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Follies Reviews
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| 16 |
Review by: Quick, Sep 19, 2011 |
| Think League of their Own meets Sunset Boulevard (minus the good music). I felt like I was watching someone's nightmare. This show, though praise by most critics, was ridiculously terrible to sit through. Visually the whole show was cast in shadows - very drab. The actors were good not great (except for Danny Burstein, who is remarkable.) I would not recommend this show to anyone. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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| 17 |
Follies..not Ziegfield but SOndheim... Review by: Peter, Sep 14, 2011 |
First of all, if you are reading this and know nothing about the show, it is not a Ziegfield Follies type show. it is a dramatic reunion of showgirls, all who come with some baggage. The performances are top rate. Jan Maxwell is a cold and bitter Phyllis that you cant help but love. Elaine Paige is wonderful. THe supporting players are great. Terri White is superb -- Jane Houdyshell knocks your socks off.
I am reading these reviews and ... read more thinking what is up with the Bernadette bashing. The character is a broken woman, who lives in a fantasy world. That is how she played it. It is a sadder more disturbed interpretation of Sally. While it may not be the best choice, it is certainly not disappointing. If you listen to the lyrics of LOsing My Mind and some of her other songs, you realize that she is someone who missed out on a better life.
I loved the show and enjoyed the performances. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Adults
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| 18 |
Review by: George, Sep 12, 2011 |
| Sorry to say a huge dissapointment . Bernadette Peters is my all time favorite until she sleep walked through this boring over hyped show . I purchased tix based on raves in the DC production and wanted to leave at the intermission , sorry we stayed to the bitter end . |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 19 |
IN RESPONSE TO DANNY ROSE'S COMMENT Review by: bobk49, Sep 5, 2011 |
| In answer to Danny Rose's comment about the character of Sally.I have seen every version of Follies that has existed around the world and studied Sondheim at NYU.There is a difference between restrained and zombie like. Ms.Peter's version is the latter and made myself and several members of the audience at each performance I attended wonder what was wrong. We are not expecting an in your face drop dead Mama Rose character nor are ... read more we expecting a ghost like character which Follies has already. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Seniors, Tourists
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| 20 |
GREAT Review by: DannyRose, Sep 4, 2011 |
Terrific revival of Follies - Big, Brashy, with full orchestra. Broadway with a capital B. Outstanding staging, lighting, acting, singing, dancing. So good to see and hear a Stephen Sondheim show given the full BROADWAY treatment, unlike Sweeney Todd, Company, and Road Show. Stellar cast - do not miss it...
PS: Bernadette Peters character in the play is psychologically damaged - does the song
‘Losing My Mind' give you a hint ... read more that her performance should be slightly restrained?
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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, Seniors, Tourists
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| 21 |
WHAT'S UP WITH BERNADETTE PETERS? Review by: bobk49, Sep 3, 2011 |
| While I don't agree with most of the review no name dated Sept 1 gave I must agree with his comment about Bernadette Peters.I love her and have followed her career since the early days. I saw today's matinee 9/3 which is my 2nd time for this revival.The first time I saw the show on 8/31 matinee she seemed unsure of herself with a lack of conviction about the role of Sally.I found this strange since she played the role of Sally at The Kennedy ... read more Center and was superb.I chalked it up to a bad day but seeing her once again she seemed odd and unsure of the role she was playing.Her performance was drippy,weepy and not a star performance.If she was playing drunk it was bad and if she was drunk it is sad.I do hope she reads BroadwayBox comments or someone relays these messages to her as I will be seeing the show for a 3rd time this coming Wed matinee. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
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| 22 |
Sondheim does schmaltzy? Review by: joanf, Sep 3, 2011 |
| Saw it last night, did not know a thing about it other than it was by "the man" and really expected to love it. OY! SCHMALTZ! There are a few great #'s that are sung amazingly (Jayne Houdyshell rocks Broadway Baby) and a few great #'s that are oversung, wrongly done, & just wrecked . The story is awkward and the dialogue is BAD. Huge cast, huge orchestra can't save this heap o'pain. Did not know "the man" hit a foul ball occasionally. Now I do. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 23 |
If I wanted to be depressed I could have just stayed home... Review by: , Sep 1, 2011 |
