"While I think this is the worst Follies I have ever seen (for reasons I will address in another post), Staunton's version of "In Buddy's Eyes" was illuminating. She didn't just sing it, she acted the hell out of it, giving greater context to the song. She starts out singing it as though seeing herself through Buddy's eyes made her feel beautiful and loved and ends up disgusted by what Buddy is seeing since she knows she can't stand being with him any longer. You can see it in the change of her facial expressions. Brilliant."
I agree that the number was a highlight of the show, and to me you didn't even mention the greatest moment in it. The director had young Sally remain on stage for the end of the number, and Staunton sang that whole last part while staring directly at her: "And all I ever dreamed I'd be, the best I ever thought of me, is every minute there to see in Buddy's eyes." I thought that was a really smart and beautiful directorial/acting decision, as opposed to the many extremely odd ones in this production. |
