Follies in Concert- 1985- Live, Laugh, Love

The Twentieth Number, and finale of the Loveland sequence, where everything goes wrong again. Ben sings his manifesto to the world; don't obsess, don't worry, don't try too hard- but live in comfortable, happy, middle-level, mere stability- all things he himself, by the way, never did. At the end of the song, he forgets the lines (quite realistically done here by Hearn,) and breaks down, cursing his fate, his miserable existence, damning himself, breaking completely down, crying out his love for Phyllis to the night. The Cast of Follies comes in, singing their own songs all at once, creating a cacophonatic hell for poor Benjamin. The music stops, and Phyllis runs over to him.
Performed terrifically, definingly, by George Hearn.

The incredible recording of the equally incredible 1985 Concert performance of Stephen Sondheim's Follies (Book by James Goldman, but these are just the songs).
Starring:
Barbara Cook- Sally
George Hearn- Ben
Lee Remick- Phyllis
Mandy Patankin- Buddy

And:
Carol Burnett- Carlotta
Betty Comden and Adolph Green -- Emily and Theodore (These two wrote the songs for On the Town, the stage version of Singin' in the Rain, Wonderful Town, Bells are Ringing, Fade Out- Fade In, and more.)
Liliane Montevecchi- Solange
Elaine Stritch- Hattie (Her rendition of Broadway Baby is infamous. For many reasons...)
Phyllis Newman- Stella
Licia Albanese- Heidi
And others (I don't have the case with me, otherwise I'd give the names of the other folks.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sondheim
• Follies
• Follies in Concert
• 1985
• George Hearn
• Barbara Cook
• Lee Remick
• Mandy Patankin
• Carol Burnett
• Elaine Stritch