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Post by landoflola on Sept 17, 2017 21:36:31 GMT
Perhaps the introduction of the two drag characters into Buddy's Blues was prompted by the same reason for making the photographer in 'Flash, Bang, Wallop' in 'Half a Sixpence' ridiculously camp with absolutely no dramatic justification except to get a very cheap laugh. I too would like to know why the two women in Buddy's Blues were played by men in drag. Can anybody explain? I didn't see it as a cheap laughs move at all. Buddy's Folly, "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues", was presented here as a Vaudeville act, with proscenium curtain, footlights etc so the two female impersonators seemed appropriate. That was my take anyway.  I saw it as cheap and tacky and offensive as I did with the 'camp' photographer. |
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Post by landoflola on Sept 17, 2017 21:44:21 GMT
Funnily enough, being sat in the top corner of the stalls and being able to see most people, what was interesting is the song after Tracie's big number (something about a Kiss i think?), once that aong ended, alot of audience members were really adjusting at that point. It was like a wave, you just saw loads of people adjust in their seats at once. But other than that, no one got up to go to the toilet and most were 50+ women I'd say. I can't really see a point in the show where the interval would work either. Usually after too many mornings if they have one. |
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Follies
Sept 17, 2017 21:49:11 GMT
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Post by bimse on Sept 17, 2017 21:49:11 GMT
I didn't see it as a cheap laughs move at all. Buddy's Folly, "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues", was presented here as a Vaudeville act, with proscenium curtain, footlights etc so the two female impersonators seemed appropriate. That was my take anyway. I saw it as cheap and tacky and offensive as I did with the 'camp' photographer. Even now I know it was included in the original production, i can't see the need for the introduction of the drag aspect, I didn't think it added anything and for me it wasn't well performed, and wasn't funny. Apparently it was was dropped by the time the show opened on broadway, so no need to include it here. It spoiled an otherwise superb show . |
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Post by landoflola on Sept 17, 2017 21:58:40 GMT
Much as I wholly disagree with these reviews, what does it matter? The show is sold out and will not transfer. Quentin Letts really is a poor reviewer though - to call the faded opera singer a "hoofer" is rather pathetic and Billington's day is clearly over. I had to snigger at his comment about Imelda's voice dissolving at the end of Losing My Mind - it's because she can't sing it!!!! I have been rather pleased to see some posters here agreeing with my previous comments though which I had thought would be very unpopular. We agree with you!! I know many who do! The highest thing Imelda hit all night was her mark at the top of the stairs for Beautiful Girls. She really is miscast in this. |
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Follies
Sept 17, 2017 22:11:29 GMT
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Post by shady23 on Sept 17, 2017 22:11:29 GMT
I thought she was great.
I was a metre away from the stage and to watch her do her thing from such a small distance away was a joy.
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Post by vdcni on Sept 21, 2017 8:27:15 GMT
Saw this last night and adored it.
Hadn't seen the show before and wasn't that familiar with most of the songs but loved it pretty much start to finish. Front row seats were great though I've never felt so tall in all my life!
My Husband who was severely hung over all day and wasn't looking forward to it was won over within minutes.
For me there wasn't a weak link in the entire cast, Imelda was as good as I hoped, and loved her Losing My Mind, but was blown away by Janie Dee who really nailed the role and was sensational in her numbers.
Loved Peter Forbes as Buddy but wasn't so fond of Ben but think that was more the character/songs than Quast who was in great voice.
All the support was fantastic - loved Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland a few years ago and thought she was spectacular here, Di Botcher and Josephine Barstow (and her younger self) both incredible in their big numbers.
Hugely enthusiastic (and loud!) audience reaction as well.
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 21, 2017 11:08:59 GMT
It is interesting that the most enthusiastic reviews of 'Follies' seem to be mainly from people encountering it for the first time whereas those of us who brought along preconceived ideas (prejudices perhaps?) of what we wanted to see were disappointed. I guess this just demonstrates the strength of the show and proves it responds to performances that do not accord with what some of us have decided are the benchmark. I still maintain that some of the songs needed more singing as opposed to over-performing but the Olivier stage is a huge space and if Imelda's 'Losing my mind' and Janie's 'Would I leave you' worked for some people then that's fine, even if they didn't for me!
