On the Record On the Road

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 2:18pm

Just saw Disney's On the Record this past Saturday in Chicago. This show shouldn't go to New York - it's little more than an expanded, old-fashioned Theme Park Show. Additionally, Emily Skinner was out for the matinee and her understudy seemed incredibly casual about the whole thing. While there were a few nice solo renditions and one great vocal arrangement combining Supercalifragilistic . . . with Hi Ho, Zippity do dah and Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo I wouldn't recommend anybody spend money on this.

Anybody else caught this yet?

[diva007]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 2:48pm

I caught this show in Chicago last Thursday. Yhe only reason I went was because my friend raves about Emily Skinner (whom I was not impressed with). Yes the show is cheesy, but I did enjoy it given the fact that I know all the songs. However I am glad I went because I got to see Ashley brown whom I loved in the show. Everyone else was a little too show choir for me.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 3:44pm

I saw On The Record here in Chicago last week. I do agree that it's a little theme-parky and isn't a show that should be playing on Broadway. However, I did enjoy (of course) the 20 or so Menken tunes. And all of the performers had fantastic voices. I was especially blown away by Ashley Brown. This girl rocks! Her performances of "Change in Me", "Reflection" and "Part of Your World" were perfect. Ashley will be going far, and I would recommend seeing this show just to experience her.

Not to drag this thread into an overdiscussed area, but she would be incredible as you-know-who in you-know-what!

(The small print - I am not related to Ms. Brown or affiliated in any way with her, Disney or this production. This is pure unsolicited adoration.) Updated On: 12/13/04 at 03:44 PM

[ShineOn]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:19pm

I saw it Chicago as well... what it boils down to is... a bunch of talented people just prancing around on stage singing a few good Disney numbers and a bunch of fluff.

Daryl, how was Emily's understudy? I kind of wanted to see her. Girl can dance!

[MariantheLibrarian]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:23pm

I agree that the show...well, isn't quite a show, seeing as how it's in effect a Disney compilation CD, and yes, Ashley Brown was very good, but don't diss the Skinner. Emily was awesome and is waaaay too good to be using her skills to bob up and down to 'Supercalifragilsticexpialidocious'. That woman's able to make the tritest songs seem fraught with emotional undertones. Back me up, Daisy!

Updated On: 12/13/04 at 05:23 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:38pm

"Not to drag this thread into an overdiscussed area, but she would be incredible as you-know-who in you-know-what!"

Belle?

[ShineOn]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 5:42pm

I'm backing ya up, Alice, babe. :)

*backing Alice up*

I will be the first to admit Emily's a bit on the "showy" side (I happen to like that about her), but she also knows when to turn it off. Were you in the bathroom during "Baby Mine" and/or "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again?" perhaps? :)

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 6:15pm

Definitely not dissing Skinner - but I think most people already recognize her fabulousness. Her renditions of Baby Mine and Will The Sun Ever Shine Again were beautiful. She was a little wasted in the show though.

I was referring the part of the green-skinned one for Ashley.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 7:01pm

The show has tons of talent...both on and off-stage. I went into the show knowing not to expect a Broadway musical, which is why I enjoyed it.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 7:22pm

The only stand out performances for me were Ashley Brown singing "A Change in Me," and the "Be our Guest" number. I don't see how this show will last for a long time.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 8:42pm

Emily's "Will The Sun Every Shine Again" or Ashley's "Reflection" did not stand out to you?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 8:55pm

I guess they did at the time I saw the show, but it didn't leave a lasting memory like the other two numbers I mentioned.

[BroadwayBaby21]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 9:07pm

I'm going to see this in January when it's in Philly.
From the start, I'm not expecting a full-blown show with a real plot.. I know it's just disney songs put together in a show.
The real reason we have the tickets is because my mother is a disney fanatic (as am I, but not as much)...
Hopefully, i'll like it...

[ShineOn]

Posted: 12/13/04 at 9:28pm

OMG... the second time I saw the show with Alice... during "Be Our Guest" I nearly cracked my ribs from laughing so hard... for some reason I just found it so damn comical, not nearly as much as the first time. (Yeah, I know, I saw it twice... it's Alice's fault... some people can't attend "theatre" alone..)

Ashley's chinese verse... that was the END. Oh, LORD.

Ashley's Reflection really moved me, too. I think that's her only song I was REALLY impressed with.


BTW, she would put YOU KNOW WHO to SHAME (pretend I underlined that a bunch of times) in the role of you KNOW in YOU KNOW WHAT!!!

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 10:25am

The understudy for Skinner (Lyn Philistine)just seemed inconsequential. First, and I hope it WAS a wig, they put her in this extremely unattractive blonde wig in an ettempt to emulate Skinner's look - it overpowered her head and had pieces sticking out where they oughtn't have - very distracting. Baby Mine nearly always brings a tear to my eye (Barbara Cook or Bette Midler versions especially), but not in this rendition on this day.

In retrospect, I keep thinking about the performance of Andrew Samonsky in the Juvenile role, especially in Out There from Hunchback - I'd love to see him tackle the American in Chess. He seemed to have an authentic enthusiasm for the material while recognizing that much of it was lightweight.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:56am

There's no way they'll put this on Broadway. I think it was always designed as a tour confection. Once its had its run they'll license it to MTI and it can spread across the country in schools and community theatres. $$$. I am seeing it Tampa in the Spring despite the negative comments. It sounds like they could've gone further in stretching the arrangements or perhaps should have just made it a theatrical concert (like the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber or Music of the Night). Skinner rocks and it sounds like Ashley is a star in the making.