Clumsy I could not agree more with your assessment. I saw the show this past Saturday night and loved it. I liked the books pleasant mix of whimsy and social satire and there quite literally is not a bad song in the score. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will get a cast recording.
"I have nothing against Jackson- but he is simply not a draw. People do not come see a show to see him."
Not true. I saw Aida, Hair and South Pacific during a recent trip to Manhattan and I had to juggle all 3 to make sure I could see Finian's Rainbow just because I wanted to see Cheyenne. The fact that the everything about the show is sublime turned out to be a bonus.