THE VISIT cast recording out digitally today — Page 4

"Tazber... The room was full to capacity (so 102) and about a dozen were eager hopeful that they might be allowed in once those inside were finished."

I got there around 6:40, bought my CD and managed to get one of the last 10 or so seats in the room. I don't think the performances were great just because they lose a lot out of context and the mics didn't seem to be properly calibrated. John Riddle's voice is so strong he didn't really need the mic. It just wasn't what anyone's first experience of those songs should be. That said, I don't think it was most people's first experience with those songs and it was so amazing to feel all the love in that room. Though people need to chill with the standing ovations and paparazzi photos. The line was very efficient but I got to say one or two things to most of the cast so that was nice. I lingered a bit with John Kander until I was ushered along.

Is Danieley working on that reading of Secondhand Lions? Elena Shaddow was also missing. I think she's doing Cinderella at MUNY.

Here's A Full Video Of Yesterday's Event

Thanks for posting the video, Jordan!

I thought "I Must Have Been Something" was an odd choice of song to perform, but I now understand why they did it considering how it was received, and Tom and John had a lot of fun doing it.

Speaking of John Riddle, I could listen to him sing "You, You, You" all day long. I hope he comes back to the stage in a musical soon!

I thought they would cut "Love and Love Alone" for the extended dance portion, but I thought leaving the music with Chita talking over it and then just letting everyone appreciate it was a lovely decision.

Just finished listening to the cast album. I've made it clear on this board before that I was NOT a fan of the show, and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I think it's 2nd-rate (maybe even 3rd-rate) Kander and Ebb, but it definitely has some great parts. In particular, the orchestrations are excellent. I didn't notice them during the show. I'm surprised it didn't get nominated over Something Rotten.

It had a perfect cast, acceptable/good score, a compelling story and compelling themes, great set design, great orchestrations. Why did I dislike it so much? I think it must have been Doyle's direction and McNally's book that ruined it for me.

Well, at least it lives on in a pretty good cast album.

Updated On: 7/12/15 at 12:53 AM

I'm still loving this album. I'm so sad the show wasn't even close to being a hit! It surprises me given in theory there were a lot of 'right' choices made (prestigious creative team, Broadway star, spring opening, intriguing marketing, good theatre size/choice). Perhaps it needed a NFP subscription audience to get off the ground.

I've been reflecting on the Tony campaign the producers went through, comparing the show to classics that didn't win best musical: Gypsy, West Side Story and Chicago, and urging voters to be on the "right side of history" and vote it as the Best Musical this time round. I think what those musicals had going for them at the time is that they were quite innovative...I don't know if there is anything particularly innovative about The Visit. To me, it feels like it ticks all the boxes of what made shows great/new/interesting in the 70s and 80s (e.g., that classic 'Broadway' style; 'dark' themes; subtext in songs such as "Yellow Shoes" where the meaning of the song isn't necessarily evident from a literal interpretation of the lyrics). It almost feels nostalgic and I kind of consider it a companion to some of my favourite other shows from that time (in particular, Sweeney Todd and Follies).

In the year 2015 it probably didn't deserve Best Musical, but I love it all the more for that. I hope some other Broadway divas get their shot at the leading role in future. Seems like a versatile role to me and I could easily imagine any of the following divas taking it on: Bernadette Peters; Patti LuPone; Christine Ebersole; Alice Ripley; Donna Murphy; Marin Mazzie.

Agreed with the above posters. I constantly find myself coming back to this cast album as it really is wonderful. While I wouldn't consider it Kander and Ebb's best work, it certainly is better than many scores coming out these days. And John Riddle singing "You, You, You" takes my breath away every time.

I love this show and the album. It truly is a beautiful score. I hope when another diva tackles it (Patti, Bernadette etc) they raise some of the keys. I Walk Away would be thrilling if it ended on a belt note.

I really liked this show a lot too. And getting to see Chita again on a NY stage is always magical.

It's not my favorite K&E, but I still found it mesmerizing, and engaging. And the music was great.

She's 83.

So I understand that the character is supposed to be old, and probably should sound aged - there is a demo recording of "Love and Love Alone" sung by someone (not sure who) that is a lot younger than Chita and Lansbury (who also recorded a demo), and it is much less impactful in my opinion (it's harder to really believe in this case that the character really is offering the perspective of a woman reflecting on a lot of life experience). Had it were sung by a younger person with a lot of long sustained notes, it would have been disingenuous the same way that people criticise over the top vocal performances of "Send in the Clowns" or in a way that Chita herself hilariously parodied in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (somehow a woman who is shot and dying in street has enough breath and voice to belt out a final ode before kicking the bucket). And it's not just that song - it's probably good to have a contrast between the young/naive/fresh voices of the couple in "You, You, You" compared with the older/jaded/worn out voices of the couple after each had their own form of life-long suffering.

HOWEVER, at times I do think the the score might have a bit more impact with a little more vocal stamina/power from the leading role (particularly "I Walk Away" and "A Confession", both leading roles even. I'm not suggesting I would have rather it been any other way for the original cast - Chita turns out a very fine acting performance on the recording (disappointed they didn't include certain dialogue - her line readings before the testimony scene were chilling). But I can see opportunity for future leading actors to provide a different interpretation/performance.

Updated On: 5/17/16 at 04:14 AM

Hell, that "Kiss of the Spider Woman" example is nothing compared to "Miss Saigon," where Kim shoots herself in the head and THEN sings the finale.