FOLLIES is so genius!
Lost on YouTube I found myself on FOLLIES [1987 San Jose Civic Light Opera production] right at the BOLERO number. The two young dancers were phenomenal-- with her doing things with endlessly long legs: full splits and balancing (on his HEAD!), each part topping the one before.
Well I was hooked. It stars Teri Ralston as Sally who does a terrific job with that square character and has THAT voice! AND Harvey Evans as older Buddy. Harvey is a trip, playing “himself”—(the young Buddy from original 1971 production). He is PERFECT, as well he should be, as the older version of himself and is the best older Buddy I’ve ever seen.
The production (and filming) is quite good. They use the original book and it reminds you what Steve said about the huge amount of information that the book delivers expeditiously. Watching another version of the show reminds me of just how BRILLIANT FOLLIES is on all levels.
See what you think. It is not “definitive” but FOLLIES [except for the OC] productions-- always you want to mix and match. And always leaves you wanting more.