FOLLIES – London 2017: A Theatre Review

The Plot: A decaying Broadway theater is the place set for a reunion of past performers of the “Weismann’s Follies” that played there in the golden days. Among them there’s Sally and Phyllis, two chorus girls, and their husbands. Both couples are unhappy and Sally hopes to regain the love of Ben, with whom she had an affair in the past and who is now married to Phyllis.

The Show: “I had a dream, a wonderful dream” that one day I would finally see a production of FOLLIES. It wasn’t exactly a dream, but I always said that one day I would see this show on stage and it would be in London at the National Theatre. You can imagine my surprise when I heard the news that the National was planning to put it on stage. That was reason more than enough for me to visit London and as soon as the tickets were on sale, I booked mine.

FOLLIES is one my top four musical scores (the others are CHICAGO, MACK AND MABEL and GYPSY) and I can hardly express what I felt when the show began, with the ghosts moving around the ruined stage and the live characters start appearing. Then, as always, Roscoe “brings on the Weismann girls” and I felt shivers up and down my spine. This was much more than I expected and my hopes roused high.

The set design by Vicki Mortimer is beautiful and director Dominic Cooke took full advantage of it, both giving a ghostly quality to the entire production. I loved the way the characters moved around the set, giving it life and grabbing our attention from several different spots at the same time (although, sometimes, it becomes a little confusing).

Besides the opening, the other big moment that made my spirit rise was when Dawn Hope leads the ladies in “Who’s That Woman?” and the entire stage shines with life and joy. In the “Loveland” sequence the four leading actors, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Peter Forbes and Philip Quast all excel in their numbers: Staunton is heartbreaking with “Losing My Mind”, Dee gets deliciously loose with “The Story of Lucy and Jessie”, Forbes has fun and is funny with “The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues” and Quast goes from a stout man to a rag with “Live, Laugh, Love”. As they younger selves, Alex Young, Zizi Strallen, Fred Haig and Adam Rhys-Charles have their big time with “You're Gonna Love Tomorrow” and “Love Will See Us Through”.

The most emotional moments of the evening are when Josephine Barstow duets with her younger self, Alison Langer, in “One More Kiss” and when Imelda Staunton delivers “In Buddy’s Eyes”. Tracie Bennett becomes very personal with “I’m Still Here” (my favorite song of the score), Di Botcher sounds like a true “Broadway Baby”, Geraldine Fitzgerald gives us a sensuality funny “Ah, Paris!” and Billy Boyle and Norma Atallah are delicious with “Rain on the Roof”.

To be able to see this legendary musical live on stage and to hear the cast giving life to its amazing score was an unforgettable experience, even if it wasn’t as great as I hoped it would be. But it’s not every day that we see a dream come true and I feel truly blessed to fulfill mine!

Cast: Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Peter Forbes, Philip Quast, Alex Young, Zizi Strallen, Fred Haig, Adam Rhys-Charles, Tracie Bennett, Dawn Hope, Josephine Barstow, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Di Botcher, Bruce Graham, Billy Boyle, Norma Atallah, Alison Langer, Gary Raymond

Creative Team: Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim • Book by James Goldman • Choreography by Bill Deamer • Directed by Dominic Cooke

My Rate: 9 (from 1 to 10) / Photos: Johan Persson and Tristram Kenton

DREAMGIRLS – London 2017: A Theatre Review

The Plot: The Dreams are a female group lead by Effie, trying to get in the music business in the 60s. Helped by an unscrupulous manager, Curtis, the group starts by playing back vocals to the famous Jimmy Early, and then move on their own. But Curtis gives the lead vocal to Deena and things get sour between them all.

The Show: This musical waited 35 years to arrive in London and I guess they were waiting for someone exactly like Amber Riley to play the leading role of Effie. She’s utterly amazing and gives a star turn performance. Who would have known that the Mercedes of the juvenile GLEE television series could be bigger than life? She literally stops the show with her fabulous renditions of “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going”, “I Am Changing”, my favorite song of the show, and with “Listen” a duet with Liisi LaFontaine

But the show isn’t just her. LaFontaine is perfectly cast as Deena and so is Asmeret Ghebremichael as the third girl of the group. In the male roles, Joe Aaron Reid is a strong and charming Curtis and Adam J. Bernard a hysterical Jimmy.

