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Post by tonyloco on Sept 21, 2017 12:05:21 GMT
Well, that's me told! I still maintain that the semi-staged gala performance at the Palladium some years ago was my ideal of how it should be done, but if others think this current production is the best ever then that's their prerogative and I'm glad they enjoyed it.
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Post by lonlad on Sept 21, 2017 12:35:23 GMT
>>It is interesting that the most enthusiastic reviews of 'Follies' seem to be mainly from people encountering it for the first time whereas those of us who brought along preconceived ideas (prejudices perhaps?) of what we wanted to see were disappointed. I guess this just demonstrates the strength of the show and proves it responds to performances that do not accord with what some of us have decided are the benchmark. I still maintain that some of the songs needed more singing as opposed to over-performing but the Olivier stage is a huge space and if Imelda's 'Losing my mind' and Janie's 'Would I leave you' worked for some people then that's fine, even if they didn't for me!
Hmmm. Most of the people I know who have really loved this production are friends whose memories of FOLLIES go back to the 1971 original. I've had 4 or 5 sets of attendees at this tell me they think it's the best production since then. I didn't see it in 1971 so can't comment (but have seen it many times from 1987 onwards).
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 21, 2017 13:31:23 GMT
Oh, not at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Art is completely subjective.
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Post by jay78uk on Sept 22, 2017 7:32:50 GMT
On my way home last night I popped into the NT and managed to snaffle a great seat in the stalls- G36, just off centre. Whilst there isn't a bad seat in the Olivier, I got a whole lot more from the show than my previous visit when sat in row M of the raised stalls, to one side. In particular the first 20 minutes was far more involving as the humour of the girls arriving to the party comes across so much better closer up. The show was incredibly tight, well acted and sung- whilst the preview I saw a few weeks ago was great, last night notched things up further. A genuine masterclass, not just from the leads but across the board. Every cast member sang exceptionally, but I did feel for a few of the cast whose voices were v. stretched at the most demanding parts of the score- I'm glad they have a well deserved three week break coming up!
I was lucky enough to be invited to a an after show Q&A with the cast- turned out the return ticket I snaffled was from a corporate sponsor who had a free ticket and they kindly invited me along! Janie Dee and two of the members of the cast, I think Adam Rhys-Charles playing the young Ben and Alex Young planing young Sally were joined by Josh Seymour, the staff director. The Q&A was very interesting- Josh was clear that the show was originally conceived without an interval and that there was never any question of the NT production featuring one! Janie kindly answered my question regarding Sondheim's involvement in the production, mentioning that Sondheim's suggestions were minor and related to the narrative rather than music. Also hats off to Janie for fielding two quite frankly stupid/ rude questions in such a polite and restrained manner! What a pro.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 8:18:52 GMT
I'm intrigued, what were the stupid/rude questions? (Was it Giles Coren asking them?)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 8:26:34 GMT
I'm intrigued, what were the stupid/rude questions? (Was it Giles Coren asking them?) Did he say that Follies were 'sh*t in a jar'? and did someone throw a jar at him?
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Post by jay78uk on Sept 22, 2017 9:08:16 GMT
LOL. No Giles Coren was not there. So the two rude/ stupid questions were along the following lines. One person asked what's it like being a show with a mega star like Imelda Staunton that get's all the attention... which Janie provided a remarkably composed response to, full of praise for Imelda being down to earth etc, and the younger cast members saying how much they had learnt from her etc. The other question was bizarre and more of a statement. The chap, talking to Janie as if she was Phyllis, described her as a bitch for saying she'd die for love. Janie, checking with Josh, politely pointed out her character doesn't say anything along those lines. I can only assume the chap had got Phyllis and Sally confused! Quite an achievement given Imelda S and Janie D don't look remotely alike.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 9:13:14 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 9:23:32 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face. I've long wondered why the NT Platforms don't ask for 'questions in a box' beforehand so they can weed out the inappropriate ones. Having been the unfortunate Usher at one too many post-show talks I can confirm people know no bounds when it comes to inappropriate questions. Though that said I've had one or two directors who also have zero concept of what is an inappropriate response either...I won't share any of the personal/rude ones, but a particularly memorable one was a 5 minute rant by a director about how men are under-represented in theatre....
