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Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
128 S Palm Canyon DrPalm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 327-0225
- Good for Kids:
- No
11 reviews for Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
11 reviews in English
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Review from Brenda B.
Los Altos, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
The show is great fun. A bit corny I suppose, but still a good time. I think if you have an open mind and don't expect an opera or ballet you will have a good time...and remember the draw is that ALL the performers are over the age of 55 and most are over 62.
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Review from Batavia B.
Claremont, CA
12/21/2011
I finally went to this show that I've wanted to see for about 6 years but I'm sad to say i'm a little dissapointed. The problem I had was there wasn't enough dancing and utilization of spectacle. the MC was way too long winded and focused on messing with the audience. I came to see a show with performers NOT to hear digs at audience members and have them standup and answer questions meant to be funny but are not. It's a 3 hour show and I must say most of that 3 hours was spent with the MC bantering. The costumes were impressive as were the way these men and women looked for their ages. I completely admire that and am very inspired by it. Just wish those women would have danced in those gorgeous show girl costumes instead of standing in them telling a short life story about themselves and then leaving the stage. I think the emphasis on "how awful it is to be old and how everything doesn't work anymore" was the opposite of what I expected the vibe to be in this show. I thought it was going to be all about " screw your age, look at what we can still do!" Maybe that's the attitude of the performers but the MC did the former.
I don't think I'd go again for the price and how long it was and at times boring ( I hate to say that ) but if they get a new director that can change the energy of the show I would try it again. -
Review from Guy S.
Oakland, CA
2/1/2012
The show is total camp, but the music is good and it is fun to watch these old broads and guys dance and lip-sync---they do surprisingly well for 60 and 70 year-olds, and in one case, an 82 year-old. In fact, I would have given the dancers/singers 3-stars for their performance, and perhaps more.
But I have to downgrade this show to a 2-star due to the egomaniac MC, Riff Markowitz, who happens to be the owner of the show. This guy spends at least 40 minutes of a 3-hour show interviewing boring people from Minnesota and doing a stream-of-consciousness riff about whatever dumb thing randomly pops into his head, while making fun of the audience for not laughing hard enough. He obviously thinks he's a laugh-riot but the reality is he is not funny and no one on Planet Earth would ever hire this guy to talk for more than 2-3 minutes, but since he's the owner of the show he hires himself and no one tells him his act is crap or edits his material. If you want to watch a Study in Egomania, watch this moron.
The singer, Maureen McGovern, at 62 still has good pipes, although she chose a lot of schmaltzy songs to sing. And the ventriloquist, Brad Cummings, is absolutely fabulous---perhaps the best ventriloquist I've ever seen, his lips do not move as he manipulates his funny puppet and even turns a member of the audience into a puppet.
The show ends with the segment, "God Bless America," and if you like mindless patriotism, you might like this. I did not. -
Review from Dave W.
Palm Springs, CA
11/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! Somebody please kill me! My parents were in town and wanted something for them to enjoy. As seniors, they absolutely loved it. But for me, it was more painful than root canal, a colonoscopy and surgery without anesthesia all on the same day. The price is so obscenely outragous, it's like getting raped by 2 dozen 80 year olds. NEVER AGAIN!!
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Review from Jake T.
Wicker Park, Chicago, IL
2/18/2010
I've got tons of respect for the performers in this show. They're all over age 55, most in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and they're truly young-at-heart and full of energy as they sing and dance the night away. But the show has some serious flaws, especially for the very hight ticket price.
The musical accompaniment is horrible. These folks have been in showbiz for a long time -- which is cool -- so they should know that musicians need work too. The canned music that played behind all the numbers was embarrassingly weak. The guest performer on the night we went, Rita Coolidge, had to perform her songs to Karaoke backing tracks. Why?
I'm a club DJ, so I'm often the first one to defend pre-recorded music in the right situation, but these ticket prices are $50 to $100 per seat, and they're performing classic rock & roll, jazz, and Broadway numbers. A general MIDI synthesizer doesn't cut it. If, for some reason, they can't afford actual musicians, they should at least get better backing tracks.
