National Theatre: Follies- Page 4

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 5:45pm

bk said: "

Why they would announce the filming of a production that no one has seen one second of is another enigma for another day.  

 

"

Why is it an enigma at all? The National Theatre regularly cinecasts most of their season every season.

This announcement is particularly exciting because rumor has it that Barbara Goldman would not allow it to be filmed. Only recently did she begin to relent on this with the filming of the Opera Toloun production, and now this.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 5:57pm

The Widow Goldman Relented, my three act play coming soon to Steppenwolf.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 6:18pm

Is there a video of the original production at the Lincoln Center archives?  I would love to see it.

The Lincoln Center wasn't yet filming/videotaping/archiving Broadway shows in 1971.  I believe the first show archived was the original A CHORUS LINE in 1975.  

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:23am

I know there is a recording of the tour cast of COMPANY (or something like that, the original set and staging etc) but was that perhaps a recording made unrelated to the Archive program and added later?

[yfs]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 11:35pm

Having watched Dorothy Collins play Sally about a dozen times both during the Boston tryout and on Broadway, I have to say I have never seen anyone else come close -- and certainly not Bernadette Peters, who is terrific in the right role. But Collins may not have even completely understood the subtext of what she was singing completely -- she was just so naturally tragic that it tore your heart out. Someone -- some critic -- described the casting as "cruel" and that seems right to me. Collins completely embodied the failed, upbeat, hopeful young woman who has gone into a terminal tailspin over the years, and has earned it without ever understanding the dimensions of it. Of course she named her sons Tom and Tim, of course she eats Baby Ruths for dinner, and of course she's been in love with the wrong man for decades and still believes maybe she can have him. Oh, the humanity, as someone once said. Collins embodied it all. 

 

[justoldbill]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 11:58pm

Dorothy Collins nailed it, as did everyone in that original production. Yep, saw it four times.  Which leads me to ask which of the fourteen or so script revisions will be used.  Boy, talk about a case of diminishing returns.  Just once, couldn't they use the 1971 script?  Couldn't they put back Vincent and Vanessa and their haunting and majestic "Bolero d'Amour"?  I fear that FOLLIES, like COMPANY and PACIFIC OVERTURES, has not been improved with the various script changes over the years.

By the way, Sally eats Baby Ruths for breakfast.

Updated On: 7/10/17 at 11:58 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:01am

I believe I read somewhere that they may closely follow the 1971 script, and it also may be intermissionless.

I have longed to hear Sally's suicidal lines in the finale included in a revival, but no production has had the guts do it. Maybe this will be the one? 

Updated On: 7/10/17 at 12:01 AM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 3:48am

http://www.playbill.com/article/national-theatres-follies-casts-its-carlotta

According to this article they will be using Goldman's original book.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 10:28am

I think the article is implying it will be the "original" without all the different songs from the Cameron Mackintosh London version. I expect the script will be basically be the Kennedy Center/Broadway version, but I hope to be surprised and have it be the original-original.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:42pm

nasty_khakis said: "I think the article is implying it will be the "original" without all the different songs from the Cameron Mackintosh London version. I expect the script will be basically be the Kennedy Center/Broadway version, but I hope to be surprised and have it be the original-original.

 

"

That is still good news. I have heard horror stories about Cameron Mackintosh's production.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:52pm

One good thing about the 2011 version is that the finale was closer to 1971 by keeping all of the dialogue between the two couples and not trouting out the other party guests with their exit lines which completely killed the tension between the couples. 

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 7/13/17 at 4:09pm

i am in LONDON the 3rd week of September and the show is sold out for the date i am open to going...but...i will go the theatre for same day tickets and hope!...i truly want to see this...as of right now i will be seeing DREAMGIRLS in London and hope to see AMBER RILEY in the lead!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/13/17 at 4:22pm

I was able to get tickets from what I previously thought was a sold out show using the AMEX sale. Right now, it shows that there are tickets available for all performances the third week of September. 

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 7/13/17 at 4:31pm

May be going to London over New Years and if so, I am snagging a ticket to this...I adore Philip Quast and the chance to see him perform is just too good to pass up. Keeping my fingers crossed that my plans hold!

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 9:17am

Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...

Updated On: 7/14/17 at 09:17 AM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:03am

That's not them in costume. That's just a publicity shot of the leads in glamorous gowns surrounded by theatre rubble like the photo that inspired the original show.

FYI tickets are now on sale to the public for the extension. Picked up my 18 pound ticket for Thanksgiving week.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:30am

Valentina3 said: "Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...

 

"

I was going to say the same thing.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:39am

Obviously it's not a costume, they are dressed up for the photo shoot. She wore that dress at the 2015 BAFTAS

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:40am

You'd think she's basically just trolling theater nerds with that choice :)

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:46am

ljay889 said: "Valentina3 said: "Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...