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Post by alece10 on Sept 21, 2017 11:34:38 GMT
It is interesting that the most enthusiastic reviews of 'Follies' seem to be mainly from people encountering it for the first time whereas those of us who brought along preconceived ideas (prejudices perhaps?) of what we wanted to see were disappointed. I guess this just demonstrates the strength of the show and proves it responds to performances that do not accord with what some of us have decided are the benchmark. I still maintain that some of the songs needed more singing as opposed to over-performing but the Olivier stage is a huge space and if Imelda's 'Losing my mind' and Janie's 'Would I leave you' worked for some people then that's fine, even if they didn't for me! I'm the exception to the rule. I've seen it many times before and I loved this production. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 21, 2017 11:41:10 GMT
Yes, me too - I don't think I've ever seen a better production of this overall. I have a personal preference to see songs "acted" in shows rather than just sung. Hence I loved Glenn Close in Sunset - of course the role has been "sung" better but its about the performance in a show and Imelda broke my heart in Losing My Mind, as indeed did Judi Dench on this same stage performing Send in the Clowns. In my view performances like this are masterclasses in musical theatre performance. I'm the exception to the rule. I've seen it many times before and I loved this production |
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Follies
Sept 21, 2017 11:46:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 11:46:27 GMT
Me three! This is the 4th or 5th Follies ive seen and easily the best and most successful. Im going back to see it in November.
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 21, 2017 12:05:21 GMT
Well, that's me told! I still maintain that the semi-staged gala performance at the Palladium some years ago was my ideal of how it should be done, but if others think this current production is the best ever then that's their prerogative and I'm glad they enjoyed it.
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Post by lonlad on Sept 21, 2017 12:35:23 GMT
>>It is interesting that the most enthusiastic reviews of 'Follies' seem to be mainly from people encountering it for the first time whereas those of us who brought along preconceived ideas (prejudices perhaps?) of what we wanted to see were disappointed. I guess this just demonstrates the strength of the show and proves it responds to performances that do not accord with what some of us have decided are the benchmark. I still maintain that some of the songs needed more singing as opposed to over-performing but the Olivier stage is a huge space and if Imelda's 'Losing my mind' and Janie's 'Would I leave you' worked for some people then that's fine, even if they didn't for me!
Hmmm. Most of the people I know who have really loved this production are friends whose memories of FOLLIES go back to the 1971 original. I've had 4 or 5 sets of attendees at this tell me they think it's the best production since then. I didn't see it in 1971 so can't comment (but have seen it many times from 1987 onwards).
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 21, 2017 13:31:23 GMT
Oh, not at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Art is completely subjective. |
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Post by jay78uk on Sept 22, 2017 7:32:50 GMT
On my way home last night I popped into the NT and managed to snaffle a great seat in the stalls- G36, just off centre. Whilst there isn't a bad seat in the Olivier, I got a whole lot more from the show than my previous visit when sat in row M of the raised stalls, to one side. In particular the first 20 minutes was far more involving as the humour of the girls arriving to the party comes across so much better closer up. The show was incredibly tight, well acted and sung- whilst the preview I saw a few weeks ago was great, last night notched things up further. A genuine masterclass, not just from the leads but across the board. Every cast member sang exceptionally, but I did feel for a few of the cast whose voices were v. stretched at the most demanding parts of the score- I'm glad they have a well deserved three week break coming up!
I was lucky enough to be invited to a an after show Q&A with the cast- turned out the return ticket I snaffled was from a corporate sponsor who had a free ticket and they kindly invited me along! Janie Dee and two of the members of the cast, I think Adam Rhys-Charles playing the young Ben and Alex Young planing young Sally were joined by Josh Seymour, the staff director. The Q&A was very interesting- Josh was clear that the show was originally conceived without an interval and that there was never any question of the NT production featuring one! Janie kindly answered my question regarding Sondheim's involvement in the production, mentioning that Sondheim's suggestions were minor and related to the narrative rather than music. Also hats off to Janie for fielding two quite frankly stupid/ rude questions in such a polite and restrained manner! What a pro.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 8:18:52 GMT
I'm intrigued, what were the stupid/rude questions? (Was it Giles Coren asking them?)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 8:26:34 GMT
I'm intrigued, what were the stupid/rude questions? (Was it Giles Coren asking them?) Did he say that Follies were 'sh*t in a jar'? and did someone throw a jar at him? |
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Post by jay78uk on Sept 22, 2017 9:08:16 GMT
