The critics around me kept complaining over why FOLLIES was getting yet another production. Though it did receive its Roundabout Broadway revival six years ago, it had reduced orchestrations and it is generally agreed that it was a poor production. Otherwise, the only other major NY mounting of FOLLIES other than the original 1971 production was its sensational 1985 Lincoln Center concert, which was preserved on video. And last Monday night in London, another FOLLIES concert was performed starring Maria Friedman.
This easily stands out as the most dramatically and musically ambitious production that City Center Encores! has ever attempted. It was not perfect - not that I ever expected it to be - but I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to both Sondheim connoiseurs and novices.
Musical theater historian Ethan Mordden has said that the original FOLLIES, one of the most incredible Broadway productions of all time, can never be recreated in all its original glory. A spectacular Papermill Playhouse revival ten years ago came close and was worthy of moving to Broadway, but inner politics prevented that from happening.
Unlike the Lincoln Center concert, which cut all of the book, this production keeps the book intact, though that is essentially a mixture of the librettos of the original Broadway production and its subsequent revivals. The very strong cast nicely handled the score and the drama, but it still felt rather awkward. As is always the case with Encores, the production will probably get stronger as the weekend continues and the cast becomes more comfortable with the show. Assuming that I'd want to see this again, I bought an upper mezzanine seat for the Sunday night performance.
My actual review will run on Monday in AM NEW YORK. Meanwhile, I may continue to blog some more about the production and any thoughts that spring to mind.
Within the opening night crowd I noticed Clive Barnes, who reviewed (and panned) the original production, Mike Nichols, Ted Chapin, who worked as a PA on the original production and has gone on to write a wonderful memoir about the experience, and director Casey Nicholaw.