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Follies
Sept 22, 2017 9:37:04 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Sept 22, 2017 9:37:04 GMT
LOL. No Giles Coren was not there. So the two rude/ stupid questions were along the following lines. One person asked what's it like being a show with a mega star like Imelda Staunton that get's all the attention... which Janie provided a remarkably composed response to, full of praise for Imelda being down to earth etc, and the younger cast members saying how much they had learnt from her etc. The other question was bizarre and more of a statement. The chap, talking to Janie as if she was Phyllis, described her as a bitch for saying she'd die for love. Janie, checking with Josh, politely pointed out her character doesn't say anything along those lines. I can only assume the chap had got Phyllis and Sally confused! Quite an achievement given Imelda S and Janie D don't look remotely alike. As it sounds like it was a corporate Q&A the people asking the questions probably had a few too many free sherbets before the show so didn't even know what they were watching.
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Post by n1david on Sept 22, 2017 9:57:10 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face. At the platform with Janie Dee and Philip Quast, one audience member congratulated Janie Dee on how fit she was and asked if she ran marathons... The downside of “questions in a box” is that it stops audience members responding to something said in the main part of the platform. But I do wish sometimes the moderator would close down an inane question or (and I’ve seen this sometimes) twist it into something meaningful when “repeating” the question.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 11:11:15 GMT
Me three! This is the 4th or 5th Follies ive seen and easily the best and most successful. Im going back to see it in November. Me four. I've lived with Follies since the original OBC in the early 70s with all my pre conceived ideas of what it would be like. The Follies in Concert cd was next with Barbara Cook and Lee Remick. After that the London premiere and then the Paper Mill recording with Donna Mckechnie and finally the Bernadette Peters version and a version in Spanish which I saw in Madrid. All of these were good in their own way, but I didn't feel Sally's angry vulnerability until I saw Imelda. The piece for me didn't become whole until I saw this version at the National. Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Peter Forbes were the essence of the four main characters. I have recently been re-listening to all of my Follies cds and none of them have the emotion or depth that I saw on the Olivier stage a few weeks ago, probably because it was Follies live. I wish I could see it again but I don't know if I will make it back to the UK until next spring. But the memory lingers on.
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Post by lonlad on Sept 22, 2017 11:27:57 GMT
>>At the platform with Janie Dee and Philip Quast, one audience member congratulated Janie Dee on how fit she was and asked if she ran marathons...
That was rather sweet, in context, and one could tell that she greatly enjoyed the question - who doesn't like being complimented on being fit? Not every question needs to be "soul stirring", to use an adjective from FOLLIES.
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Post by tonyloco on Sept 22, 2017 13:53:38 GMT
All of these were good in their own way, but I didn't feel Sally's angry vulnerability until I saw Imelda. The piece for me didn't become whole until I saw this version at the National. Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Peter Forbes were the essence of the four main characters. That's exactly what I thought when I saw Liz Robertson, Maria Friedman, Philip Quast and Tim Flavin at the gala at the Palladium in 2007 – 'emotional and dramatic depth' were the words I used in my diary note, but I still feel that musically the ladies at the Palladium did more justice to Sondheim's songs. So, buddyvlc, you have almost convinced me that I may have judged the present production too harshly, but I still don't fancy a return visit. My loss, I guess!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2017 9:06:09 GMT
So. Heres a question.
NT Live Follies Cinema Broadcast. November 16th. Cinema listing times are 7pm for this 'live broadcast'. All theatre performance start times are 7:30pm, for the evening showing. It seems that NT are not selling tickets for the performance that evening. Do we think, like Miss Saigon and Newsies cinema broadcasts the show itself will begin at the specified start time without adverts, or this NT broadcast will be adverts and preamble for a set amount of time?
Im working 'til 7pm that evening, but only about 10minute walk away from the cinema. Wondering whether I'll miss the start or just miss any additional pre-amble. Any thoughts?
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 9:40:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2017 9:40:46 GMT
The NT puts the in-house tickets on sale for NT Live screenings pretty late in the day, presumably once they've worked out where the cameras will be. I've not been to a huge number of NT Live screenings, but I would feel safe to assume there'll be preamble. Especially as there'll be no interval to show NT-themed mini documentaries with this one.
