Follies in Concert--DVD and cassette tapes

It's a sort of two-fer for today's entry. I had hopes that the Follies in Concert DVD would be a full-fledged taping of the concert, but as it is mostly a behind the scenes documentary with some snippets of the performance, I've had to rely on the two cassette recording I bought back in the 80s, when a Walkman was the height of technology.

I've never seen Follies on stage. It is not produced very often. Sondheim himself comments on why in the documentary. The size of the cast is daunting--given that many roles are represented by a young version and a middle aged version.

I think the idea of this show is fantastic, with characters constantly confronting their memories and their earlier selves. I love most of the score, too, with its collection of pastiche songs and dances in the manner of the earlier era meeting a more contemporary musical idiom in songs the older cast sing.

The cast is also top-notch throughout. While many of the older cast members are significantly younger than their characters should be, everyone is superb at communicating the core of their characters, primarily through music. The young company gets a little bit of the short stick, I have to say, both in the structure of the show and in face time in the behind-the-scenes documentary.

A highlight for me is the Heidis duet "One More Kiss" sung in this concert by Licia Albanese and Erie Mills. I don't know the backgrounds of either performer well, but they seem to perfectly capture the essence of this song from a vocal standpoint. Ms. Albanese was a Met Opera performer long past her prime when this concert was given in 1984. The ghost of a voice is still there, but with many wobbles. Ms. Mills is a young coloratura soprano who handles the runs and high notes quite well.

I've always been curious about the 1971 recording of this show. Apparently it excluded many of the songs to fit onto one record. I'd love to hear Yvonne de Carlo sing "I'm Still Here". I'd also like to hear the 2001 Roundabout Theater cast, which included Kelli O'Hara, Treat Williams, Gregory Harrison, Erin Dilly, Blythe Danner and on and on. Was it recorded?

Follies in Concert
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Goldman

Premiered in 1971

This concert took place at Lincoln Center in 1984

Cast: Carol Burnett, Elaine Stritch, George Hearn, Barbara Cook, Mandy Patinkin, Liz Callaway, Howard McGlinn, Daisy Prince, Lee Remick,

Follies in Concert on CD

I've never heard the original cast album of Follies; apparently it was missing many songs in order to fit onto the vinyl of the day. So this 1985 concert version of the show is much more complete and gives a better impression of the score.

The format of Follies fascinates me. I've never seen it on stage, but the idea of "ghost" chorus girls floating through scenes, and the past and the present inhabiting the same space is very cinematic and endlessly intriguing to me. Its not often staged and understandably when so many characters are doubled with young and old versions.

There is so much music I like in this score--and surprisingly for me, I like the "contemporary" songs of the score as often as the follies-era songs--"In Buddy's Eyes", "The Road you didn't Take", "I'm still Here", "Losing My Mind", and "Too Many Mornings" are all good or better.

The number of wonderful performers in this concert also makes this recording a gem. About the only cast member I have issues with is Mandy Patinkin--and that's more for his being much too young for the role. Although I believe his ultra-manic version of "Buddy's Blues" is a drastic change from the original stage version.

I bought this concert album soon after it was released in 1985, the version I own is on two audio cassettes. I'm listening to it today on CD, because I don't even have a cassette player any more. I remember being so taken from the very start with Arthur Rubin's robust tenor in "Beautiful Girls" and with the two Heidies singing "One More Kiss". This was before I'd ever been to an opera, but I was still attracted to the most "legit" singers in the cast.

Of course, in 1985, I wouldn't have known any of the famous names in the cast (except Carol Burnett and Mandy Patinkin, which is probably why I bought the thing in the first place). No, I wouldn't have known George Hearn, or Barbara Cook, or even Elaine Stritch.

So, I came a long way even before starting my Year of Musical Thinking.

