That’s not to say that “Follies” isn’t enjoyable. In fact, much of it is delightful. The actresses who play the oldest showgirls–especially Marge Champion, Betty Garrett, Carol Woods and Polly Bergen–do a knockout job with classics such as “Broadway Baby” and “I’m Still Here.” But those women are really on the periphery of “Follies.” At the emotional core are Sally (Judith Ivey) and Phyllis (Danner), old friends who aren’t sure they like their lives, their husbands (Williams and Harrison) or each other. Ivey and Danner are wonderful actresses, and Matthew Warchus’s haunting direction frames them beautifully. But “Follies” is a musical, and one that relies to an unusual degree on the deeply confessional nature of its songs. Unfortunately none of the four leads has the vocal reach to plumb the music’s heartbreaking depths. To borrow a Sondheim lyric, “Follies” gives you a “sorry-grateful” feeling: grateful the show is back, sorry it doesn’t soar.
FolliesBelasco Theater Open
