Anyone seeing FOLLIES in LA tonight?

[f13overture]

Any1 going next thursday? cuz that's when i'll be there

[SonofRobbieJ]

But...it's Sally's folly. And it's clearly a torch song, which demands a certain level of sexuality. Plus, the lyric isn't 'I love you so.' It's 'I want you so.'

I can tell you from seeing that production that Clark succeeded in every moment and was the equal of Donna Murphy's terrific Phyllis. In the theatre, the moment did not read as 'Marilyn.' It was actually a stunning reveal, and I only wished the key was raised to take advantage of her range.

[E.Davis]

She is supposed to crash into the wall. Its a sight gag.

[PalJoey]

Gaveston--Victoria Clark's "Losing My Mind" was stunningly good at City Center.

(This spoken by a 6-time original-production-goer.)

[SonofRobbieJ]

It was also all of a piece with her performance throughout the rest of the night. She was a silly woman, looking frumpy, with her hair piled on her head. She was manipulative, bitchy and annoying. And then, during Loveland, a white curtain rises to reveal this amazingly beautiful figure. It was simple, but it was gasp-worthy (at least for me). And in that one song, she achieved a symbiosis of character and concept. It was working on some meta level...expressing her frustrations while playing the part of a sexually realized Follies star. And, as good as Murphy was in Lucy and Jessie, no one forgot Clark's shining moment.

[macnyc]

Yes, E. Davis, I figured it was intentional. But it happens so fast, and there's so much happening on stage at that time, you could easily miss it.

[macnyc]

Duplicate post, sorry

[Gaveston2]

Gaveston--Victoria Clark's "Losing My Mind" was stunningly good at City Center.

(This spoken by a 6-time original-production-goer.)

I'm so glad to hear it, joey! Thank you very much! (I know how well you know the show and entirely trust your opinion.)

I thought Clark was a revelation in the PBS production of LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and was very happy to hear it when she was cast as Sally. Your endorsement is icing on the cake! (And even if the You Tube video doesn't do her acting justice, she sounds amazing!)

ETA P.S. to SonofRobbieJ: I didn't mean to slight your account nor overlook it. Thank you. I have literally been counting the days as if I were 9 and Tuesday were Christmas.

I've seen two productions since the original and both had performances to recommend them, but this will be my first fully staged (I didn't think the Long Beach production was "fully staged") production since 1972.

[PalJoey]

Robbie described her performance to a T--especially the gasp moment. I will be very surprised if you don't come back from seeing it in LA eating your hat.

[Gaveston2]

There's no hat to eat, joey. I'm not crazy about the You Tube video (except for the vocal quality), but I fully realize a rough video isn't representative of the impact on stage.

And if I needed convincing, you and SonofRobbie have done it...

(ETA: Now if only Paige will refrain from acting like somebody just killed her puppy during "I'm Still Here"!)

[qolbinau]

I LOVE her voice in that YouTube video and don't think they need to raise the keys. I love the quality of her voice when she hits the low notes. "The thought of you stays BRIGHT.." my GOD.

[Gaveston2]

^^^ Exactly.

[Borstalboy]

Dying to hear what people think about this.


I didn't much like the clips of Clark singing this song, but she's a ridiculously resourceful actress...I'm guessing she'll knock it out of the park.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I loved Clark's performance at Encores. I hope in LA she's allowed to play her role in the same vein she did then and not in the vein of Peters.

[qolbinau]

Assuming that Bernadette Peters was actually directed I assume there will be some common elements from a common director...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I'm sure there will be, but still, I hope she's less in the vein of the Bernadette Sally and more like the Sally she played at Encores.

[PianoMann]

Bearing in mind I have only seen a few clips of Clark's performance in Encores, I can say I much prefer Bernadette's portrayal than Clark's (theoretically, of course). I get a lot more out of an insecure Sally than a confident one. Clark's Losing My Mind is not at all vulnerable, which is why the song is so heartbreaking for me.

[BroadwayFan12]

I agree, PianoMann. But Clark is a magnificent actor and I'm confident that she'll be great now that she's had more time to explore the character.

[Brian Byrne]

Going on Saturday night, and cannot wait!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I saw them both live and Clark was more right for the role in concert than Peters was in a full-scale production.

