MARGUERITE

[Phan#24601]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 7:36am

Is it worth the money for the soundtrack? I am a HUGE fan of Shönberg and Boubil's previous works (LES MISÉRABLES and MISS SAIGON), and wanted to know what you guys thought about their latest work, MARGUERITE.

[jaxel614]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 7:46am

I saw the show in London about 4 years ago. Thought it was great. We were really expected an eventual Broadway transfer. Haven't heard the music since I saw the show but remember it was pretty remarkable. I'd say go for the cast album if you can.

[Phan#24601]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 8:06am

Thanks! I probably will. Ruthie Henshall starred in the only cast album produced and I loved her as Fantine, and the iTunes samples sounded really good. It's either this soundtrack or THE PIRATE QUEEN, which I am not so sure about.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 8:15am

I would definitely go for Marguerite over The Pirate Queen. It's got a really beautiful score and an absolutely top cast - Ruthie Henshall, Julian Ovenden and Annalene Beechey all sound absolutely marvelous.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 9:01am

Both are barking dogs, The Pirate Queen being the worst show I have ever sat through.

But, if you're buying it for the Boublil & Schonberg score, they didn't write the music to Marguerite, that was Michel Legrand. Unfortunately, they did write it for The Pirate Queen... so damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[PattiLover]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 10:48am

I listened to Marguerite once and couldn't make it through 10 minutes without laughing. It reminded me of one of those late 80's early 90's anonymous West End epics inspired by Chess/Les Mis/Phantom. Was the show any good?

[ajh]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 10:59am

Michel Legrand wrote alot of film scores and, to be honest, alot of Marguerite does sound like background music rather than the main event. I found it quite boring onstage despite the talent of many of the people involved.

[Quasi]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 4:10pm

I liked it a lot but I think the music works better on stage.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 5:18pm

I think Legrand's music is quite beautiful, but I'm a massive fan (it's not as memorable as his three Demy film musicals though, Cherbourg, Rochefort and the underated Donkey Skin), but I admit something seems to be missing from the show. Still, much betterthan Pirate Queen--but as others have mentioned, to be clear, it's not really a Shonberg musical...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 5:26pm

I'm not a huge fan of Marguerite. I guess I've just never really been able to get into it. I like the story and I love the simplicity of the original artwork, but the songs are a little boring. There's no big belty female ballads that I've come to expect from Boublil and Schonberg. I know they didn't actually write the songs, but I was still expecting a little something exciting with the music and there really isn't anything.

I love The Pirate Queen. It's not perfect and the CD is just highlights so some of the best stuff is missing, but to me it's a more enjoyable listen than Marguerite.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 4:39am

I saw the show onstage -- the music was rather lush in places and the cast was great, but the material didn't really pull it off and the show in general came across as rather boring.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:16am

I discovered this recording after seeing Julian Ovenden in Death Takes a Holiday. I listened to it all weekend long. There are some really beautiful songs, and great voices. Some of the hooks get irritating after repeated listenings. I would recommend it.