Joe Brooks' METROPOLIS- Page 2

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:00pm

Oh, it's definitely worth the purchase price...for Kuhn alone!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:50pm

Like the production itself, the score is uneven shifting wildly from the ridiculous to the sublime. It does sound a bit like Schoenberg at times, so if you like something like Martin Guerre, then you will probably enjoy this as well. I believe it was recorded live on stage without an audience. It was also professionally filmed, though I'm not sure if it was for BBC broadcast or what, but other than the previously noted awkward songs and hideous moments of choreography (Children of the Sun is just bewildering), there is much to like. The show is not without merit and definitely has potential for an updated and revised production. I would highly recommend the fascinating CD if for no other reason than Judy Kuhn's incredible vocals.

Notable songs:

*Hold Back the Night
He's Distant From Me Now
Oh My, What a Beautiful City
*Children of Metropolis
*It's Only Love/Bring on the Night
*You Are the Light
*The Sun
Learning Song
When Maria Wakes
Haven’t You Finished With Me?
*One of Those Nights

*personal faves

I would love to see a fresh new attempt on this show, but if you absolutely hate the epic megamusicals of the 80s like Les Miserables or Aspects of Love, then you probably shouldn't bother with this one.

PS - The performance of Brian Blessed is offset by the glorious voice of Graham Bickley. He sounds quite similar to a young Michael Ball and his solo CD, Does the Moment Ever Come, is worth checking out as well.

101.11...101.11...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:52pm

Years ago I bought the double CD @ the flea market for $ 5 .

Would love to have seen it but do like the score a lot.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:52pm

Le sigh...

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:04pm

I just picked up JOANNA AMPIL's CD from amazon.uk and the last track is "It's Only Love/Bring on the Night" where Ampil has a duet with Graham Brickley. Was GB in the original cast? Anyway, I actually liked this track and immediately caught my ear.

Interesting that Kuhn and Salonga were up for the Olivier in the same year.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 11:32am

Yes, Graham Bickley was in the original cast. That was his duet with Kuhn.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 11:38am

I am not as impressed with Bickley's vocals, but he is a cutie!

I did not see it live, but did see a "dvd", which I doubt is the recording mentioned above because Kuhn's understudy is on (damn!) It is so over the top 80's schmaltz, though the set design looks incredible, the choreography (always lacking in those big shows from London) is laughable. The Elite's dance and Futura's dance in particlular...YIKES!

[tazber]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 1:47pm

What's the song where the whole chorus does like a gospel thing? It's at the end of cd 1. Is that When Maria Comes?

And I hate the part where the chorus goes: "50,000 tons of power..." , but I can't get it out of my head now.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:15pm

Just as Miss Saigon marked a peak for the mega-musical, this began sounding its death-knell and ushered 15 years of countless mega-flops into the West End.

I do like Graham Bickley (and not just for his looks) but he became associated with a number of those flops so the title of his CD is somewhat prophetic. He was great as Tateh in the London production of Ragtime.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:48pm

tazber - You're thinking of You Are the Light. Great song. When Maria Comes is a short and quiet chorale.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:50pm

I love "You Are the Light" and how Kuhn's voice soars above everyone elses...her understudy was less impressive.

[JRybka]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 2:57pm

This was one of those shows I just wished had been a huge hit. I love the score and find it to be such a fun listen. My favorite bit is when Judy sings "Let's Watch the World... Go to the Devil" and her vibrato is so crazy out there.... There is so much in it. She was brilliant.

The sound on it was pretty bad. I wonder if they actually just recorded it from the stage (without an audience...)

I wish someone would bring it back to life. Could you imagine Julia Murney taking control of this role?

[tazber]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 3:33pm

Yes! That's it MM! I really do like the score (futura's dance excluded). I wish it had better sound quality.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 3:57pm

It's got Menzel written all over it...

I'm fascinated to learn it was recorded in the theater, because it is odd indeed, with erratic volume and balance (I had the LP in 89 -- remember those?) I like the aforementioned songs in this thread, but especially the bridge to the love duet, "bring on the night" interpolated, because Kuhn just takes the roof off. I recall picking the needle up, putting it down to hear that part. I must get out my CD and listen. Do colleges/high schools ever do it?

[JRybka]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 4:18pm

I remember being able to see clips on that website from a theater company in the us that had done it. It is screaming for a production... this climate of change in the United States would be perfect for Metropolis.

And by the way... the movie is one of the top 5 EVER!

[metropolis93fan]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:10pm

Okay. Here' the scoop. Supposedly the rights to the show are locked up, something Brooks did before he committed suicide because he couldn't face jail for multiple rapes. HOWEVER I WILL say my previous director of the musical (he has no time for me to give his name out) has looked into it briefly and believes with the right leverage he could get the rights to the show. It's not in his doing right now, but there were multiple creators... Dusty Hughs, one other person.... it's not solely his.

The music is beautiful but I personally think our version was better.... our musical director toned it down a bit. I'll link you our version... it will take two posts because it's two acts. Now, in 2002 he added subplots, songs, including, get this, In My Life. Crazy, huh? But I own the oriignal soundtrack and it's still worth listening to. You can follow the plot.
Eastlight 93 ct 1

[metropolis93fan]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:14pm

PS: I am the youngest in the pink dress and long hair. If you search YouTube you'll find several versions... including scenes from the original. I have the 2002 edits but am not allowed to share them. Sorry.
Eastlight second act

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:15pm

This would not work on Broadway . It would cost a gazzillion dollars to stage & the critics would rip it to shreds.

An ambitious failure.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:04pm

Anything could work on Broadway with the right creative team, the right timing and a little bit of luck.