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Follies Reviews
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A GREAT MUSICAL WITH AN EDGE(know what to expect) Review by: neenee, ny, Jan 12, 2012 |
after reading the negative reviews,I had to write. What the show is: a reunion of showgirls of different ages reminiscing about when they were in their prime.It's a musical for grown-ups who can identify with the characters' nostalgic,funny,rueful looks backward to the times when they were young and naive.
Listen to the songs! They're brilliant-witty lyrics,gorgeous melodies..some of Sondheim's best songs are in this ... read more show:
"The Ladies who Lunch","Losing My Mind","Beautiful Girls"...
If you're looking for a good-time musical with lots of gaudy sets and flashy costumes, you'll be disappointed. But if you want to see great acting(Jan Maxwell is amazing), clever staging,hear glorious songs,this a show you must see!!!
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Adults
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| 2 |
Review by: Tod, Dec 11, 2011 |
SO GOOD IT MADE ME CRY!
With such great performances from Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell and Elaine Paige (in fact the whole cast) and imaginative staging, how could this not be a brilliant show!
Some of the best memorable songs from as show as well.
It does help if you know the story.
Sure, it is sad in parts but very true to life. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Follies is a must see..and NOW!!!!! Review by: Peter, Nov 28, 2011 |
| The interesting thing about Follies is that you have to understand what the play is all about and that it is not a huge bowl me over musical. Sure, there are great numbers which are fantastic..Jayne Houdyshell's Broadway Baby is classic, Elaine Paige singing I'm Still Here is overwhelming and exciting, and Terri White's Who's That Woman is just show stopping. Then you have the main story of the show..the two couples-- four people ... read more wh are clearly in pain, ruined somehow by the fact that they made the wrong choices in their relationships. Bernadette Peters is playing Sally, a broken, unstable woman. Her emotional state in the show is exactly that and she absolutely shines in the role. Those who think otherwise don't understand that this is a role and not Bernadette in a concert. Jan Maxwell is absolutely glorious as Phyllis - caustic and abrasive and worthe every moment. Ron Raines and Danny Burstein are exciting and marvelous as the two male leads. The show is just a great show. You do have to understand that this is not the Zeigfiled Follies, but Sondheim's follies. It mixes the best of a follies type show with the depth and breadth of Sondheim embedded in the main characters. Don't miss this. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 4 |
The Biggest Folly Was Buying Tickets For This Play! Review by: Mr. Broadway, Nov 27, 2011 |
Like boxers past their prime, there are revivals and certain performers who should throw in the towel on their careers. Watching "Follies" , in particular, Bernadette Peters, was as painful an experience that I have ever encountered. While I truly wanted this show and Ms. Peters to have lived up to
their hype, they both were knocked out before intermission.
This show is so slow and boring that I would have had a better time ... read more watching paint dry! Ms. Peters seemed to be going through the motions throughout this play. She strained on most of the songs that she sung. While I enjoyed her performance at Ravinia in Chicago years ago, I felt cheated when Ms. Peters was on stage. Bernadete, it is time to fess up and call it a career on Broadway. You cannot hold a candle to Sutton Foster, Kristen Chenoweth or even Stephanie Block.
On the other hand, Jan Maxwell and Elaine Paige were terrific. While I was inclined to leave at intermission, Ms. Maxwell and Ms. Paige's performances were the only reasons why I remained.
I still cannot fathom why most of the Broadway critics were so effusive in their praise of this show. Is it taboo to criticize any show that Stephen Sondheim is associated? Perhaps Mr. Sondheim cast a spell on these critics.
Do not waste your money on this show unless you are an insomniac and are looking for a panacea that will cause you to sleep. The biggest folly that you will commit is if you see this show. You will be down for a "ten count" before you know it!
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 5 |
Bernadette is fantastic. Review by: CN, Nov 16, 2011 |
| I recently saw the show while in NYC and was very pleased. Bernadette is a broadway star and still shines in this musical. Jan Maxwell who I really know little about, won me over with her performance. I recommend this musical to all those who really want to see a classic , well done and elegant musical. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Anyone
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| 6 |
Sondheim! Review by: rmark25, Nov 16, 2011 |
What a great show. It surpassed my expectations. Hearing & seeing the score in context makes me appreciate Sondheim even more.
