The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread- Page 19

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 8:22am

I think Bernadette grabbed the chance to play the role in the first major production offered to her; I know its been tempting to say, since the announcement of her involvement, that this production would be a likely transfer, but I'm not quite sure a limited run of 3-4 months makes any kind of financial sense, unless it were being offered by a not for profit (and Lincoln Center is probably the only NFP in the city that would, at this point, have any interest in a production of FOLLIES).

Keep in mind too that there are two other major revivals of FOLLIES also in the works: Trevor Nunn's production at the Haymarket in London and Gary Griffin's for Shakespeare Chicago later this summer. Both of those directors have as much Broadway association with Sondheim as Eric Schaeffer.

Updated On: 5/23/11 at 08:22 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 8:25am

bway fan, what do you mean by Ron Raines's reputation?

He said reception not reputation.

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 9:40am

"Lincoln Center is probably the only NFP in the city that would, at this point, have any interest in a production of FOLLIES"

..... I'm thinking of that beautiful orchestra in South Pacific. If Follies does move to NY, this is where I'd want to see it!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 9:46am

But WAR HORSE isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so if LCT were to bring in FOLLIES it would have to go to a standard Broadway house - and part of the problem, regardless of who produced it, is that there aren't a lot of theatres currently available (or available in the forseeable future) that could actually house 28 musicians in the pit.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 11:16am

What I meant I guess was that, if they were looking to make the cast more likely to sell tickets, and wanted to replace a lead with someone more famous, Maxwell and Burstein got great reviews, but Bernadette and Raines got a somewhat colder response. There's no way Bernadette is going anywhere, so Raines might be on the chopping block. But this is simply hypothetical, of course. I always prefer to have people who are well-equipped to play a role rather than just sticking a star there.

[moljul]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:39pm

New Photos are available. So does the Kennedy Center do souvenir programs or is it hard with such a short run? I would certainly love to get all these photos in a program.
More Photos

[AlwaysTheAssistantMD]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:53pm

Ron Raines would pull in all of his "Guiding Light" fans. -And those soap opera fans are LOYAL(!!!!). -Two of his fellow "Guiding Light" alumni, Robert Newman and Kim Zimmer, just finished a run of "Curtains" at Papermill Playhouse,

[AlwaysTheAssistantMD]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:59pm

And... If FOLLIES were to be picked up by Lincoln Center Theater at Lincoln Center, the whole production would have be restaged and somewhat re-designed in order to fit into The Beaumont. -And if LCT wanted to reclaim The Belasco - where WOMEN ON THE VERGE was - well... Even with the renovations they've done to the theatre, it would be quite a tight fit. -And, besides, that's where the Roundabout revival was housed. Too many ghosts.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 3:32pm

Interesting.

One of the reasons I sat on my hands when it came to booking tickets for this was Elaine Paige's casting as Carlotta. Her career is built on the strident heroines of mega musicals and she has been a lot less sure-footed when I've seen her in Broadway fare such as The King and I and Drowsy.

[beaemma]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 6:30pm

The "Buddy's Blues" photo gave me a case of deja vu. In the original production, Dorothy Collins gave Sally a habit of leaning back and balancing on her heels; and that's what one of the dancers in the numbers is doing. There's no indication of whether Kiira Schmidt is playing Sally or Margie in the number. I'm seeing the show next week, and I'll be a little freaked out if she's Sally!

As for the red dress, I think it's a poor choice. Young Sally was a sweet young thing seduced by a man who only wanted her until he got her. She's seen her whole life as a disappointment since then and thinks that the last 30 years will be magically erased when she and Ben see each other. She would be a middle aged woman trying to look like the sweet young ingenue she used to be. In the original staging of "Too Many Mornings," she thinks her fantasy has come true, while he's just briefly reliving a pleasant memory. That's why he embraced young Sally during the song while older Sally reacts as if he's embracing her. She's a delusional woman trying to turn back the clock, not a hot seductress fighting to win an old flame away from his wife. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see this production, but I doubt it.

[beaemma]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 6:31pm

The "Buddy's Blues" photo gave me a case of deja vu. In the original production, Dorothy Collins gave Sally a habit of leaning back and balancing on her heels; and that's what one of the dancers in the numbers is doing. There's no indication of whether Kiira Schmidt is playing Sally or Margie in the number. I'm seeing the show next week, and I'll be a little freaked out if she's Sally!

As for the red dress, I think it's a poor choice. Young Sally was a sweet young thing seduced by a man who only wanted her until he got her. She's seen her whole life as a disappointment since then and thinks that the last 30 years will be magically erased when she and Ben see each other. She would be a middle aged woman trying to look like the sweet young ingenue she used to be. In the original staging of "Too Many Mornings," she thinks her fantasy has come true, while he's just briefly reliving a pleasant memory. That's why he embraced young Sally during the song while older Sally reacts as if he's embracing her. She's a delusional woman trying to turn back the clock, not a hot seductress fighting to win an old flame away from his wife. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see this production, but I doubt it.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 6:39pm

I read that Leslie Caron was superb in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. I would pay big bucks to see Leslie Caron in anything. (I seriously considered flying to Paris to see ALNM.)