 



I was going to say the same thing.

 

I am probably all wet here, but wasn't that a reference to Sally?  'I should have worn green, I wore green the last time.' 

If it was, Phyllis wearing a dazzling green gown could mean that she is going to the reunion preparing for battle with Ben's memories of Sally from the outset.  Maybe Ben moped just a little too much or was just a little too excited about going to Phyllis's reunion, despite how uninterested he came across at the actual event.  That would make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Addison D.]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:53am

'Follies' was my gateway drug to Sondheim.  I saw the 1987 London Revival and was mesmerized--blown away.  A mere wisp of a lad at the time, the show has only become more important and more powerful to me as I have experienced the heartbreaks and compromises of life and love over the intervening 30 years.   (There was a gentleman sitting behind me in the 2011 production who began to cry during the overture--I totally get that response.)

Imelda Staunton, meanwhile, is--for me--a peerlessly powerful stage performer.  I missed her Mrs. Lovett but saw 'Gypsy' and found her Mama Rose to be revelatory.  I didn't see the filmed version, but on stage I thought she connected with the deep darkness of the character in a way that was...well...a revelation. Her Martha was a tour de force and I expect her Sally will be, as well.  Whether her voice has the power of Merman or LuPone is not important to me--I believe she has the intelligence and the skills to find nuances and shadings of character that will make this a peak theatrical experience.  

I adore Bernadette Peters and I respect and admire qolbinau's 'fandism' (even as I question the authenticerocity of the word...).  She has been singing in my ear for a long time--she IS Dot and she IS the Witch and no-one can take that away from me, or her.  I don't think, though, that an appreciation of a performer requires that we disparage other performers.  The talented ones all bring something unique and special to the role and the variety is what makes live theater so wonderfully satisfying.  In my opinion.

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 10:57am

Jarethan said: "ljay889 said: "Valentina3 said: "Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...

 



I was going to say the same thing.

 

I am probably all wet here, but wasn't that a reference to Sally?  'I should have worn green, I wore green the last time.' 

If it was, Phyllis wearing a dazzling green gown could mean that she is going to the reunion preparing for battle with Ben's memories of Sally from the outset.  Maybe Ben moped just a little too much or was just a little too excited about going to Phyllis's reunion, despite how uninterested he came across at the actual event.  That would make a lot of sense to me.

 

 

"

I actually think that would take away from the theme of illusion in the musical, and incorrectly subvert it into one about rivalry.  Phyllis doesn't go to 'do battle' with Sally.  Sally's obsession with Ben is largely her own personal delusion. Ben isn't ever going to leave Phyllis for Sally. The only one who thinks that might be possible is Sally.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 11:17am

Didn't Victoria Clark wear an aqua/green dress for the LA transfer of the last Follies revival? After Bernadette had worn a pink dress for the Broadway production… I never understood that since she sang the line 'I should have worn green…' To me it was like yes Sally is utterly deluded because she is actually wearing green. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 11:33am

QueenAlice said: "Jarethan said: "ljay889 said: "Valentina3 said: "Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...

 



I was going to say the same thing.

 

I am probably all wet here, but wasn't that a reference to Sally?  'I should have worn green, I wore green the last time.' 

If it was, Phyllis wearing a dazzling green gown could mean that she is going to the reunion preparing for battle with Ben's memories of Sally from the outset.  Maybe Ben moped just a little too much or was just a little too excited about going to Phyllis's reunion, despite how uninterested he came across at the actual event.  That would make a lot of sense to me.

 

 

"

I actually think that would take away from the theme of illusion in the musical, and incorrectly subvert it into one about rivalry.  Phyllis doesn't go to 'do battle' with Sally.  Sally's obsession with Ben is largely her own personal delusion. Ben isn't ever going to leave Phyllis for Sally. The only one who thinks that might be possible is Sally.

 

You are probably right, you raise good points, but the script is certainly vague enough to be open to different interpretations. 

 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/14/17 at 11:36am

Jarethan said: "ljay889 said: "Valentina3 said: "Why is she wearing green? She "wore green the last time"...


I was going to say the same thing.

I am probably all wet here, but wasn't that a reference to Sally?  'I should have worn green, I wore green the last time.' 

If it was, Phyllis wearing a dazzling green gown could mean that she is going to the reunion preparing for battle with Ben's memories of Sally from the outset.  Maybe Ben moped just a little too much or was just a little too excited about going to Phyllis's reunion, despite how uninterested he came across at the actual event.  That would make a lot of sense to me."
 

Either I'm misreading this, or you are thinking that Imelda is going to play Phyllis. She will be playing Sally, the character who feels she should have worn a green dress for Ben.

Musicaldudepeter - Victoria Clark was in a blue dress. You could call it aqua, but not green. :) There are bootleg videos all over the internets.