Published on MorganHillLife.com on September 12, 2017

South Valley Civic Theatre brings to the Morgan Hill Playhouse a glittering version of Stephen Sondheim’s beloved Broadway musical”Follies” with 35 actors under the direction of Megan Griffin and 13 musicians under the baton of Alan Chipman. The show takes a breath-taking sweep that immerses the audience into nostalgia to the ultimate degree.

The story brings together a reunion of the aging former showgirls who once performed together as a part of Broadway’s glamorous Weismann’s Follies, based on The Ziegfeld Follies of that time. They gather in a dilapidated theater for a last hurrah where they experienced their youth and loves 30 years earlier. It’s the last night for the theater, which is going to be torn down to make room for a parking lot.

The older women relive their past as the young, gloriously-costumed ghosts of their youth follow them through their reliving their glory days. Two couples, Sally and Ben and Phyllis and Buddy, are focused on where they were 30 years ago and where they are today and what they desire at this time of their lives. They are haunted by their past lives with middle-aged disenchantment and have to make decisions of where they want to go in this present time.

Sondheim’s enchanting songs from “Follies” have become standards. They include “Broadway Baby,” “I’m Still Here,” “Losing My Mind,” ‘Too Many Mornings,”and “Could I leave You?

This cast and director are dedicated to bring this sweet and sad show a 110 percent effort in performing. The number where the older gals and their young ghosts redo a production they did in the old days captivated the audience the opening weekend.

If there is an award for costumes in this area of community theater, Michelle Griffin and Adrianne Wilkinson should be without a doubt recipients. Their elaborate and glittering gowns and head pieces are amazing and first-rate in craftsmanship.

Follies opened on Broadway April 4, 1971. Soundheim’s music and lyrics brought audiences to heights and depths that is rare in musicals experience. The original show was directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett and was nominated for 11 Tony awards. Itwon seven.

SVCT’s “Follies” will provide local audiences with a distinctive musical that warns all to tread carefully into the past.

2017_follies_calendar“Follies” by South Valley Civic Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Goldman
Where: Morgan Hill Community Playhouse , Fifth and Monterey Streets
Running time: 2 hours and twenty minutes with one intermission
Tickets: $25
For reservations and information call (408) 842.SHOWor visit: www.SVCT.org