The Greatest Show in Swansea : Providence Newspaper Guild Follies

Last night totally enjoyed the 38th annual Providence Newspaper Guild Follies (of 2010). Thanks, all for putting on a great show! Usually old-timers and former cast-members (e.g., me) gather around and grouse about how nothing's as good as it was in the old days - but not when it comes to the Follies. After-show conversations were filled with admiration for how the show continues to get better. The songs were always good I'd say, though years back you could barely make out some of the clever lyrics - pearls before swine, as director Andy Smith used to lament. Now, well, the sound's way better - and the lyrics are in the program, very cool. Not to take anything away from past emcees and monologuists (e.g., me again), but Frank O'Donnell brings a pro's sense of timing and ability to interact and ad lib that we never saw in the older shows. Most of all, the "spectacle" of the show continues to amaze me: the costumes (the Lady Ga Ga # killed) and hair have risen to a new level - probably better than the Oscars which will boringly be on tonight. Used to be a costume was basically a football jersey or a seersucker jacket, and you did your hair in the motel up Route 6 before the show. If the audience could ever see the cramped quarters in which all this takes place back stage they'd be stunned! Though I'll always miss the great Lioce-Mulligan-Kerr-MWilliams writing and performances of yore, the Follies continues to be the Greatest Show in Swansea (or anywhere else on the last Friday in February). Great job Andy and everyone else!