Follies [DVD] [2015]

I recently encountered 'Follies' for the first time in the spectacular production at the National Theatre in London and was completely blown away. I would have rushed back if I didn't live so far away. Sadly, that production is not available on DVD and, in fact, there is very little choice for viewing at home so I decided to chance this production from L'Opera de Toulon despite a number of one and two star reviews. I have to say that I really enjoyed it and have little to complain about. I thought it was a good production. The ghosts still flit about in their finery, the story is clearly told, the costumes are pretty good (although Sally's frock is a bit of fright) and I enjoyed the Loveland sequence and the four Follies turns that followed. The music was still great and, on the whole, I thought it was well sung. Weak points for me were Jerome Pradon as a dry voiced Buddy and Nicole Croiselle who seemed to struggle a bit with 'I'm Still Here'. That said, both acted their roles really well. Charlotte Page as Sally has a really lovely voice. She perhaps misses some of the drama as a result but 'Losing My Mind' is a vocal treat. I loved Liz Robertson as Phyllis, possibly the strongest performance overall. 'Could I Leave You' was just brilliant, 'Lucy & Jessie' slightly less so but danced very well and she always looked so elegant. Graham Bickley is a strong Ben. I also really liked Julia Sutton as Hattie, making a great job of 'Broadway Baby' and Marilyn Hill Smith who is still in terrific voice in the haunting 'One More Kiss'. Casting Solange as a drag queen is controversial and I'd prefer a woman in the role of course but I can kind of understand the temptation - Solange LaFitte is such a great drag name! Denis d'Arcangelo does not make a terrible job of 'Ah Paris' - I coped! The choreography of 'Who's That Woman' is good but not as ambitious at the extraordinary National Theatre version. It's one of my favourite numbers so I was a little disappointed but it's still well done. The Loveland sequence is fun and contrasts really well as a fantasy sequence. The young ones make a great job of 'You're Gonna Love Tomorrow'. Pradon's singing aside, I thought 'Buddy's Blues' was really well staged as a burlesque cabaret number and Sally's solo is the simple torch song it should be. Personally I really enjoyed this production and I have no regrets buying it and will watch it again. I don't really understand the one star reviews but we really do all see things differently and I saw a lot of good things here. I does not supplant the National Theatre production in my affections but it will do very well when I need a 'Follies' fix!

Speedy delivery from this seller. If stage musicals interest you, you may like this wonderful production.

A most peculiar production. FOLLIES is my all-time favorite musical; the original NYC production in the early 70s was stunning in both its concept and execution. It was the most thrillingly, fully realized musical I've ever experienced, and I've never seen a production that came even close to measuring up to it. I've been hearing for years that the French have been doing wonders with classic American musicals, so when this DVD of FOLLIES became available, I jumped at the chance to purchase it. And the result? It is, as they say, a mixed bag. Overall I'd say they do the show pretty fair justice, with the exception of a few inexplicable elements. For one thing, they have a drag queen in the role of Solange Lafitte. Aside from the fact that no American show in the era of the Ziegfeld Follies would have perpetrated such a casting stunt, this particular drag performer is atrocious. He looks like Eugene Pallette in a dress (and a bad dress, at that), and sings like an asthmatic bullfrog. Then there's the odd fact that, for no evident reason, the dialog in this production mysteriously switches from English to French at several points. Why? There's no obvious logic at work here. And then the the question of the costumes, which seem to have been deigned with no regard for the text or lyrics. For instance, at one point, in the famous love duet "Too Many Mornings," Sally sings "I should have worn green." In this production she sings that...while wearing a green dress! And Buddy's baggy-pants Follies number, "The God-why-don't-you-love-me-blues," is specified quite explicitly in the script as taking place "on a thoroughfare in Loveland," yet here Buddy performs the number in his underwear! Again I ask, where is the logic? So overall I'd recommend this production only to people who already know the show--or can speak French (which I can't). Aside from those head-scratching elements, it's not a bad production--musically and dramatically rather well done, but odd, extremely odd.

not the definitive production by any means, but has some lovely moments, especially from the ladies, including Julia Sutton's Broadway Baby

Great show, and great extras on the disc, cheers

Nothing alerted me to the fact that this was in French. It is the top choice when you key in "Follies" and that is a very popular play at present. So why isn't the English one at the top.

I love Follies. Adore it. Saw the National Theatre revival in London 9 times, having seen the original UK premiere in Manchester and London productions in 1987, 2002 and 2015. This DVD is so bad it's hysterically funny. Badly acted, awful staging. Worth buying just for a laugh if you're a Sondheim fan.

Nice item

Great show with a different twist, one of Sondheim's best shows in my opinion. Would make a lovely film, but one can only hope.

Follies es un musical maravilloso que es muy divicil estropear, pero en este caso, el montaje es muy pobre y la calidad del DVD es muy escasa

Magnificent! I do not speak french,so I cannot elaborate here except to say that I loved it. Great cast! Poor costumes.

For English speakers, this is a fascinating rendition. It's in English, with a few passages by Weismann spoken in French. On the negative side: Solange rendered by a third rate female impersonator... Direction that has no understanding of the concept (think modern day Roscoe in ghostly whiteface and ghosts at their most minimal and unexplained)... Abysmal choreography, never more so than in poor Graham Bickley's "The Right Girl"... No staircase for the opening descent and only eight women... Utterly bizarre costuming and horrendous hair. Non existent set until Loveland hits.... The bolero is cut. On the plus side: Full orchestra that makes Tunick the star of the show. Absolutely gorgeous with faithful 1971 tempos, more glorious than you've ever heard it... A cast chosen not at all for look or acting ability but every note is beautifully sung. Finally an old Hattie who stays on pitch with her ghost (with pink hair no less). Only the original 1971 cast album can top this vocal rendition. In short, if you close your eyes, you will be in heaven. But don't open them no matter how good it sounds!