I saw the touring company in Boston years ago. It was dreadful, very cheaply produced with hardly any scenery. Yes - and as we ALL know it is the scenery that makes for a good show!!
This was the 2nd tour - non equity - at its second last stop in Kitchener, which is about an hour west of Toronto. Now,having been at the opening of the original production in Toronto and having seen the original cast in New York, I was a little concerned going in that this would be a huge letdown.
It wasn't. Not at all. Very well sung, and acted. Yes, some of the scenic effects were missing (like the stereo optic slides at the start or the bridge with Henry Ford slowly descending and crushing the assembly line workers) but the performances moire than compensated. The book and score are so strong that the rest was just window dressing. In fact without all the fireworks, once can focus more on the story and characters. From all reports, I suspect tat is why this DC production has connected with so many fans new and old.
But before we get too excited here, remember that Ben Brantley of the NY Times HATED the original show. (He admired many of the key elements but found the show on the whole completely "resistible.") Little Brantley has written since then indicates that his feelings about what a musical should and should not be have changed. This new production could face an uphill battle.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Updated On: 6/12/09 at 02:58 AM