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 12:47:01 GMT
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Post by peggs on Sept 23, 2017 12:47:01 GMT
Are all national programmes now five ponds or is follies just more? Haven't read all this thread as just about to see so sorry if already covered
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 18:05:43 GMT
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bimse likes this
Post by peggs on Sept 23, 2017 18:05:43 GMT
Thanks monkey 're programmes, won't comment on being at same performance again and missing you though since I felt truly awful for the second hour you did well. Reading back through thread is quite illuminating for things I missed in my confused state.
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 18:35:25 GMT
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Post by shady23 on Sept 23, 2017 18:35:25 GMT
No, only the "big show" programmes are a fiver (use an amex card at the bookshop if you have one, you get 10% off). The regulars are £4 or £3 in the Dorfman. The good thing about the National Theatre though is they also do free cast lists. I wish all theatres would do this.
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 19:12:46 GMT
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 23, 2017 19:12:46 GMT
WOW. I've heard some dumb Q&A questions in my time, but you have to wonder what goes through people's heads when they open their mouths to ask their question to a person's actual face. Oh the stupidity of people who have paid to see stuff never ceases to amaze me!
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Follies
Sept 23, 2017 19:16:19 GMT
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 23, 2017 19:16:19 GMT
Are all national programmes now five ponds or is follies just more? Haven't read all this thread as just about to see so sorry if already covered Seems a new idea, Angels and Follies only so far.
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 23, 2017 20:08:44 GMT
I bloody loved this. Like, really loved it. Probably because I got there and found I’d booked front row... this is such a fabulous production, with so many wonderful performances. Philip Quast’s Voice is like liquid gold. Janie Dee stole the whole show for me with her Loveland number. Tracie Bennett grabs I’m Still Here by the neck and runs with it. Imelda is very good (although does give my least favourite performance I’ve seen from her) - she is wonderful in Losing My Mind. The cast of 37 make the show so grand and epic. The Mirror numbers is GLORIOUS. And the orchestra of 21. I mean wowzer. That is proper magic. That’s a five star production from me - one of the best productions I’ve ever seen.
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Post by peggs on Sept 23, 2017 20:49:09 GMT
It took me ages to realise that the orchestra was at the back, I had a look at the beginning and thought nope not one here, I am blaming this on possibly not the best combo of pills I took to try and get me through and not the fact that I may have been more than a little bit dim. Still there are several moments people are referencing that I appear to have completely blanked out too so maybe the pills did have something to do with it.
I don't do musicals, no big dislike just would rather see a play so think knowing nothing rather expected a lot of razzmatazz and joy, bit low on the joy one Follies so really suited me quite well.
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Follies
Sept 25, 2017 18:12:33 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 25, 2017 18:12:33 GMT
I don't do musicals, no big dislike just would rather see a play so think knowing nothing rather expected a lot of razzmatazz and joy, bit low on the joy one Follies so really suited me quite well. Parade could be right up your street.
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Post by peggs on Sept 25, 2017 19:45:49 GMT
I don't do musicals, no big dislike just would rather see a play so think knowing nothing rather expected a lot of razzmatazz and joy, bit low on the joy one Follies so really suited me quite well. Parade could be right up your street. Will try and remember that for future reference thanks BurlyBeaR
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2017 17:17:39 GMT
For those of you who love a touch of the Quast, grab your hankies now . . . Galaxy Quast
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Follies
Sept 26, 2017 17:38:38 GMT
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 26, 2017 17:38:38 GMT
For those of you who love a touch of the Quast, grab your hankies now . . . Galaxy QuastHe must be the funny one at parties
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Post by kelly52 on Sept 26, 2017 20:23:00 GMT
Saw it for my second time last night. I’m obsessed. Loved every moment of it. I keep finding new things in the piece despite hearing it for the first time 40 something years ago. Everyone and everything is magical in this very special production. Unforgettable. Ps Dawn Hope’s mic was a bit more balanced this time (certainly from where I was sitting). Def singing live⭐️
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 26, 2017 21:21:00 GMT
Almost there......
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 26, 2017 21:21:14 GMT
Not much longer......
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