May has been a musical let-down!

[Loge]

May has been a musical let-down!#0

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:48pm

I was looking so forward to this month with all the cast recording releases (Spamalot, DRS, Little Women, Spelling Bee, and Piazza). I must say, the first three were total let downs. I am most looking forward to Spelling Bee, so I am hopeful that will be a pleasant surprise, but I think:

Spamalot - was a big letdown after all the hype. It's entertaining and fun, but not as good as I expected, especially score wise.

DRS - bigger disappointment. The message by John is so pretentious. The score is good, but nothing new or exciting.

Little Women - surprisingly, I like this the best of the three. The score is beautiful and the performances are great. However, I understand the low ticket sales. Totally reminds me of Jane Eyre - beautiful story, pretty score, but not too exciting.

On a plus note, I burned Mary Poppins from a friend and I love it.

Here's hoping Spelling Bee and Piazza redeem this month of releases.

"What the hell happened to you? You look like a Make-A-Wish Kid. You know, I just knew you were gonna bring shame on this new family of ours, and it just figures you had to go make yourself over into some heroin-shootin skate board chic on the only day E! could interview you!" - Cherry Cherry, on her daughter Mary Cherry

[liotte]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#1

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:50pm

I can't wait for the All Shook Up recording on May 31st!

[luvtheEmcee]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#2

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:50pm

DRS isn't the type of show that translates so well to CD. If you haven't seen the show, you should try to. A lot of the jokes aren't coming across on the CD, as much of the comedy is physical.

Spelling Bee's score is weak. I wouldn't get my hopes up.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[smartpenguin78]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#3

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:53pm

The message from John Lithgow is pretensious because he is in character! It is supposed to be pretensious.
As Emcee says it is a very visual show and most of the jokes come through beter on stage. Not to mention that it is about interplay between the characters that needs to be seen as well.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

[Allie]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#4

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:56pm

So then would you not suggest the DRS recording? I have no chance of seeing the show anytime soon, and I'm dying to hear the music.

[smartpenguin78]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#5

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:03am

Well I still recommend it, I think it is hilarious and the people I have sent it too, love it and they have not seen the show.
I think it is a fun Cast Recording that is improved by seeing the show.

edited to remove stupid assumption.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

Updated On: 5/13/05 at 12:03 AM

[Allie]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#6

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:08am

I've loved the little bits of music I've heard from broadway.com videos... I'm sure I'll like the whole thing. And I absolutely adore the movie, so I know the basic plot.

[smartpenguin78]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#7

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:13am

I think with that in mind you will LOVE IT!

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

[iwearshoes]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#8

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:15am

i am really pulling for all shook up actually! i haven't seen the show but our choir did a song from it and i really liked the way it sounded and the voices were awesome

[Loge]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#9

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:23am

I would recommend it. Aside from The Woman in White and Mary Poppins, I think DRS and Spamalot are some of the best cast recordings to come out since Ragtime. I totally enjoy both more than Avenue Q, Millie, and Hairspray. I think they are better shows than those three as well. I think most will like DRS, and so do I, but I'm not crazy nuts about it, which I was hoping for I guess. Same with Spamalot.

"What the hell happened to you? You look like a Make-A-Wish Kid. You know, I just knew you were gonna bring shame on this new family of ours, and it just figures you had to go make yourself over into some heroin-shootin skate board chic on the only day E! could interview you!" - Cherry Cherry, on her daughter Mary Cherry

[smartpenguin78]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#10

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:27am

Sounds like you feel the way about DRS that I feel about Spamalot. It was ok, but not as good as I expected. I will say I do not like the Spamalot cast recording though.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

[StickToPriest]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#11

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:37am

"Spelling Bee's score is weak. I wouldn't get my hopes up."

Shaking my head in disappointment, Em.
Tsk, tsk.

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

Updated On: 5/13/05 at 12:37 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#12

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:38am

In my defense, I saw it before all of the big changes. I literally saw something like they're second show off-Broadway... apparently they rescored a LOT of Act II after I saw it.

