‘Follies’ top London musical

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 6

‘Follies’ top London musical

NZPA-Reuter London

“Follies,” Stephen Sondheim’s poignant Broadway musical from 1971, was named best musical of 1987 at the Laurence Olivier Awards on Sunday. “Serious Money,” Caryl Churchill's savage comedy running on Broadway, was named best play in the ceremony that was televised live in Britain from the Victoria Palace Theatre.

“A View From the Arthur Miller’s

1955 tragedy, won awards for best actor, Michael Gambon, and best newcomer, Suzan Sylvester.

“Kiss Me Kate,” a Royal Shakespeare Company revival of Cole Porter’s 1947 musical, won awards for best musical actors, John Bardon, Emil Wolk and Nichola McAuliffe.

The evening was marked by occasional political statements. Presenting the award for best director, ttife ac-

tor, lan McKellen, said he deplored Britain’s low Government spending on the arts compared with the rest of Europe and attacked a proposal to give local authorities censorship powers within their districts. The award went to Declan Donellan, the Irish director of Britain’s touring Cheek by Jowl theatre company, which was seen in London with three plays during 1987. The American choreo-

grapher, Trisha Brown, won the award for outstanding achievement in dance for her engagement at Sadler’s Wells Theatre last November. The outstanding achievement in opera ,went to the English National Opera’s powerful production of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.” Best actress in a play went to Judi Dench for her performance as the Queen of the Nile< in Shakespeare’s

tragedy “Antony and Cleopatra.” Michael Bryant, who plays Enobarbus in the same production, was named best supporting performer.

Among the surprises was the failure of Peter Shaffer’s "Lettice and Lovage” to win any awards, and the failure of "Follies” to win in any category apart from best musical.

There were 63 nominees in 15