Follies

[lonlad]

>> Whole interpretations can be hung on very little.

Indeed, and "very little" is the operative phrase in script terms but not in the prevailing affect of McKenzie's performance, which was beyond praise. Sondheimfreak is spot on.

[frankubelik]

Very pleased to see Julia McKenzie being very justly praised for her near perfect performance. She moved me to tears every one of the ten times I saw that production. For me nobody has reached Diana Rigg's level of insouciance in performance. She was terrific.

[brenth]

Thanks for all of your replies, I’m always interested in other people’s take on stuff. I also have to mention the wonderful Lynda Barron as Stella in the 80s Follies ...blousy, a bit knackered, but with buckets of charisma, and a force of nature. Stella had been there and done it all...anyone who can upstage Eatha Kitt deserves an Olivier at least!

[julian]

In my opinion Imelda was mediocre in this role. I was disappointed with her. The stars of the show are Tracie Bennett and Janie dee, i hope they get Olivier awards

[Deleted]

Yeah now that the dust has settled and awards season is approaching, it's probable that Dee will score a lead actress in a musical nomination and Staunton will be honoured instead for her work in Virginia Woolf on the drama side. And yes Bennett is without a doubt winning a third Olivier for her explosive I'm Still Here. Not sure about the men.

[Deleted]

I really liked the way they directed 'I'm Still here' in that it was told like a story, with a beginning, middle and end, and Bennett delivered it well, but her voice really grates on me. That vibrato is something else... Still, people have won Oliviers for far less. David Badella, i'm looking at you....

[doritxuuu]

Dec 6, 2017 22:41:56 GMT @anthonyhope said:

Yeah now that the dust has settled and awards season is approaching, it's probable that Dee will score a lead actress in a musical nomination and Staunton will be honoured instead for her work in Virginia Woolf on the drama side. And yes Bennett is without a doubt winning a third Olivier for her explosive I'm Still Here. Not sure about the men.

Nomination at best for the men but I don't think they stand a realistic chance at winning.
It will be interesting to see how the female categories will play out versus Hamilton. 

[callum]

Not Imelda's finest hour I have to say, but I still enjoyed her performance. Mrs Lovett, Mama Rose and Martha all have an element of fire to them, which Imelda most definitely brings. Sally doesn't - but Imelda brings it anyway.

[Deleted]

Out of curiosity if Follies is run with an Interval, where does the interval take place?

[Deleted]

Usually after Too Many Mornings which is a hideous idea

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2017 18:09:22 GMT @anthonyhope said:

Usually after Too Many Mornings which is a hideous idea

Oh Ok, thanks for that.

[lonlad]

Exactly so - after Too Many Mornings, and then the second act tends to pick up with Sally and Ben once again locking lips -- not great. I did once see this show in concert at the Albert Hall, though, where the interval came SO late --- more or less just before Loveland - that you wondered why they bothered to put one in. Most bizarre.

[Deleted]

I wont get the chance now I don't think to go back, but I wish I had as, having seen it way back in previews, the further away I get from it, the more disappointed I am by it. I can pretty much only remember the set, Tracie and Janie. That's it. The musical itself is blah at best, and the best part of this specific production for me was the design and the two performances mentioned. I can't really remember Imelda that much anymore bar Losing My Mind, and I couldn't even tell you what the two male leads looked like, let alone did in the show. I feel bad saying that because this was set up to be THE show of the year. But whilst I enjoyed it at the time, its just faded from me now, which shouldn't happen so soon to be truly remarkable.

[Jon]

Dec 8, 2017 16:23:46 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

I wont get the chance now I don't think to go back, but I wish I had as, having seen it way back in previews, the further away I get from it, the more disappointed I am by it. I can pretty much only remember the set, Tracie and Janie. That's it. The musical itself is blah at best, and the best part of this specific production for me was the design and the two performances mentioned. I can't really remember Imelda that much anymore bar Losing My Mind, and I couldn't even tell you what the two male leads looked like, let alone did in the show. I feel bad saying that because this was set up to be THE show of the year. But whilst I enjoyed it at the time, its just faded from me now, which shouldn't happen so soon to be truly remarkable.

Maybe Sondheim isn't your thing, Follies was never going to be 42nd Street 2.0, it's a much darker piece and that doesn't appeal to everyone and that's fine. 