I think I'm going to give it another chance over the summer, if I can win their lottery.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Plum]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#13

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:51am

You saw the second Off-Broadway preview, Emcee? I was there, too. :) I also wasn't overly impressed by the score- the numbers that were memorable were memorable for their choreography ("Pandemonium," "Magic Foot," "I Speak Six Languages") or for what they were about ("Chimera," "My Friend the Dictionary") rather than for their actual musical content.

But I'm going to try to see the show again to see what's changed. The "Pandemonium" number must have gotten better-coordinated since the time I saw it, at least. And I know the audience-interaction portion will ensure I'll get a different experience than last time.

[luvtheEmcee]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#14

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:53am

I don't remember if it was precisely the second, but it was VERY early. It was... ugh, I don't even still have my ticket stub. I lost it. And I packed my syllabus that had the schedule on it.

I agree, though - I remember more of what they were doing than what the songs sounded like in those numbers. My memories are far more visual.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Plum]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#15

Posted: 5/13/05 at 1:45am

I remember the "champion" audience speller was a guy in leather pants. He got a few hoots from the girls in the crowd. Good times.

[RentBoy86]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#16

Posted: 5/13/05 at 1:52am

Is it me or do all of Finn's recordings kind of sound the same? There aren't really any "show stopping" numbers. No big belt numbers for the guys. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm in love with A New Brain, but in Falsettos I just didn't feel like there were any show stoppers like you have in others shows. Spamalot, was okay. There are a couple songs (find your grail, all of sarah's songs), but I guess the songs are more based on the performance. None of them are really all that memorable either, just kinda thrown in there. Although, I can't stop listening to sarah's songs.

[Plum]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#17

Posted: 5/13/05 at 2:03am

If by "showstopper" you mean "number where someone has to belt at the top of their range," no, Finn isn't inclined to writing those. But how can you say songs like "What More Can I Say" or "Holding to the Ground" aren't big numbers? The latter even has some high belting. :)

[andyf]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#18

Posted: 5/13/05 at 2:05am

Don't worry, Emcee.

I've seen it twice on Bway now, once in previews, once after it opened...the score is still weak.

Sorry, Priest.

Andrew, tonight isn't about you! It isn't even about me!!! - [FD]

[twogaab2]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#19

Posted: 5/13/05 at 9:59am

I think any score so deeply felt is quite fine. Also the music is quite marvelous. Finn has every right to be proud of this and the rest of his output.

TWOGAAB "A Class Act" will never die!

[LittleFish8386]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#20

Posted: 5/13/05 at 10:10am

My friend sent me the DRS recording, and I love it. I haven't seen the show, and a couple of the jokes or parts confuse me, but the music is pretty darn catchy, and listening to it make me want to see the show even more. So I would recommend getting it. I can't wait to go out there and buy it.

I can't wait for Piazza!!

[Unknown User]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#21

Posted: 5/13/05 at 10:34am

Loge you have a month where more Cast recordings have been released than in some years and you manage to whine about it?

[cathywellerstein]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#22

Posted: 5/13/05 at 11:37am

i can't wait for Piazza or All Shook Up. i'm so excited for some new music. yay. and i haven't been let down so far! my drs recording has not left the cd player.

[Mister Matt]

re: May has been a musical let-down!#23

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:05pm

Nevertheless, the sheer volume of recordings released this month is a blessing. Who are those continually claiming cast recordings were dying out and always coming up with petitions? I wonder if they're trying to take credit for these recordings as well.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Unknown User]

re: May has been a musical let-down??#24

Posted: 5/13/05 at 12:18pm

Loge I'm confused, DRS and Spamalot are, in your opinion, the best Cast Recordings since Ragtime (199 and yet, you are somehow disappointed in them? Frankly I think your standards are too high.

I think any month that produces several Cast recordings that you recommend, "Totally enjoy" and listen to repeatedly is a good month.