It doesn't happen very often. I can count the number of times it has happened to me on one hand. There is a rare phenomenon in the theater, where you walk in, sit down, and the orchestra starts playing, and the walls of the theater completely melt away. The ceiling ceases to exist, the fourth wall goes down and you feel as though you are sitting up front, out of site, watching something transpire in real time. I had just such an experience while seeing the current revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's classic back stage musical Follies, now on offer at The Marquis Theater on Broadway.
Follies takes place in an old run down theater, slated to be turned into a parking lot the next day. The cast members from the 30 years closed Wiesmann Follies have gathered for what will be their first and last reunion to celebrate the good times, and catch up on the in between. There is a central quartet of lovers, two married couples who have not seen each other since they left the Follies, and the ghosts of their younger selves still haunt the theater and their minds.
The book and the score are absolutely fantastic. This is one of Steven Sondheim's most complex and intricate works, and each song, each melody, fits perfectly into James Goldman's superb book. The book and the score are not only strong on their own, they compliment each other perfectly.
It's a little bit early to be talking about Tony Award nominations, but I'd say there are six or seven to be had from the cast alone. Bernadette Peters is heartrending as Sally Durant Plummer. Her renditions of In Buddy's Eyes and Losing my mind are spine tingling. Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone is a complete revelation. Ron Raine's performance as Ben Stone is deep, complex, and completely on the mark. While Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer is everything the character ought to be and more.
The supporting cast is one heck of a bracing system. Elaine Page as Carlotta Campion, Terri White as Stella Deems, and Jane Houdyshell as Hattie Walker are particularly fabulous. The "Mirror Number" titled who's that girl brought the house to a full stop of outrageous applause, and Ms. Paige's I'm still here, emitted shouts of Brava and more than a few whistles.
All of my readers know that I've seen a lot of Broadway shows, this has made it to the top of my list as THE BEST production of ANY show I have ever seen in my lifetime. It is absolutely tremendous and should never close in my opinion, unfortunately it's a limited engagement through January 22nd only so - don't waste a single moment, go buy tickets to what will be one of the most entertaining and meaningful experiences of your entire life!
