FOLLIES Reviews

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AC126748
#50FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:19pm

The witheringly droll and elegant Phyllis (Ms. Maxwell) is married to Benjamin Stone (Mr. Raines), a celebrated Manhattan executive, while Sally (Ms. Peters) has settled down in the Midwest with Buddy Durant (Mr. Burstein), a salesman.

Since when is Phoenix, AZ, "the Midwest"?


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

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FrauleinKost
#51FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:19pm

From the AP:

"Peters, who knows her way around a Sondheim score, is wonderful as the pining, overweight housewife Sally — she manages to hide her knock-out figure in Act I"

wtf? It's not like she's wearing a fat suit...and her figure was still pretty knock-out to me...did they change something since the first preview?? Not seeing it again till next week.


THRILLED about the Brantley RAVE. SO beyond thrilled.


"I chose and my world was shaken--so what? The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not. You have to move on"

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ChenoKahn
#52FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:23pm

Bernadette doesn't even look pudgy. She looks great.

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SondheimFan5
#53FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:25pm

they were probably referring to the line in 'Don't Look at Me':

B & S: So, ,just look at us!
S: Fat!
B: Turning grey!

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Jordan Catalano
#54FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:26pm

She look like a pig being roasted over an open fire at a Hawaiian Luau, and you know it.

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PalJoey
#56FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:35pm

At last! A reviewer worthy of the subject of tonight's review.

In TimeOut New York, the redoubtable Adam Feldman:

http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/theater/1938981/review-follies

First of all, he begins by quoting "One More Kiss"--we do like reviewers well versed enough in the show to quote the more obscure lyric. And look for his "fantastical folies a quatre"...very nice turn of phrase that, no?

Well, played, Adam Feldman!


Updated On: 9/12/11 at 10:35 PM

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SondheimFan5
#57FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:38pm

It's a shame that Bernie's performance didn't get stronger reviews...we all knew they would love Maxwell and Burstein, but her performance is so nuanced and wonderful. It was really incredible in DC, though not as wonderful as Maxwell.

Still, I say all this but I can't complain. I am also thrilled for Raines whose reviews seem very positive (though mostly brief) overall - he has been a staple of regional theatres and opera companies for a long time and it's nice to see him get recognition here.

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ljay889
#58FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:39pm

Brantley made it a little error, lol.

while Sally (Ms. Peters) has settled down in the Midwest with Buddy Durant (Mr. Burstein), a salesman.

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SondheimFan5
#59FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:43pm

We will excuse Mr. Brantley since his review was so nice.

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aasjb4ever
#60FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:50pm

I'm so glad Brantley wrote a rave! I can't wait to see the show on Flea Market day with the pull quotes outside of the theatre!

whatever2
#61FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:52pm

>Brantley made a little error

that's what happens when you fire all your copyeditors, fact-checkers, and proofreaders ... if it's not in auto-correct, it must be accurate!!!


"You, sir, are a moron." (PlayItAgain)

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ljay889
#62FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 10:54pm

The Philadelphia Inquirer is a Rave.

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/howard_shapiro/129668338.html

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E.Davis
#63FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:05pm

I love those two new production shots that came with with the Times review.

Maxwell looks amazing in the new "Loveland" dress.


"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#64FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:05pm

Follies offers a smart definition of success - "being good at what you love to do," says one character. It can't offer one for happiness, so it asks, profoundly: Who, out there, is happy?

And what does that mean, anyway?


Wow.

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ljay889
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SondheimFan5
#66FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:07pm

Phyllis, I had the same reaction...ah well, at least he liked it. Though an un-eloquent yet positive review doesn't carry as much weight.

This are very quotable reviews though - even Brantley!

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jacobsnchz14
#67FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:07pm

I sure hope this gets filmed... congrats to everyone involved! Cannot wait to hear the cast album!

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ljay889
Phyllis Rogers Stone
#69FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:13pm

Oh, I didn't care about the weight of that review. I just liked what he had to say.

I think these reviews are all pretty wonderful.

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nealb1
#70FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:18pm

I'm so excited to see this again next week!

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CurtainPullDowner
#71FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:22pm

"...and Burstein proves, to anyone who didn't know it already, that he's one of our great stage performers.... He's a great gift, an honest musical-theatre actor, and a Sondheim natural. Also? Whatever pieces of your heart are left after Bernadette's through, Burnstein will grind to powder for you."
Bravo!

(no, it was me, see below) Updated On: 9/12/11 at 11:22 PM

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madbrian
#72FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:28pm

^^^Is that a direct quote? Did the reviewer actually misspell Danny Burstein's name???


"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

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SondheimFan5
FindingNamo
#74FOLLIES Reviews
Posted: 9/12/11 at 11:34pm

I hope somewhere, right now, nomdeplume is DOING HER HOMEWORK.


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