Follies

24th - 28th April 2012, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds


Director: Louise Travis
Musical Director: Richard Healey
Choreographer: Heather Couch

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Cast

Sally Durant Plummer

Buddy Plummer
 
Ben Stone
 
Phyllis Rogers Stone

Young Sally

Young Buddy
 
Young Ben
 
Young Phyllis
 
Young Heidi
 
Emily Whitman
 
Theodore Whitman
 
Solange LaFitte
 
Carlotta Campion
 
Hattie Walker
 
Heidi Schiller
 
Stella Deems
 
Roscoe
 
Dmitri Weismann
 
Max Deems
 
Kevin
  

Diane Elvin

Cary Palmer

Chris Strahm

Kate Steggles

Beth Jennings

Jonathan Lodge

Adam Stewart

Kat Engall

Lou Petch

Gloria Stewart

Nick Gane

Judith Thomas

Jackie Strahm

Lesley Craig

Joyce Amtower

Fiona Barker

Al Marshall

Phil Amtower

Ian Robertson

Matt Dipper

Vincent
 
Christine Donovan
 
Meredith Lane
 
Vanessa
 
Dee Dee
 
Margie
 
Willy Wheeler / Photographer
 
Francesca / Waitress
 
Chaffeur
 
Buddy's "Blues Sally"
 
  
 
Dancing Follies
 
Lydia Bridge, Julia Foulsham, Cath Harvey, Emily Mizen, Viv Morris, Polly
Pateman, Emma Rutherford, Caitlin Rutter, Mel Sunshine
 
Posing / Non-Dancing Follies
 
Julie Baxter, Debbie Croll, Jessica Elvin, Frances Gaul, Laura Stewart,
Vanessa Tatum

Chorus
 
Amy Blofield, Stan Chamberlain, Matt Dipper, Sally Donaghey, Jules Mills, 
Grace Stewart Hogg, Robert Utting, Sarah Walkey, Dan Warren,  Nicky
Wiseman

Robert Utting

Laura Stewart

Viv Morris

Vanessa Tatum

Debbie Croll

Julia Foulsham

Dan Warren

Nicky Wiseman

Matt Dipper

Mel Sunshine

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The best way to describe the latest production at Bury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal is a musical with meat on the bones. Yes, Follies - which runs until Saturday - is bursting with singing and dancing, but there is also a story to really sink your teeth into.
The musical, which is presented by the Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, tells of the reunion of aging stars in a dilapidated theatre that is about to be demolished. Two married couples who first met there open up their hearts about their longings and regrets as the reunion conjures up memories. The excellent dialogue scenes between main characters Sally Durant Plummer (Diane Elvin), Buddy Plummer (Cary Palmer), Ben Stone (Chris Strahm) and Phyllis Rogers Stone (Kate Steggles) are incredibly gripping, and alone make this musical worth watching.
But those who are after a visual spectacle will not be disappointed as it boasts dancers in an assortment of glitzy costumes and an array of interesting characters who are dressed to the nines. Jackie Strahm (playing Carlotta Campion), who is in remission from cancer, is worth a mention for a truly poignant scene where she sings I'm Still Here. And let's not forget Gloria Stewart (playing Emily Whitman), who appears on stage with her daughter Laura Stewart and granddaughter Grace Stewart-Hogg, battled through her audition while suffering a heart attack.
Follies has the perfect combination of being an entertaining show while also giving the audience something to think about.
— Marian Ghaemi, East Anglian Daily Times