THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Birth Of FOLLIES

By: Feb. 26, 2015
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Today we are journeying back to February 20, 1971, and the very first performance of legendary showbiz musical FOLLIES.

Who Could Be Blue?

Originally planned as a murder mystery musical titled THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS centered around showgirls and their stage door johnnies at a vaudeville show reunion several years after everybody's rose colored heyday, Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's FOLLIES arrived as something altogether different when it premiered in Boston as part of its out of town tryout prior to its Broadway run in the second half of the cold February month of 1971. Gone was the murder mystery subplot of THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS and instead in its place was a brand new title - one with several perceivable meanings to match, natch - and an increased emphasis on the colorful personalities populating a Florenz Ziegfeld-esque revue called Weismann's Follies. Also prominent in FOLLIES as it would forever forward be recognized as from that first preview on was one of the most unique and striking stagings of any show in history - whether on Broadway or anywhere else for that matter. Utilizing the copious talents of both up-and-coming director/choreographer Michael Bennett and legendary producer/director Hal Prince, FOLLIES was the rare musical to feature two directors at the helm - and the physical production realized by the directing duo alongside the accomplished production team, not to mention the able cast and crew, collectively created something akin to theatrical nirvana for those lucky enough to experience it. Indeed, FOLLIES is still spoken about in hushed tones and with extreme reverence to this very day - particularly that breathtaking and spine-tingling original production - and in merely reviewing the history and sampling the rare clips available to view, it is clear to hear, see and feel why - and how. FOLLIES is something truly special.

What must have it been like to be the first audience to ever experience FOLLIES live in a theater? Furthermore, what could it possibly have felt like to witness actual musical theatre history being conjured up before our very eyes? The audience in attendance at the Colonial Theatre in Boston on February 20, 1971 has that memory to cherish - and, thanks to the magic of YouTube, some remnants of that evening still magically remain, including an audio of the actual opening moments of the show, then at its earliest stage of development - well, at least as far as a paying public could and would see. While the iconic prologue - populated with ghosts and glamour girls from long ago merged with the present day personalities of the same characters, now much older (and assumedly a bit wiser) - would change significantly over the course of the show's development, the kernels of the majesty and magic inherent in FOLLIES is amply apparent to hear, even at this infant stage. Additionally, the star presence afforded to many of the members of the cast were also appreciably met by the audience at that very first preview, as well, apparently - with B-movie starlet and later TV star Yvonne DeCarlo along with cinematic leading lady Alexis Smith no doubt claiming the largest recognition factor of them all at the time. But, FOLLIES isn't really about stars and showbiz and glitz and ghosts, anyway - it's about something even more intangible: magic.

It would be impossible to properly express the power and impact possessed by Stephen Sondheim's incredible score for FOLLIES in mere words or sentences, ditto the complex, detailed and dynamic original staging by Bennett and Prince - and that's without even mentioning the awe-inspiring designs by scenic artist Boris Aronson, costume designer Florence Klotz and lighting technician Tharon Musser. It was a dream team, pure and simple, and the level of quality which FOLLIES eventually reached by the time it ventured out of Boston and landed on Broadway is proof in the pudding - seven Tony Awards, including Best Actress In A Musical, Best Direction Of A Musical and Best Original Score. FOLLIES is a masterpiece - and pure theatrical magic made real.

Now, go back to the birth of FOLLIES with this rare audio of the first preview performance in February, 1971.

Also, revisit the original production with some delectable select scenes in this mesmerizing montage.

Plus, Sondheim and company discuss FOLLIES in detail and perform a bit on THE DAVID FROST SHOW.

So, what is your absolute favorite out of town tale from the vast and storied history of FOLLIES? Furthermore, what would you give to have been in the audience in Boston at the very first preview performance this week 44 years ago? When an entertainment experience is as fulfilling, rich and satisfying as FOLLIES almost always is, any chance to witness its magic is, in a word: priceless.


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