Monday, January 09, 2012

I'm Still Here


Sorry to those fan(s) who have missed my blog, but life has somehow intervened. I have found, don't know if this is the case with everyone, but the onslaught of other social media has mitigated the desire to blog. And the advent of my senior years/brain cell atrophying has mitigated whatever wit I may have once possessed! In any event, if I do anything fun, I will try and let you know. I did get to see the revival of Follies, Stephen Sondheim's great 1971 show about the demise of, I don't think it's burlesque exactly, but the old revue shows. Since I had a familiarity with the whole score, and had tickets in the fourth row, I was in pig heaven. The only thing getting in the way of my glow was the woman sitting directly behind me, who talked through the entirety of the first act. Luckily for me, she made cogent comments like, "she's so short," upon espying Bernadette Peters. I put on my best librarian persona, and told her to quit it during intermission, so at least the 2nd act was relatively drama-free (except for what was happening onstage). I will tell you that Bernadette Peters still does not have a big voice (I saw her in Sunday in the Park with George back in the day), or even a huge stage presence. She performed a serviceable version of "Losing My Mind." Jan Maxwell, who by the way was separated at birth from Felicity Huffman, played her romantic rival and pretty much stole the show with her big number, "Could I leave you?" And the always great Elaine Paige worked the bejesus out of one of Sondheim's most memorable lyrics, "I'm Still Here." At this point, who hasn't performed this song?