Talley's Folly

Talley’s Folly is playing at the Laura Pels Theatre on 111 West 46th Street. The show runs one hour forty minutes with no intermission. It opened on February 9, 2013 and closes May 12, 2013.

The show premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre February 28, 1980. It won a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award. The play was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

Lanford Wilson was the playwright. He won a Pulitzer for Drama in 1980 for this play. Lanford was nominated for a Tony Award for “Burn This” (1987), “Fifth of July” (1980) and “Talley’s Folly” (1980).

Danny Burstein won a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for “Follies” (2012). He was also nominated for a Tony Award for “Follies” (2012), “South Pacific” (2008) and “The Drowsy Chaperone” (2006). Danny was nominated for a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award in 2013 for “Golden Boy”. He was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award for this play.

The play takes place on the Talley farm near Lebanon, Missouri. It is July 4, 1944, early evening.

Matt Friedman (Danny Burstein) opens the play by telling the audience that the show is ninety seven minutes, no intermission and to go do what you have to. He goes through speech about his surroundings. When he is finally finishes he says let me goes through this again for the late comers. It seems like he on speed dial as he goes thru it again- well almost all the way.

Matt has come to see Sally Talley (Sarah Paulson). She comes down to the beach house on her parent's property. Matt is waiting for her there. Her grandfather built the house, it is falling apart.

Matt met Sally a year ago when he came to visit Lebanon. He is from St. Louis. Matt is an account and Sally is a nurses aid.

As the story unfolds we find out why he is there. Sally keeps brushing him off. She has her reasons. All is revealed by the end of the show.

The the play tells you, there is love out there for everyone.

This is such marvelous show. The two characters can keep you entertained all the way thru the play.

Danny interacts with the audience at times. He said I think we need a dog. Waiting to hear a dark bark someone couldn’t wait for the sound effects to take place, they barked.

Danny Burstein performance is the best I have seen him in. I’d give him a Tony Award for his performance. But since this theatre is considered off Broadway I can't.

Sarah Paulson did a great job. She is so touching.

Both actors work well together.

I’m not telling you the secrets; you will have to see the show to find out. You only have four days left to do so. Don’t walk run, and fast to see the wonderful show.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on recent photos for this and other shows.