On the Record On the Road

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?

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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

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!

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

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? :)

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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.

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

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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...

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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.

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