[singingbackup]

Excited to see it tomorrow night. (Love me some HOTTIX). For the question regarding nearby hotel, there are a few good ones in Hollywood/Highland area that are a short subway ride away (Subways are NOT just for sleeping here in LA). It's a fun area with lots of Hollywood history and such.

Enjoy!

[PianoMann]

Oh I don't doubt Clark's abilities at all, and I think it's difficult to judge her performance in this production based on a concert-version of Follies from years ago. Since she has played Sally before, it's hard to not comment. I expect her interpretation in this full production with this company will be different, and I can't wait to hear feedback! Wishing her and the entire cast the best of luck in their LA engagement.

[blaxx]

She was going for sultry? I thought Sally was completely wasted.

[Wicked Fanatic]

I just got in from the 1st preview and it was everything I hoped for and more a big giant WOW for me. Think the feeling was mutual for the L.A. audience as it got a very prolonged ovation at curtain call.

Where to begin--I'll start with Sally's dress. Her first appearance was in a green dress with a bluish tint. Then for "Losing My Mind" in Loveland it was blue with lighting making it look purplish where I was sitting. Someone said that Victoria Clark's rendition was gasp worthy and that's exactly what it was in L.A. I was stunned when she came on. Her rendition was sultry and listening to Bernadette's again I like Victoria Clark's better.

Elaine running into the wall during "Who's That Woman" got the appropriate laugh as other lines directed for that effect did too. The Mirror Mirror choreography was magnificent and the response from the audience was deafening and went on the longest of any of the songs in the show. Terri White was stupendous and she got robbed of a Tony nomination. Liked Jayne Houdyshell's "Broadway Baby" and it was the 1st song that brought down the house but not as much as Terri's "Who's That Woman".

My casting feelings...
Victoria Clark: Absolutely beautiful singing voice that I prefer over Bernadette's. Since I've only seen this play twice in 1972 and now 40 years later (OMG) it's hard to compare since I really don't remember much about how it was done then or who even played it. Someone asked if she did the extended exit in "Losing My Mind" and she did. Couldn't take my eyes off of her as she exited from the stage.

Ron Raines and Danny Burstein were both excellent. Loved Danny's "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues". Ron's breakdown scene was really good. When I saw this in 1972 I didn't know what the Hell was going on. They actually stopped the music and I thought something had gone wrong with the show. I just was too young or stupid to know that he was having a breakdown. I liked the way it was done in this production much more than at the old Shubert. Of the two I'd give the Tony to Danny.

Then there's Jan Maxwell who for me was the STAR of the show. I loved everything about her: acting, singing and dancing and she managed to make me like "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" which I've never really liked or understood till now. If there is any justice in who should win the Tony's she had better win it.

Supporting ladies were all wonderful: Mary Beth Peil (Solange), Jayne Houdyshell, Carol Neblett (Heidi--Loved her "One More Kiss") and the West End Diva Elaine Paige. So glad I finally got to see her. She was stellar with her acting and brought the house down again with "I'm Still Here". She had a huge fan base in the audience and of all the actresses she got the loudest applause when they first entered and then again at curtain call with only Jan Maxwell being a close second.

Don't know whether this was in the Broadway World article today, but they did have some cast changes from the original program. Obba Babatunde has taken over the role of Max Deems from Frederick Strother. Yikes what a small role and a waste of his talents. Angel Reda, a Wicked San Francisco Stand-by took over the role of Young Solange. The role of Roscoe usually played by Michael Hayes was played tonight by a Swing Mathew deGuzman. Wasn't impressed with his voice at all in "Beautiful Girls". Hope I get to see someone else in that role when I see it again on May 13th.

The theatre was shrouded including all the side boxes which are limited view seats. They did have people sitting in them. Didn't really look at how much of the balcony was shrouded as I was seated underneath the mezzanine. Finally, there was NOTHING for sale. They had better have some souvenirs the next time I see it.

That's enough for now and hopefully some of the great Follies Experts like Pal Joey can give me some questions that I can think of to answer in regard to the NYC/DC productions versus L.A.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Oops, it posted twice thanks to that debugging error that came up thus deleted what you've already read.

[qolbinau]

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?