★★★★☆
Early on in this tribute to the old-fashioned Broadway revue, a character exclaims: “It’s the cat’s pyjamas.” And so it is. This production is wildly traditional by the National Theatre’s standard and the costumes, especially, are a joy. So this particular pair of cat’s pyjamas would include a white ostrich feather headdress, balanced out by a tutu-type skirt of the same, with a galaxy of diamante in between.
Imelda Staunton is the star we’ve all come to see but Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a script by James Goldman, is an ensemble piece, with no fewer than 37 performers, not to mention a 21-piece orchestra.
The story, a beguiling mix of extravaganza and emotion, revolves around a 1971 reunion