SF FOLLIES: A Singing, Dancing & Scandal Revue
SF FOLLIES: A Singing, Dancing, and Scandal Revue. John Bisceglie is Author, Director & Producer. Jason Tarshis Co-Author. Actors Theatre, 455 Bush Street @ Taylor, San Francisco 94108. Call 1-800-838-3006 94108 or, www.sffollies.com. Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings @ 8PM. Sunday Matinees @ 2PM.
Plays through April 6, 2009.
WOW! A FUN FOLLIES FOR SF
In these times of economic downturn we need moments of cheer. During the 1930s depression, the movies inundated us with musical comedies featuring aspiring youngsters saying, “Let’s put on a show.” Think Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. During the brief discussion with author/director/ producer John Bisceglie it seems SF Follies can be added to that genre. Bisceglie has had great success in the Southland of San Jose where he mounted the long running San Jose Follies plus Rock n’ Roll Reunion and Red,Blonde and Blue. It was time to give San Francisco a try.
What was initially conceived as four to eight person Revue blossomed when Bisceglie auditioned 70 singers and dancers finding a plethora of talent. He then dipped into his reservoir of competent production staff from Gilroy, San Jose and places in between to complete the task. It is a labor of love, dedication and hard work . . . requiring actually taking out a mortgage on his house!
It is not considered plagiarisms when I take a paragraph from the press clips and add quotation marks. “ SF Follies takes a wicked wink at San Francisco’s past, present and future as it lampoons popular landmarks, attractions, personalities, neighborhoods, events and institutions. With hippies, flappers, earthquakes, a rabid sea lion, a mermaid and a nearly naked gold miner.” There are some vignettes only locals will appreciate and create questions for the out-of-towners, but they are few giving them a chance to question, “Did those things/people really exist?”
This revue is so attractively arrayed that the sensational design team deserves top billing along side the 15, count them, attractive ensemble cast. Honoring individuals with accolades seems unfair since each and everyone has his turn in the spotlight. Sometimes the costumes, glitter and lights overshadow the choreography, but hey, that’s a compliment not a criticism. Adroitly moving 15 bodies and 30 feet around the small stage is no easy feat (pardon the pun) and simplistic “one, two, three, kick, turn, arms out” dance movements are always enthusiastic and in sync adding pizzazz to the music.
When you go, and you should, consider it a delightful evening while adding to the success of President Obama’s economic stimulus package and help John Bisceglie pay off his mortgage.
Kedar K. Adour, MD