'Oliver!' -Drury Lane 'Live' Cast Recording — Page 5

^ My first thought was that they didn't, I'm pretty sure I remember Rowan singing "In this life, one thing counts"... but I have a huge gap in my memory where this show should be - I can hardly remember anything about it! - so I may be wrong. I didn't even remember them cutting "I Shall Scream" in half (as on the CD) but someone at WOS informs me that it's like that in the show.

There are definitely some cuts within songs on this CD. Quite why they included endless audience applause and the curtain call music instead of more of the songs I don't know.

Has anyone tried listening to the 1994 cast recording after listening to the new one? I tried today and couldn't finish it which is really bizarre because it used to be my favorite Oliver! cast recording. I guess it's safe to say I have a new favorite now. The cast isn't perfect, but in terms of sheer energy it has no equal.

Am I the only person amazingly under-whelmed by this recording???

I love the 1994 album, and for me it is far superior in almost every way.

I must confess I haven't seen the show yet, but Rowan Atkinson is good, but not as menacing and Jew-like...sorry if that sounds offensive, but from the 1994 album Jonathan Pryce really goes to town in making Fagin as foreign and dangerous as possible.

Sally Dexter was perfect in 1994, and I am afraid Jody well...isn't.

AND, perhaps my main beef is that the comedy numbers really lack Jenny Galloway as Widow Corney. Even as a proud Northerner myself, I don't like how they've made Bumble and Corney Northern comic cuts. Bumble sounds like Eric Pickles (the chairman of the Conservative Party) and Corney sounds like Hylda Baker!!!???

The one song which in my opinion is improved (and has already been commented) is That's Your Funeral. Julian Bleach and Louise Gold suit their Northern accents and bring perfect comic timing to the song.

I'm sorry to say but I feel cheated out of the eleven quid that HMV got from me last weekend...