REMINDER: A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THE MUSICAL on TV tonight!!- Page 4

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 1:54pm

I thought it was rather good. I had never seen the MSG version so I didn't know what i was in for. Kelsey Grammer has a decent singing voice which reminded me of Rex Harrison in a way. Jane was fantastic as usual. Jesse Martin was great ( although the staging for his song wasn't so great). It was wonderful to see Ruthie Henshall, what a talent. Jason Alexander did remind me of Max Bialystock, but he was still very good. My favorite song out of the whole thing was Link by Link. Jennifer Love Hewitt has a decent singing voice and was alright in the role, nothing special. I liked how they used the ghosts in the beginning as street people, that was clever. Fezziwig's christmas ball scene seemed really cramped. It looked like they tried to cram as many people into one room for a dance number as possible, it was still a fun number though. Overall I give it a 8 out of 10.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 2:20pm

It wasn't too bad. There were significant changes in the book and score from the MSG production, but the TV version was far superior to the likes of The Music Man or Cinderella with Whitney Houston. The stage version was MUCH MUCH better. They should have just filmed it on stage and broadcast it. The book and score were much stronger and the choreography and staging were really impressive. I would encourage anyone to get the original cast CD of the MSG production if you can find it. It's out of print, but you can still get it used on Amazon for a mere $45, but I'm willing to bet there are still some shops out there with copies available. I'm glad I bought it years ago. It's probably my favorite Christmas CD. After Nat King Cole, that is...

[Phantom487]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 4:30pm

Actually, it was almost 99% faithful to the MSG Production. I have a bootleg (Ahh! The dreaded word!) of the 2003 MSG show with Jim Dale, and it's almost word for word. They did update the show every year, as the OCR of the show is REALLY different from the version that played last December. For example they cut the song "Jolly, Rich and Fat" and replaced it with "Jolly Good Time". So, no it was no faithful to the OCR, but it was EXACTLY the same as the updated MSG Production.

And, I agree with most of you... it wasn't great, but it wasnt horrible either. Mister Matt is right.... they should have taped the live stage version and broadcast that. The story and songs worked on stage, but not so much on film.

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 5:08pm

never saw the MSG production of this and i was living in NYC at the time this would play The Theatre at MSG every holiday season with a new "Scrooge" to bring in the crowds. I didn't see last night's broadcast because I generally don't sacrifice "Desperate Housewives" for anything that runs up against it. I hear the USA Network will be re-running it at least 3 times over the month of December and NBC will re-run it Christmas Eve at 9 PM. So those (like me) who didn't catch it the first time can watch it and judge for themeselves.

[timote316]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 5:15pm

My friend said Jason Alexander looked rediculous. Which, he did lol.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 6:41pm

K, saw it thought it was visually stunning but pretty much empty with everything else. I'm not a huge fan of the show, but they did it in a way that was fast paced, exciting and fun so you didn't notice that half the score repeated itself (Lights of Long Ago is pretty muc the same lyrics for a whole minute!) I liked Jennifer Love hewitt, Jane Krakowski and Ruthie Henshall. Had it just been them singing their parts in costume and repeated it I would have been more pleased wit the outcome. Not NBC's greatest work or the greatest rendition of a musical brought to the stage.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 8:24pm

I was ready for Krakowski to do a reprise of her number from "Nine"

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 12/7/04 at 10:29am

I had to bring this thread back because I FINALLY saw this last night. I was expecting to hate it, but was pleasantly suprised!! I think some of you guys were expecting a Broadfway-quality show, but it's not. It's just a well-made tv movie. There was some slight cheese involved ,and i'm not a huge fan of Jaso nAlexander, but Emily blew me away before I even realized it was Jennifer Love Hewitt! LOVELY voice. "A Place Called Home" with Emily and old and Young Ebeneezer was a genuine goosebump producing moment! Young Scrooge was pretty damn hot, too Jesse's voice was...different but I loved him of course. I DO love the Muppet Christmas Carol better ,but all in all i'd give this an 8 out of 10.

[mohonfdu]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 1:44pm

I consider myself a regular theatre going person and I was skeptical of seeing a musical on TV. I only have thing to say about A Christmas Carol. Briliant! I have sat through amazing performances in the past. From George Hearn in La Cage to Bernadette Peters in Gypsy and I believe the performances in this movie surpass them. Jason Alexander did not play Jacob Marley...He became Jacob Marley. Jennifer Love Hewitt gave a breath-taking performance as Emily. I hope she makes her broadway debut very soon. I believe this movie will sweep the emmys and had it been on broadway it would have swept the tonys just like THe Producers did. See A Christmas Carol the Musical