Who saw FOLLIES in 2001?- Page 3

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:37pm

Jayar, did you see the production at the Festival Hall? Some VERY bad casting but it had its moments!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 1:55am

Totally agree with goldenboy's every word (except I did not see the Patty Duke-Vickie Carr production).

The 2001 revival was pretty terrible, and I was very, very disappointed because I wanted to love it. While I did like some of the performances (many already mentioned,,,PLUS the original Lori from Oklahoma! Just lovely.), I was appalled when Blythe Danner was nominated for a Tony. (Neither the first nor last time a nomination has completely taken me by surprise!)

[goldenboy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:21am

Thank you Miss Pennywise for that affirmation. It's nice to know someone was paying attention.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:37am

SUPPOSEDLY Sondheim said this about the original vs the London productions...

"I stood in the back of the Winter Garden every night saying, 'I love this--why does everyone hate this?' and I stood in the back of the theater in London every night saying, 'I hate this--why does everyone love this?'"

Could be Sondheim apochrypha...but it sounds good!

[fiatlux]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:53am

""I stood in the back of the Winter Garden every night saying, 'I love this--why does everyone hate this?' and I stood in the back of the theater in London every night saying, 'I hate this--why does everyone love this?'" "

It may well be true but unfortunately he really only had himself to blame for that. He was after all involved in the re-write process - there are many times when Sondheim can be too obliging and accommodating to his collaborators and I think this was one of them.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:34am

Good to hear Jayar and TL's comments about the London production. I had a friend working on this show and she had to really talk me into seeing it - I thought it just wouldn't be for me. However, I was completely blown away and wound up seeing it a few times. I loved the four leads - Diana Rigg was pure class. I loved her interpretation and she did a great 'Ah, But Underneath'. I thought McKenzie sang and acted well but she wasn't great. Linda Barron did the best Mirror Number I've seen. I thought Dolores did a fantastic job with 'I'm Still Here' as did Eartha Kitt who replaced her - totally different interpretation but nonethless show-stopping. Evan Pappas stood out among the four 'younger' leads, I thought. Millicent Martin replaced Diana Rigg and was not good as Phyllis. The whole thing seemed a massive struggle for her. I remember being at the last matinee when the pre-show announcement came 'Ladies and Gentlemen, at this performance the part of Sally Durrant-Plummer will be played by....Miss Julia McKenzie'. The audience went nuts as I think she hadn't been doing many performances toward the end of the run.

The staging was just beautiful. Sitting in the theatre to begin with I couldn't have imagined it - the scaffolding and plastic sheeting covering the proscenium. But then with the ghosts appearing so you could barely make them out through the sheeting so you coule barely make them out and that music...gives me goose-bumps even now. The Loveland set just rising up out of the floor and the gorgeous set numbers. Yes, I loved the elevator doors opening/closing and the lights showing it going up through the floors.

I prefer the revised version of the book. I know that was the first version I saw so maybe I'm biased. However, I subsequently saw other productions using the original book and I thought the revisions kept up the momentum of the show. I did see Paul Kerryson's productions both at Leicester Haymarket and then at the Festival Hall. I really ddidn't like the original book, so I was put off a bit by that. However, I did think that Kathryn Evans at the Festival Hall was a wonderful Sally. I've never seen that woman give a bad performance and her's was the best 'Losing My Mind' I've heard. I also enjoyed Henry Goodman as Buddy in that show but the rest of the casting was poor and I really disliked Diane Langton as Carlotta.

Great to hear others' opinions about the various productions.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:38am

I saw Papermill's and the 2001 revival.

The one thing that I disagree with most here is that Blythe Danner was any good in this role. I saw it twice, in previews and after the Tonys. I gave her the benefit of the doubt at previews, where she didnt seem to know where she was and dropped every other line....and what was with her flipping her hair constantly?!? Then I saw her again and nothing had changed. She was terrible and unfocused, IMO. I thought Ivey was quite good and I believed her Sally, tho wish her numbers were sung better...but Losing My Mind was affecting.

The men in both productions were terrible. Buddy is a pretty tough part to pull off and both Roberts and Williams were simply annoying. I think Buddy is a tough role to play tho. Would've loved to see Nelson do it. Ben always seems to be a wooden character and Guittard and Harrison didnt change my mind.

Hoty was terrific as Phyllis and McKecknie was quite good as Sally at Papermill.

I've always hated the two marriages as they are 4 childish people taking away from the others...perhaps better actors could change my mind.

Supporting players were quite good, on the other hand, in each production. There is no comparing Bergen and Miller so I wont try, but I loved both of them...Bergen particularly.

My favorite moment in Follies is One More Kiss, when done well...Papermill's was wonderful with Carol Skarimbas and Ingrid Ladendorf. This is the only version where the older Heidi is as as strong as Young Heidi and the voices were gorgeous...and Young Heidi was on rollerskates which is a great effect (I believe it was used in the original as well.) Only Licia Albanese and the great Erie Mills in the concert from '85 surpasses them. In the '01 revival, Joan Roberts was quite good, but Young Heidi was terrible and cartoonish and the staging was bad.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:30pm

Oh, yes, GoldenBoy, people ARE paying attention because "attention must be paid"! (Sorry for the bad Sondheim joke; my husband's sense of humor is starting to wear off on me.)

Pattifan2 agrees with us...see how easy it is to "pay attention" when you agree with people?

So glad I don't have to feel alone and ashamed because I so enjoyed the London production of Follies. (I, too, was totally impressed with Diana Rigg. I had no idea she could sing. Julia McKenzie...well, has she EVER been bad???)

[fiatlux]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 9:04am

I went out with a member of the cast of the London Follies and therefore probaly saw more performances than were good for me.

but I have very fond memories of it - especially of Dolores Gray, who was quite wonderful.During the run she had a tumble at the stage door and was not able to walk, however, she didn't want to disappoint and was determined no-one was going to sing her number - act one was quickly re-written to cover for Carlotta's late entrance. In Act 2 her dance was covered by June Martin and for I'm Still Here, she finally appeared revolved in, sitting by a piano, sang her song without moving from the bar stool, brought the house down and was revolved off never to be seen again. Star quality


Updated On: 10/18/05 at 09:04 AM