What Did London Critics Think of the Return of London’s Follies?

The National Theatre revival of Follies celebrated its second official opening at the London venue February 22. The production, directed by Dominic Cooke, returns to the Olivier stage after premiering in 2017; much of the original mounting’s cast reprises their performances.

Heading the cast of the Olivier-winning production are Olivier winner Tracie Bennett as Carlotta, Joanna Riding as Sally, Alexander Hanson as Ben, Janie Dee as Phyllis, and Peter Forbes as Buddy.

Find out what critics thought of Follies—take two—in the reviews below. (Here's what critics had to say back in 2017.)

The Arts Desk (Marianka Swain)

The Evening Standard (Fiona Mountford)

Express (Stefan Kyriazis)

Londonist (Chris Bridges)

The Stage (Natasha Tripney)

The Telegraph (Claire Allfree)

The company of 40 also includes Julie Armstrong as Christine Donovan, Lindsay Atherton as Young Carlotta, Josephine Barstow as Heidi Schiller (from mid-April until the end of the run), Rosanna Bates as Young Emily, Jeremy Batt as Young Theodore, Billy Boyle as Theodore Whitman, Anouska Eaton as Young Deedee, Vanessa Fisher as Young Stella, Caroline Fitzgerald as Sandra Crane, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Solange LaFitte, Bruce Graham as Roscoe, Adrian Grove as Sam Deems, Harry Hepple as Young Buddy, Aimee Hodnett as Young Sandra, Dawn Hope as Stella Deems, Liz Izen as Deedee West, Alison Langer as Young Heidi, Felicity Lott as Heidi Schiller (from February 22 until mid-April), Sarah-Marie Maxwell as Young Solange, Ian McIntosh as Young Ben, Claire Moore as Hattie Walker, Gary Raymond as Dimitri Weismann, Rohan Richards as Kevin, Lisa Ritchie as Young Hattie, Myra Sands as Emily Whitman, Gemma Sutton as Young Sally, Monica Swayne as Young Christine, and Christine Tucker as Young Phyllis.

Production Photos: Follies Returns to London's National Theatre

Follies_National Theatre_London_Production Photos_2019_Cast_HR — Production Photos: Follies Returns to London's National Theatre

18 PHOTOS

Follies_National Theatre_London_Production Photos_2019_Alexander Hanson_Janie Dee_HR — Alexander Hanson and Janie Dee

Johan Persson

Follies_National Theatre_London_Production Photos_2019_Joanna Riding_HR — Joanna Riding

Follies_National Theatre_London_Production Photos_2019_Tracie Bennett_HR — Tracie Bennett

Follies_National Theatre_London_Production Photos_2019_Peter Forbes_Billy Boyle_Bruce Graham _HR — Peter Forbes, Billy Boyle, and Bruce Graham

Johan Persson

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Production Photos: Follies Returns to London's National Theatre

Production Photos: Follies Returns to London's National Theatre

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