FOLLIES

The curtain went up on a striking tableau with three showgirls in beautiful white and silver costumes, which set the scene for a colourful and elegant production.

The band, under MD Mike Payne, was awesome, and I must commend Mike on the time spent and detail in the accompaniment, and musical numbers were very well sung by the whole cast.

I am not a big fan of Sondheim, but there are some fabulous numbers in Follies, which the cast did justice to.

Costumes were impeccable, and were worn well by the cast.

The static set accomplished the feel of a run down theatre hosting a final party for its Follies girls, with style and colour, with the use of the stairs and side thrusts giving several different playing areas, which helped the feel of the piece.

Lighting was mostly good, although sound was a little loud and harsh in Act 1, but was adjusted in Act 2 and was much more pleasant on the ear.

The young and old versions of the principals were very well-matched in size and type, which is an accomplishment in itself, they all looked as if they were older/younger versions of themselves.

The ensemble added vocal weight to the numbers and gave energy to the production, I felt they were fully engaged the whole way through.  Choreography was interesting and well within the capabilities of the cast.

Issy Wiggins played Sally with a sureness and good attention to detail, so we got her insecurities, and there were some good differences between her slightly confused self and the anger that bubbled to the surface.  Issy’s Act 2 number was very poignant.

Steve Wilks played Ben with clarity and authority, showing his sense of importance, I thought Phyllis and Ben were a well-matched couple with good voices, showing their feelings well.

Jemma Puri was a charming Phyllis, again insecure in some ways, but knowing what she wanted and how to get it.  Shown in the interaction between Phyllis and Kevin (played by Justin Jeffreys).  Phyllis’s main number in Act 2 was beautifully sung by Jemma, with so much expression.

Sally’s husband Buddy was Stephen Hoath, a strong voice from Stephen, he was very suited to the slightly comic role, and I liked his bed scene with Margie, which Kay Ward played to the full, a very amusing scene.

Emma Gracias and Rob Gregory as the young Sally and Ben, got the right amount of youth in their performances, whilst Sarah Russell and Dom O’Hanlon as the young Phyllis and Buddy interacted so well and both couples captured the essence of their older counterparts with their performances.

Heidi (Cheryl Aughton-Clark) and Young Heidi (Freya Turton) gave us one of the highlights of the show with their duet, exquisitely sung and acted.

Dilly Bellingham was a very French Solange, good phrasing and understanding of her number, whilst Mary Watkinson gave Hattie all the full-on volume and expression needed to make this number a definite show stopper.

Another showstopper was Katherine Barry as Stella, her tap number was well-choreographed, and the ensemble were well-rehearsed, so it all worked as it should.  The audience always love a tap number!

Jason Allen Lane and Sarah Dunning as Theodore and Emily added their own brand of sophistication to the proceedings.

Ceri Sims played Carlotta well, showing her character’s determination, singing a difficult number with sensitivity and understanding.

Other named parts all contributed to the overall impact of the production.

The whole show was well-cast, acted and sung, and looked good to the eye, making this a fine production and one which I enjoyed very much.

 

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