LOL. No Giles Coren was not there. So the two rude/ stupid questions were along the following lines. One person asked what's it like being a show with a mega star like Imelda Staunton that get's all the attention... which Janie provided a remarkably composed response to, full of praise for Imelda being down to earth etc, and the younger cast members saying how much they had learnt from her etc. The other question was bizarre and more of a statement. The chap, talking to Janie as if she was Phyllis, described her as a bitch for saying she'd die for love. Janie, checking with Josh, politely pointed out her character doesn't say anything along those lines. I can only assume the chap had got Phyllis and Sally confused! Quite an achievement given Imelda S and Janie D don't look remotely alike.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 9:13:14 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 9:23:32 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face. I've long wondered why the NT Platforms don't ask for 'questions in a box' beforehand so they can weed out the inappropriate ones. Having been the unfortunate Usher at one too many post-show talks I can confirm people know no bounds when it comes to inappropriate questions. Though that said I've had one or two directors who also have zero concept of what is an inappropriate response either...I won't share any of the personal/rude ones, but a particularly memorable one was a 5 minute rant by a director about how men are under-represented in theatre.... |
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Follies
Sept 22, 2017 9:37:04 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Sept 22, 2017 9:37:04 GMT
LOL. No Giles Coren was not there. So the two rude/ stupid questions were along the following lines. One person asked what's it like being a show with a mega star like Imelda Staunton that get's all the attention... which Janie provided a remarkably composed response to, full of praise for Imelda being down to earth etc, and the younger cast members saying how much they had learnt from her etc. The other question was bizarre and more of a statement. The chap, talking to Janie as if she was Phyllis, described her as a bitch for saying she'd die for love. Janie, checking with Josh, politely pointed out her character doesn't say anything along those lines. I can only assume the chap had got Phyllis and Sally confused! Quite an achievement given Imelda S and Janie D don't look remotely alike. As it sounds like it was a corporate Q&A the people asking the questions probably had a few too many free sherbets before the show so didn't even know what they were watching. |
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Post by n1david on Sept 22, 2017 9:57:10 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face. At the platform with Janie Dee and Philip Quast, one audience member congratulated Janie Dee on how fit she was and asked if she ran marathons... The downside of “questions in a box” is that it stops audience members responding to something said in the main part of the platform. But I do wish sometimes the moderator would close down an inane question or (and I’ve seen this sometimes) twist it into something meaningful when “repeating” the question. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 11:11:15 GMT
Me three! This is the 4th or 5th Follies ive seen and easily the best and most successful. Im going back to see it in November. Me four. I've lived with Follies since the original OBC in the early 70s with all my pre conceived ideas of what it would be like. The Follies in Concert cd was next with Barbara Cook and Lee Remick. After that the London premiere and then the Paper Mill recording with Donna Mckechnie and finally the Bernadette Peters version and a version in Spanish which I saw in Madrid. All of these were good in their own way, but I didn't feel Sally's angry vulnerability until I saw Imelda. The piece for me didn't become whole until I saw this version at the National. Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Peter Forbes were the essence of the four main characters. I have recently been re-listening to all of my Follies cds and none of them have the emotion or depth that I saw on the Olivier stage a few weeks ago, probably because it was Follies live. I wish I could see it again but I don't know if I will make it back to the UK until next spring. But the memory lingers on. |
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Post by lonlad on Sept 22, 2017 11:27:57 GMT
>>At the platform with Janie Dee and Philip Quast, one audience member congratulated Janie Dee on how fit she was and asked if she ran marathons...
That was rather sweet, in context, and one could tell that she greatly enjoyed the question - who doesn't like being complimented on being fit? Not every question needs to be "soul stirring", to use an adjective from FOLLIES.
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 22, 2017 13:53:38 GMT
All of these were good in their own way, but I didn't feel Sally's angry vulnerability until I saw Imelda. The piece for me didn't become whole until I saw this version at the National. Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Peter Forbes were the essence of the four main characters. That's exactly what I thought when I saw Liz Robertson, Maria Friedman, Philip Quast and Tim Flavin at the gala at the Palladium in 2007 – 'emotional and dramatic depth' were the words I used in my diary note, but I still feel that musically the ladies at the Palladium did more justice to Sondheim's songs. So, buddyvlc, you have almost convinced me that I may have judged the present production too harshly, but I still don't fancy a return visit. My loss, I guess! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2017 9:06:09 GMT
So. Heres a question.
NT Live Follies Cinema Broadcast. November 16th. Cinema listing times are 7pm for this 'live broadcast'. All theatre performance start times are 7:30pm, for the evening showing. It seems that NT are not selling tickets for the performance that evening.
Do we think, like Miss Saigon and Newsies cinema broadcasts the show itself will begin at the specified start time without adverts, or this NT broadcast will be adverts and preamble for a set amount of time?
Im working 'til 7pm that evening, but only about 10minute walk away from the cinema. Wondering whether I'll miss the start or just miss any additional pre-amble. Any thoughts?
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