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2017 16:28:17 GMT Jon said:

Dec 8, 2017 16:23:46 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

I wont get the chance now I don't think to go back, but I wish I had as, having seen it way back in previews, the further away I get from it, the more disappointed I am by it. I can pretty much only remember the set, Tracie and Janie. That's it. The musical itself is blah at best, and the best part of this specific production for me was the design and the two performances mentioned. I can't really remember Imelda that much anymore bar Losing My Mind, and I couldn't even tell you what the two male leads looked like, let alone did in the show. I feel bad saying that because this was set up to be THE show of the year. But whilst I enjoyed it at the time, its just faded from me now, which shouldn't happen so soon to be truly remarkable.

Maybe Sondheim isn't your thing, Follies was never going to be 42nd Street 2.0, it's a much darker piece and that doesn't appeal to everyone and that's fine. 

I don't think its Sondheimin particular, as I love Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, as well as some others he has contributed to ala Gypsy and West Side Story. But I just think it was maybe this musical in particular. But as you say, its fine, its just a difference of opinion and it was a fantastic overall production.

[Deleted]

It could be something to do with your age maybe? Follies is about disappointment and the regrets we have as we get older - perhaps when you're a bit older you may have a different view of the material?

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2017 16:41:59 GMT @anthonyhope said:

It could be something to do with your age maybe? Follies is about disappointment and the regrets we have as we get older - perhaps when you're a bit older you may have a different view of the material?

Definitely. 10-years-ago-Baemax didn't really get the fuss, but 10-years-older-present-day-Baemax was absolutely devastated. I'm not saying you'll definitely love it when you're older, but it's worth revisiting to see if it does make a difference for you.

[Dr Tom]

I grabbed a last minute stalls seat for the Thursday matinee. A solid production and I enjoyed it, but I didn't ever feel any real empathy. The woman next to me kept checking her watch and it was rather a mixed view in the auditorium.

Glad to have seen it, but I won't rush to another production.

[Mr Snow]

Dec 8, 2017 19:05:14 GMT @baemax said:

Dec 8, 2017 16:41:59 GMT @anthonyhope said:

It could be something to do with your age maybe? Follies is about disappointment and the regrets we have as we get older - perhaps when you're a bit older you may have a different view of the material?

Definitely. 10-years-ago-Baemax didn't really get the fuss, but 10-years-older-present-day-Baemax was absolutely devastated. I'm not saying you'll definitely love it when you're older, but it's worth revisiting to see if it does make a difference for you.

i've been waiting for this to come up. I saw the last London production and was unmoved.  This one resonates and it did with the slightly older couple we wentwith even more so.

[Stephen]

Dec 8, 2017 16:31:22 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

Dec 8, 2017 16:28:17 GMT Jon said:

Maybe Sondheim isn't your thing, Follies was never going to be 42nd Street 2.0, it's a much darker piece and that doesn't appeal to everyone and that's fine. 

I don't think its Sondheimin particular, as I love Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, as well as some others he has contributed to ala Gypsy and West Side Story. But I just think it was maybe this musical in particular. But as you say, its fine, its just a difference of opinion and it was a fantastic overall production.

I feel similar that this production has mostly faded in my memory. I'd take Company and Merrily We Roll Along over this. I'd love to see them again!

[Someone in a tree]

Dec 8, 2017 16:41:59 GMT @anthonyhope said:

It could be something to do with your age maybe? Follies is about disappointment and the regrets we have as we get older - perhaps when you're a bit older you may have a different view of the material?

I saw Follies when I was 19 and was brilliantly devasted it. This NT production just does not rank as good with me

[AddisonMizner]

Likewise, I do not think age is always a factor. I am in my twenties, and found myself thinking about it for days/weeks afterwards, it had such an impact on me. I could certainly relate to some aspects of what the characters were talking about, even though they are so much older, and far removed from me.

On an unrelated topic, I have just finished reading the EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE book, and found it fascinating. I certainly have another level of appreciation for the show after reading it.

[distantcousin]

Fell in love with it all over again at the cinema.

The sound balance was perfect, and having seen it down the Nash from the 8th row, I thought the filming TOTALLY captured everything needed and did it justice.

I was able to catch the subtleties of Staunters's performance in a way I'd missed even in my quite good seat in the theatre. She broke my heart.

I loved how when Loveland started, the lighting suddenly made it look like an MGM musical on screen. Fantastic.

I really do think you have to be at least 40 to truly get the show. Otherwise it can just seem about a lot of old duffers moaning about their comfortable lives.

[Deleted]

I dunno, I get that it was beautiful to look at and I get that Janie Dee was amazing and Tracie stole the entire show from the usually unbeatable Imelda haha.

[Deleted]

I think you *can* appreciate it when you're younger (we don't all tread the same life paths and live the same experiences), but if you *don't* appreciate it when you're younger, it's worth giving it a decade or two before writing it off all together.