The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread — Page 3

Terri White was FANTABULOUS. A total diva moment, and she brought the house down. Her dancing was surprisingly competent, and she really belted the number out. Like I said above, the song was really the highlight of the whole first act for me, which I thought was really unexpected, so I completely enjoyed her performance.

Broadway Baby wasn't the HUGE moment I anticipated, but Linda Lavin did a fine job with it. She brought some new ideas to it, like a bit of a blues-y swing in the middle. She switched genre types throughout it, which I thought was quite clever. At this point, I think people applaud the song itself for being so well known as much as the actress singing it. So, Linda wasn't bad, but I think she was a bit overshadowed by the legacy of the material.

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Phyllis, I'm on the same wagon re spoilers...
I.want.those.pillows.NOW.

Thanks so much for the detailed feedback and pics, Katurian2!

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Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:05 PM

This must be what Comic-Con feels like!

Thanks for the report! Total spoiler request- which version of the ending did they use? Did Sally still have the lines about killing herself?

SPOILER

I don't at all recall the suicide lines being in there. I'm not familiar with the Roundabout ending, but the show ended after 'Live, Laugh & Love' with a brief scene with the two couples walking out- glaring at each other, but not saying anything. Ben called out to Phyllis after the song while on the ground, and she came to him, they accepted each other and left, the same following with Sally and Buddy. Sally talks about not having done the dishes, Buddy says that's alright, and they go. Other than those four, the stage was empty until they left and the younger versions came out for the 'Hey up there!' reprise. The supporting characters didn't come back at all after the character follies started up.

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Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:30 PM

Sounds like the same ending from the Encores! revival, which I actually think quite works in some ways though I know it has its detractors.

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If they are selling scripts with the DC art on the cover, does this mean that there is a chance for it to be released back into bookstores?

Does BP's non-showyness contrast her performance in NIGHT MUSIC? (I mean, I know some/myself found her choices..interesting)

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And I will ask it since I know it will be the next question-is Bernadette wearing her own hair or a wig?

ah, I got asked this about Terri as well! I am just terrible about judging these things. I BELIEVE (but am absolutely not sure) that Bernadette is just wearing her normal hair throughout most of the show, but then wears a wig only during 'Losing My Mind.' There is a dramatic change, where her hair suddenly (still Bernadette in form) goes back and seemed to be quite blonde, whereas before it was more the normal red. But yes, I am a horrible judge of whether or not someone is wearing a wig, but I do think she wasn't- just her normal hair pulled into a ponytail- except in that one song.

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Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:54 PM

sorry, couple questions....dying to see this in a couple weeks!!!

Anyone notable there tonight? (aka - was Sondheim there?)

How does the orchestra sound? GOOD I hope??

How was Elaine Paige's "I'm Still Here"? Does she do it in the original key (the one used by Yvonne de Carlo and Carol Burnett) or does she take it down a half-step like Ann Miller, Delores Grey, and Elaine Stritch? And does she really belt it at the end?

How was Raines's acting and voice? I know he is a great operatic baritone, does it work for Ben?

THANKS!

Thank you all for the first preview reviews! The show looks amazing!

I was in the front orchestra, and didn't see any notables, but a lot of production people taking notes. I wasn't looking too hard though, so maybe someone can report differently.

The orchestra sounded wonderful. They got a well deserved focus of applause at the end, even more than usual. It sounded very rich & full, which is unfortunately rare nowadays, especially in Sondheim shows. The orchestrations didn't seem to be reduced at all from what I could tell, and there was a nice balance in the sound levels between performer and pit, amazingly so for the 1st preview.

I'm not musically inclined enough to say if Elaine Paige took it down a step or not, but I would hazard a guess she didn't. She really does belt it out at the end, after 'whatever happened to her,' she lets loose. I heard some negative comments about her at intermission, but I thought she was perfectly fine, other than the lyric flub where she repeated one verse twice. She sounded incredibly powerful on the last notes, and got a lot of applause. Maybe she could have brought more character to it, but I think vocally she was very strong.

I loved Raines, and his voice really carried through the theatre well in the baritone. I thought it was a nice change to have a Ben that sounded so rich vocally. 'The Road I Didn't Take' was the only part I was a bit let down. Maybe not let down though, since I've never really liked that song that much in general, but it wasn't really a moment where he could let his tone shine through, so it felt sort of claustrophobic and he wasn't able to get out. But otherwise, I was really impressed by him, and I think he made Ben a very layered and interesting character, though I personally found him (Ben) completely unlikeable! I always think it's interesting to hear people in discussion cast blame on one character in 'Follies' or another for being the domino to ruin everything, when really it's the totality of the circumstances that I think are the cause. But here, I really was a bit angered at Ben's passiveness.

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