Follies

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by James Goldman

Opened in 1971, this stage version recorded in 1985

Cast: Arthur Rubin, Barbara Cook, George Hearn, Jim Walton, Howard McGillin, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Remick, Liz Calloway, Daisy Prince, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Lilane Montevechhi, Elaine Strich, Phyllis Newman, Carol Burnett, Licia Albanese, Erie Mills

As Thousands Cheer World Premiere Cast Recording

There must be a large and relatively untapped gusher of songs from revues from the early 20th Century. Sure not every song or sketch will have lasted the test of time, but there must be enough to fill many shows like Irving Berlin's As Thousands Cheer.

This is a reconstructed revue that opened in 1933. Created as a kind of "living newspaper," Mr. Berlin's music comments on and dramatizes newspaper headlines of the day. Interspersed are sketches by Moss Hart (although only one of them appears as a track on this recording, made in 1998 when the score was revived). According to the liner notes with the CD, the 1933 production had a cast of 50 with full orchestra. The 1998 production has a cast of six and an orchestra of two, piano and bass. Really, not much more is needed, for to have lines of chorus girls would seem ridiculous by current standards.

So it's another show where the songs and the cast are front and center, and fortunately all are accomplished. Mr. Berlin's songs have much verve and sing-ability and range from touching, to haunting, to funny. All six in the cast are good singers and give lively performances of the 14 songs and one sketch on this recording. The vocal standouts for me are Howard McGillin (whom I've just heard in Kiss of the Spider Woman) and Judy Kuhn, who is new to my Year. Both display true legato singing reaching into their upper registers.

I had heard two of the songs from this revue before: "Easter Parade", and "Heat Wave". Both are standards today. The song about lynching, "Suppertime" seemed familiar, but I may be confusing it with "Strange Fruit" which deals with the same ugly topic. In the original 1933 production, Ethel Waters (whom I've just seen in Cabin in the Sky) introduced "Suppertime." In this recording, Paula Newsome does some nice dramatic singing.

The song "Debts" is a funny (and still timely) song about government spending. There are songs about the pervasivness of the press, the weather, the comics, a Dear Abby-type column, and the social register--all still part of our newspapers today, even if we read them online. Perhaps its time for this revue to have new life.

As Thousands Cheer
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
Sketches by Moss Hart
Revival of original 1933 score in 1998
Cast: BD Wong, Howard McGillin, Judy Kuhn, Paula Newsome, Mary Beth Peil, Kevin Chamberlain

Kiss of the Spider Woman 1994 cast on CD

I thought at first this was the cast album from a revival, but it seems this was a replacement cast to the original run of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Hearing the strength of the cast, I can understand why they were recorded.

This is another show and another cast that really hits their marks with very little to argue against from the efforts of either songwriters Kander and Ebb or the three leads--Vanessa Williams, Howard McGillin, and Brian (soon to add the Stokes) Mitchell.

I knew Ms. Williams could sing, she has a big recording career, but I didn't realize how well she could morph her musical styles. Aurora calls for singing in many patische numbers and well as songs that directly address Molina. She handles them all with aplomb. If perhaps she doesn't quite capture speaking English with a Spanish accent, I'm sure many of her "Ugly Betty" cast mates could help her now.

I have spoken before how Mr. Mitchell represents what I love best about true Broadway Baritone singing. Valentin is required to sing some rangy music, and Mr. Mitchell handles it well, although is not often allowed to reach into the full breadth of his resonance with much of the singing. Mr. McGillin is a new name to me (although I have another cast album with him waiting for my Thinking). He has a very lithe and likable tenor voice, which he seems to be able to color in appropriate shades when needed. The emotional roller-coaster that Molina experiences in the show needs someone who won't approach each song with the same voice, and Mr. McGillin complies.

Some of the songs deserve a life outside the show, I think. And for the cabaret act I'm building in my head, I think I'll add Molina's final "At the Movies" to my show about songs about the movies. My cabaret audience won't need to know that the character has just been shot in the head.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fredd Ebb
1994 Broadway replacement cast
Cast: Vanessa Williams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Howard McGillin