When will we get the chance to see a fully staged production like this again? |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 7 |
Very Disappointing; Dreadful 2nd Act Review by: Bill from Long Beach, Nov 10, 2011 |
| The first act had it's moments, but the second act was pretty bad. The best number was "Who's That Woman". The story is kind of lame and I found myself not caring about the four main characters. Many forgettable songs. Not as bad as "Women on the Verge..." was, but pretty close. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Seniors
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| 8 |
It's Sad and Gloomy But that's Sondheim Review by: Chubby Theater Goer, Oct 27, 2011 |
| There is not too much of a story here and atmosphere quite gloomy. But c'mon, it's Sondheim, not Rodgers and Hammerstein. I think it's one of the best set designs especially with the Follies girls moving in slow motion - again somewhat gloomy and sad. But this is a musical about the past, regrets, and old age. If anything, see it to experience one of the greatest Broadway stars in the history of theater - Bernadette Peters. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Adults
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| 9 |
A Musical Past Its Prime Review by: Mr.C, Oct 24, 2011 |
| I was not happy with the ending. At times in the first act, it was very slow moving. Msot of the songs are forgettable. I hope this is the last revival for Follies. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Recommended for:
Tourists
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| 10 |
Too depressing! Review by: violetsgirl, Oct 21, 2011 |
| Went with three other people. We were all very disappointed and depressed after watching this production. Had a hard time just sitting and watching the miserable main characters. Never felt a connection with any of them, just contempt. Hoping we'll have better luck with another musical a little more upbeat. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 11 |
Review by: hairybs, Oct 3, 2011 |
| Just amazing! This is an awesome old-fashioned musical with incredible music and actors. GO SEE IT! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Seniors
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| 12 |
Boring and depressing with a few bright moments Review by: gngal, Oct 3, 2011 |
| I have mixed feelings about Sondheim productions and this one is rather on the downside. The overall theme, the missed opportunity for true love, is presented in a dated manner. If these characters didn't like their spouses, they should have moved on rather than whine about it for 2 hours and drag us along with them. The first act gets off to a very slow start and goes kinda nowhere. The second act is fun but disjointed. ... read more Individual songs/performances are entertaining and memorable. But as a whole, I'd say look for a better reason to come to Bway. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists, Adults
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| 13 |
Follies....Great Start to what looks to be an AMAZING season!! Review by: kevinjude, Sep 24, 2011 |
| I normally don't comment on here but after reading some of the reviews, I had to. This production of Follies was amazing. It is the story of getting older and thinking about missed opportunities and dreams. It is not a show that needs multiple set changes ( although the sets were terrific ) or big dance numbers. As far as Bernadette Peters, she was amazing. Trust me, she can still sing w/ the best of them. It was a role ( Did you not hear ... read more "Losing My Mind" !!! The women in this show were all DIVA's. Sorry for those who didn't get it........ |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 14 |
Review by: Callie, Sep 22, 2011 |
Actually laughing out loud at the people reviewing on here who didn't understand the show. Not didn't like it, actually didn't even follow basic plot points. Wow.
Follies always draws a lot of contention among theater aficionados, with inevitable comparisons to the original production, arguments about who should have done what and who should have been cast, etc.
I don't know that there will ever be a perfect production of Follies, and ... read more I've now seen 6, but this one is beautiful, well thought out, and extremely well cast. The costumes are gorgeous and the four lead players (even Raines!) are excellent. It also provided me with one of the most beautiful moments I have ever seen onstage - Rosalind Elias and Leah Horowitz's "One More Kiss" - haunting. I found Peter's Sally to be fragile and frightening (in a good way) and Burstein's Buddy is a revelation. Jan Maxwell was likewise fabulous (and gorgeous!)
If you like to think with your theater - do go for it. It will not disappoint. Just lovely. A happy evening, no, but anyone who had done 2 seconds of research would know that already. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Adults
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| 15 |
Skip this show! Much better options on Broadway! Review by: Ilovect, Sep 19, 2011 |
| I saw Follies recently at the Marquis theater with 2 other people. Despite 3 good songs, all 3 of us hated it. The first half was painfully boring with no set changes and mediocre acting/singing at best. We all found it disjointed and very inconsistent in talent. Elaine Paige was very good, as well as the actor that played "Buddy". But Bernadette Peters is surely past her prime and losing her voice. We were hoping the second half would improve,... read more, but it actually got worse. The "Follies" vaudeville-esque set was ridiculous and almost juvenile. There also were "fairy type" characters milling around the set throughout the entire show for no purpose whatsoever. This bar is set very low for this production...skip this show and go see Memphis. You leave feeling like you saw a show worthy of "Broadway". After a performance, you want to feel as though you gained something by seeing it-- not the case with Follies; totally forgettable. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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