Great first report. I know this sounds like an odd question but is "IN BUDDY'S EYES" still performed at the tempo as it is on the revival cast recording?
"Report from the Ahmanson Theater in Downtown Los Angeles where this evening I witnessed the first preview of Follies.
First off, the audience was fantastic. They seemed much more excited and appreciative than did some of the NY audiences I saw it with. That was a pleasure.
It seems to me there have been several additions/alterations to the book since NY. In my opinion not for the better. I know some have said that the deletions made for the Kennedy Center Production cut the heart out of the show, but putting stuff back did nothing but slow down the pace. The biggest problem with this production to me has always been that the first half of the first act drags until Terri kicks it into high gear with Who's That Woman. That problem is worse for the additions.
Vicki Clark- she was wonderful. Bernadette was better. There I said it. I think Sally is very difficult if not impossible for an actress to get around- as Sondheim said "She's crazy". Bernadette sang it better, and played it better. Plus, there is a reason she is who she is. She has a star quality that much benefited the show. Clark is great, but again Peters is sorely missed.
BTW- Jan Maxwell changed the way she says "In her tap shoes" just as I predicted she would. Jan continues to be wonderful and an audience favorite.
The new One More Kiss lady is again very good, but Roz Ellias was better. The new lady is too young- you need a real old lady to do that role.
The new Rain on the Roof guy was terrible but that might have been opening night jitters. And some kid from the chorus went on as Roscoe and it made no sense (he is WAY too young) and was a bit of a disaster.
So- still an amazing show. They need to go back to the book they used on Broadway."
Victoria Clark is a stronger singer than Bernadette, so I'm a bit perplexed that they would say Bernadette sang it better - unless they mean in terms of acting etc.
"Clark's Losing My Mind is not at all vulnerable, which is why the song is so heartbreaking for me."
I'm not a Follies scholar or anything, but isn't the point of the Loveland sequence that the numbers are supposed to be a commentary on the situation of the characters. For example, isn't The Story of Lucy and Jessie supposed to be a comment on Phyllis, hence why the number is so vampy and not like the character in the rest of the show. So I feel like Losing My Mind shouldn't be as vulnerable, otherwise it seems to go against the point of Loveland as a theatrical device.
Thanks for the report, Wicked Fanatic. Glad you enjoyed it. Interesting that she's wearing green when she "should have worn green." The extended exit is at the very end of the show, btw.
I'm interested in hearing from people who also saw it on Broadway how Lora Lee Gayer's performance has changed and how Jan delivers the "tap shoes" line.
Having seen Clark at Encores and Bernadette in both DC (very good) and NYC (wonderful), I find it very hard to personally judge which one was 'better,' simply because their interpretations were so drastically different. And I thought both were completely valid. Just look at the different interpretations of Losing My Mind. They are leagues apart, but because each actress brought something very different to the character throughout the preceeding hour and a half, both interpretations worked for them.
This is kinda why I hate bootleg clips on Youtube. Not so much because of the fact that they are...well...illegal. But because you're seeing one small moment that may not make sense if you don't see the entirety of the performance.
When is the official opening? Looking at their seating charts it does not appear to be selling very well. Maybe once it gets reviewed. Last nights performance sounds like it was a fun audience full of hardcore theater queens. It would be nice to see Follies with this kind of crowd as opposed to the subscriber crowd that will be there 90 % of the time.
I know I am in the minority but the dress sounds nice and I think it will look good on her. I assume it is the Broadway design just in the Blue/Green color? As long as the lyric change reflects it I'm fine.
Thank you for the report, Wicked! As if I needed more info to get excited about going!
And BTW, you're not the only one who didn't know that John McMartin hadn't simply forgotten his lines in the original production in 1971. I've never understood how they expected the average theatergoer to get the conceit. It wasn't until I got the LP that I realized it was supposed to be that way.
Judging by recordings alone, I think this revival does a better job of making it clear it is Ben who is breaking down, not the actor.
lljay, maybe it just looked greenish to the person reporting, but it's really not. Or maybe it's just another inexplicable choice made by Eric Schaeffer.
I saw the production early in the run in NY and am thrilled that the company seems even stronger. The lush full orchestrations are in place. I loved loved loved everyone (except the poor kid who had to cover Roscoe at the last minute).
Of the featured cast changes, it was lovely to see Sammy Williams, and Carol Neblett's was a very moving and rich voiced Heidi.
Finally, I adore Peters in other things, but in my humble opinion, Victoria Clark is a vast improvement (the dress looked blue to me btw). Clark was more sympathetic for me. I wanted to hug her, instead of shake her. Her voice is kind of mezzo-y in mid-range and then climbs to this gorgeous lyric soprano. I felt at Sally's most expressive (and high-flying) moments that this is the Sally she could have been. She's heart-breaking, particularly in Buddy's Eyes - where she NAILED the final note. In Too Many Mornings, Ron Raines is such a strong singer - hearing these two big voices soaring was overwhelming.
It was a great evening and I plan to see the production many times.
ABB2357 Shrouding won't affect your view in the upper side boxes anymore than normal since those seats have limited views with far right or left sides being blocked out. The shrouding is only on the outside of the box.
Agree with the ACT 1st night comments: "Rain on the Roof" new guy Sammy Whitman was BaaaD. He even flubbed part of his song which tripped up Susan Watson. She was so much better without him. Hopefully it really was just opening night jitters.
Yikes can't believe I missed the fact that a really young guy Matthew deGuzman was playing the part of Roscoe who should be very old. Hopefully Michael Hayes will be back and this was just a one time opportunity. It also didn't help that he was BaaaD vocally.
DAME your observation of last night's audience was spot on. It was filled with lots of theatre queens many in the industry and the man sitting next to me was a Sondheim fanatic who had roomed with the book writer for "Pacific Overtures". The audience was indeed enthusiastic with huge applause as the lights dimmed for the beginning of the show. Once it happened I couldn't resist joining in as I was on cloud nine to finally be seeing it again. Will be interesting to see if the response will be the same when I go with my season tickets on the 13th.
Now for the dress being green at the beginning and whether it's mentioned in "Too Many Mornings". I heard the word green sung but whether they changed shouldn't I don't remember. There was a mention of it being green when Buddy first enters and asks if anyone has seen his wife. He now mentions that she was wearing a green dress. May just confusify the issue even more.
And Son of Robbie J loved your comments on Clark versus Peters--well said!
"The new Rain on the Roof guy was terrible but that might have been opening night jitters."
Awww...that's Sammy Williams! He's one of the reasons I wanted to see this again! Does everyone agree that he's terrible?
There's a chance I'll get out there, as the hubby has business and already has tix...but I may not be able to take the time off.
Funny about Ben's breakdown. I've always understood McMartin's even though it was just on the recording. Once he starts forgetting the lyrics, his panic comes through. Raine's didn't ring true to me. It was the one disappointment I had in his performance...but it's an important one.
PJ, I agree Sally should never wear red in a prodction of "Follies." When i saw it in DC I almost spit venom when I saw her enter in that. However, she COULD have worn red the last time. or blue, or white, or pink, or teal, or black. Lots of one syllable colors to choose from.
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joined:6/29/08
Posted: 5/4/12 at 04:10am