The REAL Ciaron
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"Follies" Greatest musical ever?I always loved this show, but lately I am starting to wonder if maybe it might be better than Sweeney.
IT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!
I mean "Love Will See Us Through", "Buddy's Eyes", "Loveland", "I'm Still Here", "Broadway Baby", "How Could I Leave You" and the brilliant "Losing My Mind"!!!
Am I crazy?
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Salome
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I think Follies may be the greatest flawed masterpiece ever.
the score is a masterwork. the book is extremely good..only in comparison to James Goldman's Lion in Winter and They Must Be Giants does it fall short...
but no one has solved the problem as to how to staged Goldman's book properly. therefore critics give the book alot of unwarrented negative feedback.
I tihnk its one of Sondheim's 3 finest work along with Sweeney and Company.
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dramaqueen220222
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In my opinion, Follies is rather brilliant, as I've recently discovered, along with Assassins. However, I wouldn't go so far to say it's better than Sweeney.
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La Boheme
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Agreed with Salome.
The score is amazing.
But the book...the first act in particular requires such careful staging...it borders ever so slightly on boring.
I think the problem might be the time Goldman takes to really develop the main 4...Although he does it beautifully - "we're careful with our colours, Ben and I, and what we've made is beautiful" is enough to illuminate any character. Without it the story wouldn't be...right.
Its a delicate balance.
Anyway, I think the show is fabulous, and incredibly underappreciated. The Road You Didn't Take...sends chills down my spine everytime.
And does Phyllis not have the best exit line ever...Bet your ass she does.
Has anyone read the London version of the script?
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javertsw
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| La Boheme wrote: | .
Has anyone read the London version of the script? |
I *think* what I read was the London version, though I'm not sure. I'll have to find it in the library again and double check.
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Hans
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I seriously need to read the book for Follies. The score is amongst the very best (though I'd put Sweeney Todd above it) - but everyone claims the book is not up to it.
I ordered the published script from Amazon.com just now.
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Jud
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You read my mind! I was just going to start a similar thread.
I just got my hands on the 1985 Concert Recording, and..........WOW!!!!!! The show has music of such incredible quality. When the audience began applauding in "Beautiful Girls," I got one of the biggest musical thrills of my life. Who the hell knew? I never really appreciated the original cast recording. I'll will have to revisit it now.
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Desperado
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The cast is too large for my tastes, honestly...but I've never seen it. Is there doubling allowed?
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JPme
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I've read the 1987 London version, I think - that's the one that includes "Make The Most Of Your Music"?
It's the only version of the show that I've been exposed to, though, so I can't really make any comment on whether it's better or worse.
JP
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The REAL Ciaron
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| Jud wrote: | | I never really appreciated the original cast recording. I'll will have to revisit it now. |
Really? Alexis Smith is fantastic as Phylis!! Her Tony was well deserved! Dorothy Collins is also great as Sally.
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Salome
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5The london script lacks alot of the punch of the broadway version. I hate the happier endings in london..but the casting is amazing. Daniel Masse = genius.
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Hans
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| JPme wrote: |
It's the only version of the show that I've been exposed to, though, so I can't really make any comment on whether it's better or worse.
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I like the cast recording of that production, which has a tone I don't know a better word for than "chilly", which I find appropriate for the show. I hated it until I had heard some of the other recordings of the show, though.
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JemiBoe1981
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Follies is AMAZING. I just recently got into it and... wow. I have only heard the OBC, and it's amazing. Alexis and Dorothy are friggin GODDESSES and the story and (even moreso) the score are phenominal.Losing My Mind is one of the best songs to ever grace the stage. I love everything about it.
I like Sweeney better though.
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La Boheme
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| JPme wrote: | I've read the 1987 London version, I think - that's the one that includes "Make The Most Of Your Music"?
It's the only version of the show that I've been exposed to, though, so I can't really make any comment on whether it's better or worse.
JP |
Yes.
Where did you find a copy to read?
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piscesmoni
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Best recording?
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Salome
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Il ove the papermill playhouse recording with Tony Roberts,Laurence Guittard and Ann Miller.
I love all the recording for different reasons though.
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Guest
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| piscesmoni wrote: | | Best recording? |
All four main recordings have considerable pros and cons. The show was tailor made for the OBC, but the recording is severely cut. The Concert has amazing performances, which sometimes draws attention to the performers rather than to the show as a coherent piece. The OLCR offers a new angle on the piece, that isn't really representative for Follies, while it has fascinating (sometimes alienated/alientating) performances. The Complete recording is nearly complete, but some finds it somewhat lifeless compared to the OBC and the Concert cast.
I'd recommend to buy the Concert recording or the Complete recording before the others.
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Hans
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^ that was me not having logged in....
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Salome
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I dont find Papermill to have any lifeless performances. who dont you li
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Hans
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| Salome wrote: | | I dont find Papermill to have any lifeless performances. who dont you li |
I don't have anything against it personally. Some of the performances are sometimes less spectacular than for example the OBCR, but I like it in general. In fact it was the Complete recording that made me like Follies in the first place.
But some people (not necessarily me) find it less full of life than other Follies recordings.
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Mimi Marquez
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I just got cast in Follies. I don't know much about it, so it's good to hear that I'll enjoy it.
Especially after just doing The Most Happy Fella. Although that show makes Cats look good.
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Salome
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| Mimi Marquez wrote: | I just got cast in Follies. I don't know much about it, so it's good to hear that I'll enjoy it.
Especially after just doing The Most Happy Fella. Although that show makes Cats look good. |
HEY! nothing wrong with Most Happy Fella! its a dmaned good operetta.
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rockyrocks666
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I do LOVE the score of this show. but greatest ever? not for me, it was a bit slow in places for my liking
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Mimi Marquez
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| Salome wrote: | | Mimi Marquez wrote: | I just got cast in Follies. I don't know much about it, so it's good to hear that I'll enjoy it.
Especially after just doing The Most Happy Fella. Although that show makes Cats look good. |
HEY! nothing wrong with Most Happy Fella! its a dmaned good operetta. |
Haha, it just ain't my style, haha. I'm not a huge Frank Loesser fan.
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Salome
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thats a shame Loesser was a brilliant man. we need more people like Loesser writing today.
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Mimi Marquez
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Okay, I take that back, I like How to Succeed.
The Most Happy Fella is just so looooooooooooooooooong.
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rcs
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| Mimi Marquez wrote: | Okay, I take that back, I like How to Succeed.
The Most Happy Fella is just so looooooooooooooooooong. |
Most Happy Fella is an INCREDIBLE masterpiece.
But it's essentially an opera and should be treated as such. The only way it's going to find its niche is for it to be done by opera companies and marketed at opera fans (this was what finally made Candide successful). The only way to properly appreciate Most Happy Fella is to divest yourself of any preconceived notions about what a Frank Loesser musical is supposed to sound like, because MHF doesn't follow the standard mold at all (yet it's very possibly Loesser's best score, far better than H2$ and at least on a par with Guys and Dolls). It just may be an acquired taste for some people that are used to more conventional musicals.
Sorry, this is way O/T.
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