| Maybe I expected too much after the raves and hype about this show.... but if I wanted to be depressed I could have just stayed home. It is a definate NOT for a romantic date... the story alone would make you think twice about your relationship. I do love Bernadette Peters..she has a unique voice and talent... and some of the time she showed it. I was just not sure if she was playing drunk or really was on the night of our performance.. she ... read more just seemed a bit 'off'. The other main actors performances were quite good (considering the material), but I expect more from a hundred plus dollar-a-seat show that it taking up theater space in Broadway.... I expect the whole package to be great! The set was simple (maybe too simple, especially the theater itself.. looked like a cheap attempt at a haunted house) and with the hint of ghosts of the past visible yet descreet. The coreography was notable, and the costumes had some glitz, but doesn't make up for the lyrics of the most forgettable collection of songs I have ever experienced. Hummm, I can't remember a single one, but I do remember thinking that the repetative droning went on and on.... for two and a half hours. We were really thinking about leaving this train wreck just about the time the curtain went up on that "WTF?" moment when the show went into a 'La Cage au Faux' style follies episode. Yikes ! Sorry, folks, this is one show I will happily forget... thank goodness we got discount tickets! |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 24 |
Great Night of Broadway's Best Review by: Carol, Sep 1, 2011 |
Follies is a typically dark play as Stephen Sondheim's music explores love, the lack of it, and various relationships in a reunion of the casts of the follies before the theatre is torn down to make way for a parking lot. The costumes, staging, choreography are outstanding Broadway fare. The first act gets a big draggy in spots but picks up. Reminiscent of the stories behind each of the people in A Chorus Line, ... read more we see the motivations and disappointments in the "Misses Follies." This is an all-star cast headed by Bernadette Peters, but even better is Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, her friend in the Follies and rival in love. Shades of Scarlet O'Hara's obsession with Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind underscore Sally Durant's (Peters') fascination with Benjamin Stone (Ron Raines), Phyllis's philandering husband.
Be prepared for a show-stopper with Stella Deems's (Terri White) number and enthusiastic audience responses to Hattie Walker's (Jayne Houdshel) comic act about being in a show. Rosalind Elias as Heidi Schiller makes her Broadway debut after more than half a century gracing the stages of every major opera house in the world. Leah Horowitz, the young Heidi, enthralled the audience.
Added to the central stories are the girls of the Follies that lurk like ghosts along the scaffolds of a decaying theatre and a bygone era. The play is a fascinating period piece as well an exploration of motivations for performing "what they did for love." |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| 25 |
SUPERB WITH MINOR FAULTS Review by: bobk49, Aug 31, 2011 |
| Saw the 8/31 matinee and WOW WOW WOW what a brilliant production.I have seen every version of Follies from the original on Broadway to all the revivals done through the years. This one is superb but does have some faults.Sitting in row A aisle seat 1 I could hardly hear most of Ms.Peters solos.I love her but please mike it up or sing out Louise.The other issue is blocking as when Mr.Raines is singing with Ms.Peters he blocks her so you can ... read more hear but not see her.I will see the show again row A aisle seat 112 on 9/7 matinee and hope my input is noted. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 26 |
A GREAT MUSICAL Review by: MEMEGLEN, Aug 28, 2011 |
Saw Follies on August 20th and loved it! Excellent orchestration, terrific acting, fabulous singing and dancing, wonderful costumes and a very poignant story!
The star-studded and extremely talented cast makes Follies
a great musical theater experience! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 27 |
Its no FOLLY to see Follies! Review by: moondanceforu, Aug 25, 2011 |
| What theater should be. Marvelous full orchestration, stunning costumes, singing and dancing beyond compare. Bernadette Peters can tear your heart out. It just is breath taking. Once in a lifetime performances!!! |
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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, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 28 |
Elaine Paige is fabulous! Review by: Legs, Aug 21, 2011 |
| She's still here! Her number alone makes it worthwhile to catch this production. The entire cast is wonderful. Don't miss this production of Follies! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Business Associate
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Recommended for:
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| 29 |
This is what muscial theater is all about! Review by: GV Dennis, Aug 20, 2011 |
| Showstopping numbers. Dazzling performances. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 30 |
Review by: Jim-NJ, Aug 17, 2011 |
| Top-notch performance. Jan Maxwell is so gorgeous it defies description. |
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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:
Anyone
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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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