The California desert’s answer to Las Vegas and New York (more specifically, TV’s “The Ed Sullivan Show”) is the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies . Now in its 22nd season, the current version pays tributes to hits from the past in “Dance to the Music.”
Created and emceed by former TV producer Riff Markowitz, The Follies sticks to the formula it has followed since its opening season. It’s a blend of vaudeville, scantily clad ladies (who are at least 55), production numbers and a patriotic finale. There’s also a “star” entertainer.
This reviewer attended opening night of singer Lesley Gore, known for her chirpy, teenage classics, “It’s My Party” and “Judy’s Turn to Cry.” Her set also includes a precursor to women’s liberation, “You Don’t Own Me.”
But the star doesn’t show up until the second act. The real “stars” of the Follies are the long-legged, beautiful chorines who first parade down a staircase a la the Ziegfeld Follies. They are attired in glitzy, outlandish outfits that must weigh more than 40 pounds, complete with oversized headdresses. One after another, the Follies dancers make their grand entrances. They glide onstage and navigate down a flight of stairs. One learns from their brief biographies that these women previously danced on Broadway, on cruise ships, and a few are former June Taylor Dancers.
Although they are older, these women are no slouches when it comes to dancing. Once they are dressed in dance costumes, and accompanied by an equally talented group of male dancers, the women go all out to entertain the audience. Riff Markowitz demonstrates genuine pride in the women’s past accomplishments, not to mention their splashy production numbers which are as professionally executed as one would see in a Broadway show.
Riff opens and closes the show with jokes that prey mercilessly on audience members. When one man sitting in the front row admits he has previously seen a Follies performance, Riff looks puzzled. “You’ve seen this before and you’re still dumb enough to sit in the front row?” he asks, incredulous, before pulling the man onstage as his “assistant.”
Lesley Gore, 66, could now be a grandmother to the girl she once was when, at 16, she topped the charts with her debut single, “It’s My Party.” Her figure is more ample now, but her voice is strong as she polishes off a half-dozen tunes.
The show also includes an impressive performance by hula hoop artist Mat Plendl, 51. He’s a definite step up from the dog acts and similar vaudeville numbers seen in past shows.
In recognition that its audience is changing from the Greatest Generation to the Baby Boomers, the Follies now incorporates songs such as “Pretty Woman,” Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” and the Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four.” However, it hasn’t completely abandoned the Great American Songbook with songs such as “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “You Are My Sunshine” and “The Tennessee Waltz.”
The show closes with its traditional patriotic salute, a touching tribute to all who served in various branches of the armed services. At each performance, veterans are asked to stand as the audience applauds.
The Follies promises something for everyone. It also brings new life to a once-dilapidated theater in the middle of downtown Palm Springs. It’s where Jack Benny once broadcast his radio show, which featured celebrities such as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, etc. The names of those who now perform there may be less familiar to audiences, but they haven’t lost their ability to wow a crowd.
