The Official Kennedy Center FOLLIES Thread- Page 3

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:05pm

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.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:05pm

I don't know how in the hell I'm going to wait these five weeks until I see this.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:05pm

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

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

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

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:10pm

You're so welcome! One more, since idk if this was on the website, but this was the orchestra list. Again, sorry for the crappy pic quality. I am scanner-less, and my 3 yr-old iPhone let me down tonight quite a bit!

Also, I didn't stagedoor, but I ate dinner on the tables neighboring the stagedoor on the terrace, and can indeed report that the cast is using the Watergate-side North door, as I saw Elaine and several ensemble members using it to enter pre-show, so if you wanted to find them, that would be where you'd want to head on the way out.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:17pm

This must be what Comic-Con feels like!

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:20pm

Ah, if only I could teleport...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:24pm

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:27pm

*Spoiler*

I'll survive if the suicide lines are gone, though I want them to be there. But if it's the Roundabout ending with the supporting characters, I will cry.
Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:27 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:30pm

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.

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:33pm

SPOILER

Well thank god it's not the Roundabout ending. Is Sally's final line "Dear God, it IS tomorrow" or "I'm 49 years-old, that's all I am." ?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:33pm

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.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:40pm

SPOILER

I'm 85% sure that she says 'I'm 49 years-old..." in the middle of her final bit of dialogue, and her last line is 'Dear God, it is tomorrow,' after which they leave.


I thought it was a fantastic ending. I've never heard of the supporting characters version, but this one worked quite well. There's such a siege of power after the 4 follies, it seems to be a tricky situation to resolve, but I think they did a fine job of it. To add as well, the flower Loveland layers all peeled back into the wings, so it was left with the original stage set, & confetti from Live, Laugh Love.

Also to add from before, within the Loveland flower set, for the 4 character follies, starting with the younger versions coming out, there is a set within the set of a curtain with a frame that drops down and is used throughout. I thought it was a neat move, especially with Buddy's folly having a real vaudeville overtone to it, with his girlfriend and fake-Sally dancing around with him.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:40pm

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?

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:42pm

I'm 85% sure that she says 'I'm 49 years-old..." in the middle of her final bit of dialogue, and her last line is 'Dear God, it is tomorrow,' after which they leave.

I can live with that! This does sound just like the Encores! ending. Updated On: 5/7/11 at 11:42 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:44pm

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

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:48pm

I didn't necessarily find her overly showy in ALM, especially considering the character she was playing, but yes, her Sally is extremely understated here. It was one of the few times in musical theatre (it usually happens in opera or ballet) where the restraint of an actor has been what really amazed me, rather than scenery-chewing. It would be like if Raul's 'Being Alive' and Bernadette's 'Losing My Mind' were put on a spectrum, they would both be at extreme opposing ends from each other. Each is perfect (imo) in its presentation, but one is a display of power, while the other so artfully holds back everything to the point of a real pain being shown onstage.

There really wasn't one 'standout' actor of the night though, which I consider to be a victory, since I do think Follies is an ensemble piece, and with so many strong personalities in this production, it could have not turned out that way. Part of me thinks Danny Burnstein got the most out of his part, but just thinking over LMM again, Bernadette rises above, as always.

Lj- hah, glad to hear! I'll look forward to hearing your opinion on the production when you get to see it.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:49pm

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:51pm

Yes, good question! What does her hair/wig look like?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 11:54pm

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.

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

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:22am

I just got back from LOVELAND!!!

I just fell in LOVE with this show all over again!

A MUST-SEE for all Broadway babies!!!

I haven't read what anyone else has said, but if everyone says it's sensational, then I agree with them!

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:22am

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!

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:25am

Pennywise --- Care to share your thoughts in detail?? Por favore??

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:25am

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

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:26am

Sondheim was there.

The orchestra (28-pieces) is exceptional (as usual for the KC).

Elaine Page was hilarious and I'M STILL HERE was terrific.

Of the 4 leads, Ron Raines most impressed me, which is saying a lot because they are all outstanding.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 12:35am

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.