Copyright Johan Persson
Geraldine Fitzgerald, left, portrays Solange LaFitte and Sarah Marie Maxwell, right, stars as Young Solange, in “Follies.”
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2 p.m.—RUTLAND— Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical “Follies,” staged for the first time by the National Theatre of Great Britain, will be broadcast as an Encore Screening at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.
The time and place is New York, 1971. There is a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. The iconic building is set to be demolished — losing forever the last of the iconic Follies venues (and nostalgia) in New York and the location of the “Weismann’s Follies,” a musical revue based on the “Ziegfeld Follies” that played in that theatre between the World Wars.
Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves. Several of the former showgirls join them and they perform their old numbers, sometimes accompanied by the ghosts of their former selves. The musical numbers in the show have been interpreted as pastiches of the styles of the leading Broadway composers of the 1920s and 30s, and sometimes as parodies of specific songs. Winner of Academy, Tony, Grammy and Olivier Awards, the universally revered and prolific Stephen Sondheim’s previous works include “A Little Night Music,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Sunday In The Park With George,” “Into The Woods,” “Company,” “Assassins,” and “Pacific Overtures.”
Imelda Staunton, Tracie Bennett and Janie Dee play the magnificent follies in a dazzling new production featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21. The production was directed by National Theatre veteran, Dominic Cooke.
The Broadway production opened on April 4, 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, and with choreography by Bennett and ran 500 performances. The musical was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won seven.
Tickets are $20 for adults, and $10 for students. Paramount Theatre is located at 30 Center St., Rutland. For more information, visit paramountvt.org.
