It’s August and you and I both don’t need to get into any detailed discussions about anything of substance. After all, do we really want to chat about the circus that is the Republican presidential field? How about Libya, Syria, the debt crisis, the Washington political merry-go-round? No, we are now smack in the middle of the dog days of summer. So this is my light-reading column for August.
Usually at this time of year I’ll write about the books I’m reading on the beach, or the trip we’re embarking on or returning from, but this summer has been a little busier than usual and I’ve not had the luxury of getting away. So we’ve turned to short trips.
The gayest thing about me is my love of musical theater, especially Sondheim. One of my disappointments this past spring was not finding the time to get to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to see the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” starring Bernadette Peters. The revival was such a success that it has come to Broadway for a limited engagement through January 2012 at the Marquis Theatre, where we caught it last week.
If you like Broadway or are a fan of Sondheim, this is a must. While living in New York City in 1971, I saw the original production and, up to this point, no other production — and I’ve seen many of them — has come even close to that show. This one also does not come close: It surpasses the original.
It’s the perfect role for Peters. She gets to do what she does best — showcase that she can do more than just sing. Her range of emotions are on full view, and her huffing is a delight, but her singing hits a high note when she belts out what might be one of the best torch songs ever written, “I’m Losing my Mind.”
The supporting cast is a who’s who of Broadway legends and even the first lady of the English stage, Elaine Page, makes an appearance and turns in a fine rendition of “I’m Still Here.”
But the surprise standout in the cast is Jan Maxwell, who plays Phyllis Stone. This Broadway veteran finally has met a role that does her talents justice. The same could be said of both Danny Burstein and Ron Raines.
If you know this Sondheim classic, you’ll be asking about two particular songs. And the answer is Jayne Houdyshell plays Hattie and belts out “Broadway Baby,” while Terri White knocks it out of the park with “Who’s That Woman.”
The attention to detail in costumes and sets is noticeable the minute you walk into the theater. This is not only a full production, it might be the largest on Broadway. While most musicals have a cast of 27-29, this has 43.
In a year that brought us the Lincoln Center’s concert version of Sondheim’s “Company,” starring Neil Patrick Harris, this end-of-season Sondheim treat is a delight.
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at [email protected].