fol·ly/ˈfälē/
noun
- lack of good sense; foolishness.
- a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
- a theatrical revue, typically with glamorous female performers.
Since the Tony Award nominations came out I've been thinking about the performances and shows represented this year but for some reason my mind went back to Follies in 1971 that was nominated for eleven and won seven Tony Awards in 1972.
- Music and Lyrics--- Stephen Sondheim
- Best Director--- Harold Prince & Michael Bennett
- Leading Actress In A Musical--- Alexis Smith
- Best Choreography--- Michael Bennett
- Best Scenic Design--- Boris Aranson
- Best Costume Design--- Florence Klotz
- Best Lighting Design--- Tharon Musser
I just loved this show... I remember the night I saw it (for the first time) I thought for a second that it had a cast of hundreds and hundreds of people (it was actually a little over 50 with cast and understudies)... it was because of the high cost of staging such a spectacle that doomed it to loose it's initial investment and close... it moved out to LA for a revamp and plans for a tour were under discussion but it was not especially well received at the time because it was so far ahead of it's time in terms of subject matter and material.
Follies is actually a show I have seen the most in different venues... I saw it when it opened on Broadway, I saw the rework in Los Angeles in 1972, as well as the concert at Lincoln Center in 1985 and in London in 1987 and the Broadway revival in 2001... to this day I don't know how or why I missed the second Broadway revival in 2011.... the reason I'm brining all of this up is... I learned something new about the show, about being a performer and about myself and growing older and survival with each different production through the years.
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| Lee Remick & Barbara Cook |
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| Elaine Paige |
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| Blythe Danner |
I also feel lucky to have seen performances by so many talented people who did the show including... (in no particular order of quality of performance or importance) Alexis Smith, Yvonne De Carlo, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey, Marge Champion, Polly Bergen, Millicent Martin, Elaine Paige, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Newman, George Hearn, Mandy Patinkin, Adolph Green, Lee Remick, Barbara Cook, Elaine Stritch and Carol Burnett...and many, many more...
If you have never seen the show or know the story it's about former showgirls who reunite before their old theatre is torn down and confront their past and misguided hopes and to settle old scores all while sifting through the rubble of their life.
I was walking through the park listening to music and I decided to put it on shuffle because my life seems to be on shuffle lately... I just wanted to see what might come up and ironically "In Buddy's Eyes" from Follies played and set my mind in a few directions about my own life that essentially boil down to... no matter the decisions or roads I've taken I am glad they lead me to where I am now because I have a life with love, very little debt and few strong regrets and in addition excellent health and vitality... but most importantly In Nicholas's eyes, I never grow older and I'm still handsome and anything and everything is still possible... and finally... everything turned out the way it was supposed to and I'm lucky to still be in a position that choices and possibilities are part of my life... and I've settled the scores that were important enough to stand up for.
In the last couple of weeks I've had coffee with a couple of people I've known for a number of years and realized the importance of not throwing away the past or the people from it because you might need one or both someday...(I'll try to boil this down and distill it as briefly as possible)... I have another friend aside from these two who has remarked a few times how angry and mad some people can get when they get older... and based on my thoughts about the show Follies and the conversations with my two other friends... One is very angry that her time is almost over (she has been at the top of her field in the entertainment industry in production almost as long as I've know her)...and the other is very sad and unhappy with the effects of time and age on his face and the overall quality of his life as a result of getting older... both of my friends seemed so genuinely grateful for the advice and support I gave them... and I spent a few almost sleepless nights asking myself in the shadows of night and early morning if I really believed and accepted my own advice... but from all of this I'm looking at people who I see in a different light now because hopefully I will be lucky enough to never know the conditions in their lives that made them unhappy or angry.
In addition to all these thoughts some surprises surfaced on the professional horizon that need some serious thought and consideration (I pretty much know my ultimate decision) but I promised I would give both offers serious consideration... in a nut shell I think working in LA... Hollywood in particular is really swell if you are young and pretty... everyone who works in the entertainment industry takes a considerable amount of time in front of a mirror before facing the lights and the camera and we all have to face a difficult reflection each time in considering do we have a future or just a fading past... I'm hoping to soon see in the reflection a face free of tension and fear or being inadequate because of age and time... but I have many facets of my past, present and future to think about and make the best considerations for the future... No matter what... I still get something out of life's charms and the will always cherish the feeling I get in Nicholas's arms and the reflection I see of myself in his eyes.
So because of all this I need to take a few weeks off and face some questions and find some answers...So I'm going to start with the fact that... Life is all about Ass: covering it, kicking it, kissing it or trying to get it.
See you in a few weeks!... I'm Still Here!
PS... as for the Tony's this year... based on what I've seen I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Christine Ebersole and War Paint.
