Follies 2012

Review of "Follies" in Munster Express - May 2012

There was such a richness and superb achievement about Wexford Light Opera Society's production of Stephen Sondheim's, Follies, at the wonderful Wexford Opera House.

This was musical theatre in all its operatic power and emotional fanfare, telling a big, theatrical story , requiring a large cast, where central characters meet and interact with their more hopeful, younger selves, that showed the splendid directing skills of Christine Scarry, the driving,  musical direction of Gay Kirwan and Edel Quinlan's evocative choreography.

Follies, tells the story of the past performers of the Weismann Follies (based on the Ziegfeld Follies) as those remaining, survivors, gather for a first and last, reunion, as the theatre is being pulled down, to become a parking lot. This is a powerful metaphor, for the precarious state of theatre today, and possibly, new ghosts, old stories, for the venue this show was staged in. The notion that theatre survives and even thrives, in times of adversity is too showbizzy to believe in. Follies, shows that the self-belief can be delusional, and yet cathartic, with a dollop of hope drowning in a sea of memories, recrimination and a redemptive madness. Wexford Light Opera Society brought all this to the stage and it was a superb affirmation of what musical theatre people can do.

The story looks at show business, between two world wars and that is also a metaphor for survival, even if that survival, is more crippling than life-changing. Central to this story are two couples, Buddy and Sally Durant Plummer and Benjamin and Phyllis Rogers Stone, who are attending this reunion. Both couples have a "past", Sally and Phyllis were room-sharing, showgirls and are now in deeply unhappy marriages. Sally believes she should have married Ben and Phyllis feels emotionally abandoned. Self-absorption stalks the stage like the stale whiff of sweat and greasepaint.

John O'Donoghue's set design catches the faded illusion and also re-creates the lavish times in a twenty minute, Loveland sequence, where a theatrical solution is offered to audience and performers and contains a powerful, Ben's Folly, that shows madness and despair. The show is filled with big production numbers, several that are now classics of modern musical theatre.

The four principals and their younger selves dominate the action. Naoimh Penston as Sally, was a joy with, In Buddy's Eyes, and splendid in , Losing My Mind. Siobhan Meyler Fawsitt, as Phyllis, was amazing in, Could I Leave You? and the powerful, The Story Of Lucy and Jessie. Brian O'Gorman excelled as Buddy in,The Right Girl and the wonderful, Buddy's Blues. Paul Monaghan as Ben, brought self-absorption and angst to a fine point in, The Road You Didn't Take, and his descent into madness in, Live Laugh Love, will be a powerful memory for me. But the wonderful performances didn't stop there. Joanne Flood and Pat Lawlor, wowed me with, Listen To The Rain On The Roof. Elizabeth Rose-Browne as Stella Deems, rocked me in admiration for, Who's That Woman?. Jackie Curran Olohan, was so good as Carlotta and her big number, I'm Still Here, was a place in musical heaven for me. Mary Roche as Heidi, left me wanting more with, One More Kiss.

Follies was the first Sondheim show I saw over thirty years ago in Manchester and I knew then what a genius he is. Now, older, less wise, less assured, this production in Wexford, took me to a new place of admiration and I marvel with Carlotta that, I'm Still Here.

Hollywood star's uncle to light up Wexford stage

(from wexford people) ONE OF the stars of Wexford Light Opera Society's upcoming production of 'Follies' is the proud uncle of Hollywood actor Colin Farrell.

Paul Monaghan, who appeared in the West End as the phantom in 'Phantom of the Opera', will play the lead part of Benjamin Stone in the WLOS show.

He joins a talented cast of singers and dancers assembled by the society from County Wexford and further afield.

'Follies' by Stephen Sondheim will be staged at Wexford Opera House from Monday April 23 to Saturday April 28.

'We are thrilled to have someone of Paul's calibre starring in our annual production,' said Pat Lawlor, PRO of WLOS. ' We're certain that Wexford audiences are going to be blown away by him.'

Paul, a native of Dublin who trained at the Brendan Smith Academy, the College of Music, the Royal Academy and the Guildhall, London has enjoyed an illustrious career on the stage.

He appeared in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' with Colm Wilkinson and moved to London when Sir Cameron Mackintosh asked him to play the Bishop of Digne in 'Les Miserables' at the Palace Theatre in 1991. He then became an original cast member of the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera', playing in Manchester and Edinburgh.

In November 2002 Paul toured Scandinavia with 'Les Miserables in Concert', playing to over 250,000 people.

In 2010, he created the role of Mr. Carney in the West End production of Flaherty and Ahren's 'A Man Of No Importance'.

He recently played Mr. Scheinkopf in the Irish tour of 'Fame the Musical' and appeared at the 02 London in the 25th anniversary concert of 'Les Miserables'.

He had just finished filming the feature movie 'Rough and Ready', playing the lead character of Richard Cross.

Later this year, he will appear again at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Peace Prom with the Cross Border Orchestra.

Tickets for 'Follies' can be booked online at www.wexfordoperahouse.ie.

Aims Win for WLOS

WLOS' production of 'The Mikado' produced a win in the category Best Visual (Costumes, Props, Make-Up and Hair). The show was also nominated for best stage management Best Stage Management. Well done to all!