Once again director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (ALADDIN, THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE) makes a show flow without unnecessary stops. In his hands, everything merges flawlessly and the result is an exciting and highly emotional musical drama.

As for the score, this isn’t exactly my kind of music, but it works perfectly on stage and the mentioned songs gave me goosebumps. A great time at the theatre and Amber Riley is a star in her own right!

Cast: Amber Riley, Liisi LaFontaine, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Joe Aaron Reid, Adam J. Bernard, Joshua Liburd, Nicholas Bailey, Lily Frazer

Creative Team: Music by Henry Krieger • Lyrics by Tom Eyen • Book by Tom Eyen • Choreography by Casey Nicholaw • Directed by Casey Nicholaw

My Rate: 8 (from 1 to 10) / Photos: Brinkhoff/Mägenburg

42ND STREET – London 2017: A Theatre Review

The Plot: Julian Marsh is putting on a show and Peggy Sawyer, who has just arrived from Allentown, gets a role in the chorus. When the bitchy leading lady, Dorothy Brock, breaks an ankle, only Peggy can save the show.

The Show: I was lucky to see the Broadway revival of this show twice, first in 2001 and then in 2003. I loved it both times and I never expected I would be seeing it again. But here I was, at London’s Drury Lane watching “those dancing feet” and having once more the time of my life. Like they say in the show, “think of musical comedy, the most glorious words in the English language” and I couldn’t agree more!

Can I dare to say that this production is even better than the one I saw on Broadway? I know this production shares basically the same creative team, but somehow I felt that everything was perfect here. Like I said back then, as someone who loves “the Busby Berkeley's movies of the 30s, one thing I know, the creators of this musical not only caught the spirit of those musicals but they also came up with a much better example of those.”

Once again, I was completely mesmerized while watching it! The imaginative sets, the colourful costumes, the exciting orchestrations, everything works superbly on stage. Like I said before “the book surprised me; it's funnier than I expected and wraps the whole action with a perfect sense of timing. The direction by Mark Bramble is flawless and then there's the exciting, wonderful, amazing, fabulous (you get my point) choreography by Randy Skinner. He not only recreated some of Gower Champions' work but also came up with new numbers. The result is fascinating and the public went crazy with each number.”

Of course, nothing of this would work if it wasn’t for the fantastic cast. As Peggy, Clare Halse is a fabulous dancer and shares true chemistry with Norman Bowman, who plays a passionate Julian Marsch. Sheena Easton was a big surprise as the bitchy and funny Dorothy Brock; I didn’t know she had such a strong voice and a perfect comic timing. As the leading dancer, Stuart Neal plays a goofy Billy and dances like a storm. In the role of Maggie, Jasna Ivir is hilarious and as her partner, Christopher Howell is also very funny. One last word for the incredible girls and boys of the chorus. Without them this show wouldn't be possible and they are simply amazing. Each one of them is a flawless dancer and together they burn the stage with passion, rhythm and lovely smiles.

It’s difficult to choose a number, but I have a soft place for “With Plenty of Money and You”, the simplicity of “Go Into Your Dance” and the fantastic title number.

If you love musical comedy as much as I do, this one is for you. It’s a feast for all senses and truly magical! So “come and meet those dancing feet”, you won’t regret it! Don’t dare to miss it!

Cast: Clare Halse, Sheena Easton, Norman Bowman, Stuart Neal, Jasna Ivir, Christopher Howell, Graeme Henderson, Emma Caffrey, Ella Martine, Clare Rickard, Bruce Montague

Creative Team: Music by Harry Warren • Lyrics by Al Dubin • Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble • Choreography by Randy Skinner • Directed by Mark Bramble

My Rate: 10 (from 1 to 10) / Photos: Brinkhoff/Moegenburg and Tristram Kenton