Anyone listen to music from "Tale of Two Cities" yet?

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 9:59pm

Playbill has it scheduled to preview in late 2006 or early 2007.

The people behind it have a website with about 20 song samples available.

I'd be interested in getting opinions of other listeners.

To me, the opening song featuring the character of Madame Defarge sounds a bit like something that could have been from Sweeney Todd. My initial response to the first song was unpredictably postive. But then, it seems, the composer/lyricist/librettist (all the same person) goes the "Les Miserables" route and tries--in my opinion--to go the Boubille/Shoenberg route.

There is even a third type of song which seems like it was written for Howard McGillan (Dreams Come True)for a show that might have been written in the 50's.

Act 1 ostensibly ends with "Until Tomorrow" which to me clearly borrowed from "One Day More" (thematically).

The show's finale includes a Cosette/Marius-style duet at the guillotine.

Remarkably, the actor who speaks Sidney Carton's final words--some of the most treasured in the English language--really does a superlative job.

Not much has changed on the website for awhile. Apparently there's a NYC workshop in existence but I wonder if the inevitable comparisons to "Les Miserables" will be too much too overcome,particularly since the score lacks anything near the scale of "I dreamed a dream", "Empty chairs at empty tables", and "Bring him home".

[idunno]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:44pm

Anyone know the link?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:04pm

If it's similar to Les Mis then I'll probabaly love it. I think the concept album is fantastic.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:17pm

Click the link in my signature, for the most up to date info that has been released to the media. I keep pretty close tabs on updates.

Updated On: 4/9/06 at 11:17 PM

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:19am

http://www.ataleof2cities.com/main.cfm

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 9:43am

I've listened to it, and the similarities to "Les Miserables" are almost too STRIKING!!!
Like the intro with the majestic brass. But the opening song is more "Saigon" than "Les Miz."

"From where I sit, I see the way things are
The way they've always been..."