The ventriloquist was fantastic, as were the costumes, many of the dances, and some of the jokes throughout the evening.
Unfortunately the uber-patriotic finale was more than I could take. I'm proud to be from the USA, but I don't need it drilled into my head that I need to "let the good times roll" 'cause this is America and we're the best nation on the face of the earth & Uncle Sam & apple pie & song-after-patriotic-song. That kind of blind patriotism doesn't serve the good of the country. It's hard times out there. Not everyone can be retired and living in a paradise like Palm Springs. -
Review from Stephanie A.
Chicago, IL
2/15/2011
OK so if you want to be impressed by incredible performers while also feeling a bit disappointed with yourself that you can't shake it at 20 like these men and women can at 65+, than come here. These performers are talented, beautiful and inspiring. I agree that the humor is a little low-brow and at times offensive (yes my mom and I gave each other the wide-eyed, cocked-eyebrow look a couple of times), but I came to see the performers and they were well worth it!
Not to mention I was in heaven when I realized that the tap-dancing psychologist from Frasier was part of the fabulous Follies. Being an avid lover of the show, I was floored! I stood outside after the show to see if he came out to greet people, but alas, it was not his day to come out. Oh shucks! Guess I will just have to go back this year! -
Review from K H.
Mountain View, CA
5/6/2009
None of these reviews include the most significant feature of the PS Follies, It is a show put on by senior citizens who are show biz professionals, many of them former showgirls (and 'boys'). They are very talented (and it sends a strong message to stay active!!) but I think it is important to point out that the audience (the time we went anyway) is, for the most part, well over age 65.
Some would say it is a bit schmaltzy, the final number had everyone in red white and blue sequins singing every patriotic song under the sun saluting Old Glory. The show has lots of corny double entendre age related jokes, lots of support spandex tights to make those 75 year old legs look 25.
We took my mother in law (age 80) and she really enjoyed it, my husband, not so much. But I thought it was great fun, believe it or not you will all be seniors someday, and hopefully you will be as spry as the cast of the Palm Springs Follies. -
Review from b j.
Pleasanton, CA
2/26/2008
Wow...I guess I'm pertty lucky to be the first to review this incredible 5-star rated show! Not only are the costumes unbelievable and the performers top notch! But each show is an inspiration for anyone wanting to live life to its richess, and fullest and fittest! I am always amazed at the flexibility, and strength of these performers...and yes...I am semi biased since my cousin is co-owner of the show! Go Mary!
p.s. I still want to borrow one of those head-dresses! -
Review from Glen K.
Thousand Palms, CA
7/12/2009
My wife and I finally got around to seeing the follies a few weeks ago and now I wonder why we had waited so long. OK, I suppose if you are under 50 -- or 60 -- you might not like it so much. But, even kids would enjoy the trained dogs and the ventriloquist, though some of the humor may be over their heads. (It's a variety show, and the acts do change from time to time.) The cast ranges in age from 55 to 85, but that doesn't mean they are hobbling around with canes and walkers. It's an amazing show, and we had an absolutely wonderful time. The MC, Riff Markowitz, is really droll, and I laughed so much my sides hurt! I highly recommend this show!
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Review from Irv S.
Hercules, CA
11/8/2009
We saw the latest Palm Spring Follies review on November 4, 2009. Another great show! We have seen two previous, different reviews and enjoyed them as well ... fantastic entertainment. The seniors demonstrate that as one gets older, you do not have to be vegetative. On the contrary, their energy, flexibility and enthusiasm is very inspirational.
Young people, particularly those not familiar with vaudeville may not have the perspective to fully enjoy the show, sad but that is life.
Plan to stay over Thursday night when Palm Springs stops all traffic on the main street and has a gala art & crafts show that is several blocks long. Lots of great items to buy and food to eat! -
Review from s m.
Long Beach, CA
3/13/2011
this show has plenty of variety and its like a river of rapids always different. worth paying for the best seats.