CPD, when are you seeing FOLLIES at the KC?

Scripps, it's funny. One review found Elaine Paige's performance excellent; another was grossly disappointed. I guess she has that effect on people. (I actually liked her in THE KING AND I, but thought she was awful in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE!)

[beaemma]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 6:58pm

Sorry--didn't mean to doublepost. I got an error message the first time and tried again. Don't know how to delete.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 7:14pm

I saw the show in DC on Saturday night. Hard to say which number elected the biggest response om the audience... Linda Lavin's "Broadway Baby", Jan Maxwell's "Could I Leave You?", Bernadette Peters' "Losing My Mind" or (My choice) Terri White & the girls in "Who's That Woman?" - Curiously, Regine lost her way in "Ahh Paris and the conductor had to shout a lyric to her - In a way setting up what happens with Ben in "Live Laugh Love."

As someone who did not get to see the original FOLLIES in 1971 (I was only 11 then) and who has seen some decent but far from perfect community productions, it was a thrilling event for me.

Updated On: 5/24/11 at 07:14 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 7:32pm

That's so interesting RE: Regine's flub almost 'setting up' Live Laugh Love..

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 7:45pm

@beaemma: Kiira Schmidt plays Margie, on the right of Danny Burstein.

[beaemma]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 9:19pm

Thanks; it would have been a little too amazing if she were playing Sally.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 10:05pm

The two women who do Margie and Sally with Danny Burstein are both terrific. That number was a real treat for me.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 10:27pm

^Potentially the highlight of the show for me.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 10:36pm

I saw this last Thursday. A lot of memories for me - for all the wrong reasons. I did a dreadful production of this in college! That said, we used every possible line and song (including, Country House) so somewhat familiar with the available material.

Watching the show brought back a lot of memories for me re: my younger days and it was very touching. However, the more I read some of your assessments the more I have to agree how this production felt short in several areas. Specifically, I miss seeing the contrast of the younger selves' JOY at doing these numbers when compared to tired, reflective older characters. This is why "One Last Kiss" was so well received in this production. I particularly liked the part where old Heidi looks back, acknowledges the ghost, and then the ghost sings, " . . . never look back". So haunting. I also appreciated that Bernadette was not afraid to be a little crazy/ugly in "Losing My Mind."

I was surprised they made Phyllis look like such an awful dancer, and that being the last meaningful sight of her in the show, where she had been so effective. I also did not think Ben's breakdown had the impact it needed; I could barely hear his lines over the chorus in "Live, Laugh, Love" and when he screams "PHYLIS!!!!" there were some chuckles in the audience.

If they do transfer to Broadway, I hope they invest in better use of the younger selves, bring back Victor/Vanessa and make the change to Loveland/breakdown back to reality more effective.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:08pm

Seating question--thanks to procrastination and travel coordination, I'm just trying to buy tickets, and have choice of last row of the orchestra for $125 or last row of the balcony on the side for $95. To quote Rebecca Black, which seat can I take?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:09pm

I had the same options, and I got last row of the balcony on the side per the recommendation of some here for June. If you look a bit earlier on the thread, there's a picture posted from the last row to give you an idea.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:41pm

Upon reflection, I don't think this Follies should transfer.
It's not a bad production..certainly eons better than the Roundabout, but its simply not that good either. It just, for all its star power seems to lack glamour, creativity,
spark.

As far as Loveland -- the set to me looked like a giant feather vagina. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet.

I like the leads. all of them. Ron Raines included and Danny Burnstein and Jan Maxwell and of course Bernadette very convincing as the deluded Sally.. But something is missing from this production. Glamour perhaps? Rememberance of how the theatre used to be perhaps? Can we take the leads out and maybe Linda Lavin and Terri White and start over with a more creative and more glamourous production???

The London Production had glamour: Delores Grey, Eartha Kitt, Juiia McKenzie, Diana Rigg and the best Follies set yet. A set that transformed happily back to its former glory.
The L.A. Revival with Juliet Prowse and Shani Wallis had it based on the You tube videos I've seen. . And it had Yma Sumac
and Karen Morrow and Susan Johnson and a slew of ex stars from the 50's.

Something is missing from this Follies.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:48pm

I had the same options, and I got last row of the balcony on the side per the recommendation of some here for June. If you look a bit earlier on the thread, there's a picture posted from the last row to give you an idea.

I did see the pic, though I thought I also saw a recommendation that lower is better in this theater. Interesting... Thanks. Others feel free to chime in as well, please.

[moljul]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 5:15pm

By the way, I wanted to chime in regarding the various "is Bernadette wearing a wig or not" discussions from several pages back. Can't remember who was asking but from these new pictures that have been released recently, Bernadette is DEFINITELY wearing a wig during Loveland (that is just not her hair) so I would bet she is wearing one in the rest of the show as well. Now that the IMPORTANT matters are solved. LOL

Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts and posts. Despite apparently flaws I'm really looking forward to seeing this 2 weeks from tonight.