Follies (Playwrights Canada Press)
by Stephen Sondheim, James Goldman
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Book Summary Information
Author: James Goldman, Stephen SondheimEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-12
ISBN: 1559361964
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
Book Reviews of Follies (Playwrights Canada Press)
Book Review: A brilliant insight into why this show always fails financially
Summary: 4 Stars
I have every cast recording of "Follies" ever professionally recorded and I truly believe it is the greatest Broadway score ever written. Not a single song misses its mark. How then, can it be, I often used to wonder, that "Follies" always manages to fail when it is produced for the stage? When I found out that a version of the libretto was available I snapped it up, inspite of the negative comments listed here on Amazon by some users. Well, I read it in one sitting - I couldn't put it down! But by the end not only was I devastated by the story, I understood entirely why "Follies" always fails to draw a long term audience. The book does not support the score. From the cast recordings it is easy to picture a huge character driven extravaganza - the songs gifted to the characters in the play are so fascinating! Even the most incidental numbers such "Rain on the Roof" or "Ah, Paris!" are brilliantly memorable. To say nothing of such masterpieces like "I'm Still Here" or "One More Kiss." The problem is that these songs are given to characters that, as it turns out in the script, are not even featured. They have bit parts. A few lines to establish who they are and why their song is appropriate for them. The leading four characters guide the entire show while the featured characters distract it. Aside from a few VERY brief encounters (such as Ben meeting with Carlotta Campion) they might as well be characters in two different stories. The result is that the entire script comes accross as being severely under-written. You can't introduce such fascinating characters as Dimitri Weissman or Hattie Walker or Solange LaFitte, feed the audience a snappy line and a magnificent song, and then retract them without giving them purpose or conclusion. The stories of Phyllis and Ben, Buddy and Sally are magnificently told - but to a staggeringly underwhelming conclusion. These four fools who have been living in the past and hating it for deacdes are confronted with every decision they blame for the poor state of their present existence in the course of a few hours. There is every opportunity in the world for them to shake off the illusions of their pasts and move on unburdened towards the future... and they NEVER DO!!! Overall I found the dialogue brilliant, snappy and appropriate, everything you would expect from the writer of "The Lion in Winter". The lyrics are there in full along with stage directions. This IS a fascinating read - both as a study of the show and just as an interesting story. You will, however, be disappointed. This is an underwritten masterwork which hopefully one day someone will perfect. Perhaps a movie?
Summary of Follies (Playwrights Canada Press)
On the eve of its destruction, the once-glorious Weissman Theatre is filled with the ghosts of its past as showgirls from 40 years ago reunite to glamorize the old days and relive bygone memories of promise and splendor. For two jaded middle-aged couples, coming face-to-face with what might have been proves to be a shattering experience. The genius script by Sondheim and Goldman makes a cinematic, nightmarish hallucination of past and present blended together, employing lush era musical theatre pastiche and a deft eye for storytelling to tell not only the story of Ben, Phyllis, Sally and Buddy, but also the story of how the promise of America between the World Wars disintegrated into memory. Considered by many to be one of the best American musicals of all time, and still at the peak of form and craft. Those that saw the original Broadway production in 1971 and the all-star Lincoln Center concert in 1985 remember it as one of the most dazzling and poignant shows ever."A stunning musicala pastiche so brilliant as to be breathtaking."-New York Daily News
"Follies is utterly magnificent."-Women's Wear Daily
Stephen Sondheim is the preeminent composer and lyricist of the American musical theatre. His best known works include West Side Story, Gypsy, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Company, among others. Mr. Sondheim celebrates his 70th birthday this year.
The late James Goldman is best known for his play and screenplay A Lion in Winter and also was the author of Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole and A Family Affair.
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