09am

Well I hope she's ok. I was at the matinee that day and she seemed fine.

[everythingISpossible]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 6:52am

For the Wednesday May 11th evening performance she was out and nobody else was in. It certainly made for some very odd and awkward moments. I can only imagine how bizarre it would have been if they had actually done the original Montage ending without a Solange LaFitte.

[fossefun22]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 8:45am

Saw Follies at Kennedy Center this past weekend. Very glad I did as I have always wanted to see it on stage being very familiar with it's music and history. If one can go see it, do! Just a couple of personal notes. Bernadette lives up to expectation in singing and acting though the naivety and disillusionment of Sally seems to be lost in a melancholy sadness. Jan Maxwell's Phyllis in acting, and even singing was great! Simply beautiful in stature but her dancing needed more and dress was not the most flattering. Speaking of dresses, did not particularly like the red "Fancy" dress of Sally, liked the idea of a housewife, "found old prom dress" idea depicted in earlier productions better. Ron Raines, awesome voice and command of stage! Danny Burstein seemed a bit too young for the part and "The Right Girl" was lacking but made up in the great "Buddy's Blues" which he and the girls got dead on! Miss the frumpy old woman to sing "Broadway Baby". Linda Lavin seemed a bit too young or just simply too beautiful from what I would have liked to see. Give me an Elaine Stritch anyday. Elaine Page hit "I'm Still Here" dead on, no flubs in lyrics though can understand how she could. Great Job. Missed the ghosts in the Montage of "Rain, Broadway, and Pariee" and Regine looked drunk or simply lost doing "Ah, Pariee." Loved the chance to see Broadway legend Susan Watson, the original Kim in "Bye Bye Birdie" and Nanette in the hit revival of "No NO Nannette." A real treat. Costumes, especially the ghosts, fantastic and loved them lingering during intermission staring out to the audience or to the infinite. Too small a space than I would prefer for such a show. Terri White, fantastically funny and talented with "Who's That Woman" though miss the original choreography which made the supposed highlight of the evening for me, a downer. It is simply the small stage that doesn't lend to the mirror number executed well. All in all, enjoyed it and hope it finds life outside of DC. Best of luck to all!

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 5:19pm

Yes

Goldenboy did say that on the on May 12 performance at 7:30 pm
Colleen Fitzpatrick went on for
Regine.

[LoveDemBroadwayShows2]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 5:55pm

In 1995, I saw the Roundabout production of Company at a matinee and Charlotte d'Amboise was out and I guess they had no dancing stand-by/understudy for the role of Kathy so they cut a dance number out of the performance. I really felt kind of cheated. Although with the cast they had, I didn't feel too bad. And Paul in that production was none other than Danny Burstein. Seeing the show on 6/18 and still looking forward to it; I'll be going in with an open mind. Having never see a staged production, some things may look oddly staged but with nothing to compare it to, I'll be fine. Especially after hearing the glowing reports about the full orchestra.

BTW, if anyone has a copy of the Papermill production on video, I'd be very interested in acquiring a copy...

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 3:32am

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/video/4625.html

[choitoy]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 4:53am

OK, after sorting everything out, I am finally able to go to Washington DC (my first post in this thread lamented about missing it).

And just my luck, they released a few tickets to the night my sister and I could attend (the 7:30 show on Tuesday, the 31). And they seem like pretty good seats. Orchestra, row P, seats 101-102. My sister and I like being on the aisle, and there's the aisle in front of us, so she doesn't have to worry about anyone tall sitting directly in front of her.

I'm so excited! This will be my third production of "Follies" (after the Seattle version with Constance Towers and Judy Kaye), and a concert presentation (Seattle's version of "Encores!" I guess) with local actors. It will be my sister's first version of "Follies". I'm also excited to finally see Bernadette live (I've had a few opportunities to see her live, including an opportunity to run follow-spot on her for a benefit gala grand opening, which I wasn't able to do because I was working on a show at the time (ironically, it was "On The Town")).

Posted: 5/18/11 at 4:56pm

On the Sondheim site, Alan Scott went through some of the changes--it does seem to essentially be using the Encores book:

Sally's opening monologue is cut down to almost nothing. Ben and Phyllis's first scene has several internal cuts. Even Buddy's first scene is missing his last question about whether someone has seen Sally.

And so it goes. The whole Ben-Sally scene before "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs" is gone. It's mostly a monologue for Sally with one final amused line from Ben.

