Why does Follies have fans? Because despite a flawed book, it's perhaps his greatest and most emotional show, with a score that contains crowd-pleasing numbers in the style of composers of the 30's and 40's AND deeply felt character songs that, instead of sounding out of place with the more hummable songs, fit and compliment the other style beautifully. The characters are real and identifiable, its themes of regret and longing for the past have touched many, and to top it all off, it contains some of the wittiest and most stirring lyrics ever penned for the musical stage. That's why.
I knew my choice would be controversial! I'm well aware it's more of a personal feeling - but something's just not quite right. Pehaps it's not Sondheim's fault, though.
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre-
You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree. ~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel. ~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known. ~A Tale of Two Cities ~
Not Leo! lildogs must have been talking about Woody Allen..lol.
Idina: This is called a kielbasa!
Pianist: It's called a 'KA-basa'...
Idina: It's called a kabasa? Oh, a KIEL-basa's a sausage, isn't it? I CAN PLAY THAT TOO! HULLO!!
Dude, you are so entitled to you opinion. But if you are going to bash a much loved piece like Follies, please back up your opinion.
Hmmm...I'm trying to think of something I hate from someone I admire. I think part of admiring someone is understanding where they are going creatively.
boytobroadway Smoking, at least short term, helps an singers voice (relaxes those vocal nodes). Of course long term, that is a different story all together. There was a post a while ago about this very issue, search for the term 'smoking' I think it is only at worst on page two in the search.
Of course me personally, I'd say Rasputin in "Anastasia". Why oh why? Brilliant and beautiful movie - except for that one mistake with a stupid stupid stupid idiotic character - 'magic powers' in an otherwise relative realistic movie (than again I suppose it wasn't either Ahrens or Flaherty's doing but a decision made by the highers up in the studio).