Phyllis's monologue in the scene with Buddy (after "The Road You Didn't Take") is cut down a bit, and there are other little cuts in that scene.

The first Phyllis-Ben/Buddy-Sally confrontation scene is restructured and missing some crucial stuff, including Ben's lines about how he used to wish that life were just "work and sleep" and Buddy's lines about what he and Sally's married life used to be like. There are just internal cuts all over the place so it's hard to summarize.

And like the Roundabout version, many of the monologues for the other characters, which were originally spoken to no one in particular in a somewhat surreal way, are now dully naturalistic. One result of this is that Carlotta's monologue is now missing the final line ("You want to hear the story of my life?"), which sets up "I'm Still Here." The point of the monologue, which is that no one's really interested in Carlotta, no one really ever listens to her, gets lost.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 4:58pm

Sally's monologue before "In Buddy's Eyes" is also completely different from the original.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:08pm

I'm so confused. This version that version this version that version this version that version.. it's as if I am losing my mind.
I never want to see Follies Again.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!


Except when Lady Gaga and Madonna appear in the movie.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:21pm

For a show that is so lauded and is the stuff of theater legend it sure has gone through so much tampering, butchering, juxtaposing, etc., etc., etc., etc.

I can't keep up and it's extremely confusing, it's almost headache inducing.

Why all the tampering, why all the changes?
Updated On: 5/18/11 at 05:21 PM

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:32pm

Well, I saw this last Week on Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Was slightly disappointed in Elaine Page"s "I'm Still Here", but thought the rest of the show was great. I have known the music for decades, but had never seen a production of it before to compare it to.

I do have a question for those of you who have seen different versions. Has Hattie's Role always been so small. I felt that Linda Lavin knocked "Broadway Baby" out of the Park, but was surprised how little else she had to do in the show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:34pm

Yes, Hattie's role has always been that size. Lavin truly makes the most of it.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:41pm

Because Follies has yet to have worked as an all encompassing soul satisfying musical as say Chorus Line or West Side Story does. For its flashes of brilliance and theatrical metaphor....... it is a flawed musical.
It always was a flawed musical - always will be. even the original which had no intermission give me oxygen please.

I guess us optimistic hopeful theatre types think someone may eventually get it right.. So we go eagerly...........but they don't. And if they don't who cares because along the way we get to see Bernadette Peters and Linda Lavin and Ann Miller and Donna McKechnie and Eartha Kitt and Delores Grey and Betty Garrett and Alexis Smith And Dorothy Collins.. So we go. Hoping. Ogling at who they dug up to play those parts.

Than bitching about the roundabout production which really got it wrong (although that had flashes of brilliance with Polly Bergen) when some genius director decided to put actors in those singing roles. Uh oh. Then Blythe Danner and Judith Ivey had
audiences member's cringing from what they called notes.

Does anyone still sing a note? I'll drink to that.
But Bernadette and Jan Maxwell and Ron Raines and Danny Burstein sing notes quite well in a decent if not brilliant production of Follies.

i am throwing in my Follies hat and bra. I am done. Farewell Paris. Tear down the theatre. I will not be back.

Until Madonna and Gaga star in the movie.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:52pm

I didn't need oxygen each of the 5 times I saw the original on Broadway. I held my breath from the first thrilling/chilling notes of the Prologue to the moment they let the sunlight in at the end. It had no intermission on Broadway (at least for most of the run), and I preferred it that way.

Then I went to see the 1st national tour and there was an intermission and my lesbian cousin and I turned to each other and said, "They ruined it!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 5:59pm

One result of this is that Carlotta's monologue is now missing the final line ("You want to hear the story of my life?"), which sets up "I'm Still Here." The point of the monologue, which is that no one's really interested in Carlotta, no one really ever listens to her, gets lost.

In the original, that "story of my life" line came during her early monologue about never getting to talk. The monologue before "I'm Still Here" was about having a number that was cut in Philadelphia. At encores, I'm pretty sure Carlotta inexplicably delivered the stuff about her number being cut to Weismann, who ostensibly would have already known.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 6:07pm

Yeah, at Encores! she delivered it to Weismann. At the Kennedy Center, it's delivered to a few waiters. One has a line "I loved you since I was a little boy!" Then she goes into the monologue. The little boy line wasn't in Encores! though. Anybody know where it comes from?

Updated On: 5/18/11 at 06:07 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 6:13pm

Maybe it was added by the director?