Tell me on a Sunday/Song & Dance

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 3:02am

What a fabulous score...I recently got the new CD with Denise Von Outen and I love it. I also have the recording with the DIVA, Sarah Brightman. I enjoy them both. Any other fans? This is probably the only show with 1 actor on stage that I liked.

[binau]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 3:16am

I only have the BERNADETTE recording and I'm not really a fan. It could be (I can't believe I'm saying it) Bernadette's performance though. From reports she was apparently really good in the actual show though.

[philly03]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 3:37am

I love Sarah Brightman in the role!

I'm curious how Lauren Kennedy will do it, when she performs it at the North Carolina/Kennedy Theatre in about a month! Wish I lived in NC to see it!

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 9:07am

It's a fantastic show! The second one I fell in love with, all because of this picture:



Since then I've collected the cast recordings of the following performers:

Marti Webb concept album
Gitte Haenning concept album (in German)
Marti Webb live album
Sarah Brightman live album
Angelika Millster live album (in German)
Bernadette Peters' cast recording
Denise Van Outen's cast recording

I wish there were recordings of some of the British replacement casts, like Gemma Craven and Lulu from the 80's, but unfortunately not.

(I can also say that Betty Buckley and Alice Ripley were brilliant in their performances.... if you know what I mean).

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 9:49am

The only version I can listen to with any regularity is the Bernadette Peters recording. The revisions to the Denise Van Outen version make me crazy.

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 10:25am

I didnt like the Denise van Outen(?) version she doesnt have a pleasant voice. I saw BPeters in the original and it was a brilliant performance something I will never forget..Also saw Betty Buckley when she replaced her and as much as I love Betty she seemed very shrilly singing the night I saw her and what BP had in cuteness was missing...but the recording with BP is not a great recording I think her voice was a little off...she was sick a lot and Maureen Moore went on for her quite a bit I believe
Updated On: 7/23/10 at 10:25 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 10:43am

From what I've heard, Buckley was ... intense.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 10:56am

I remember Peters was terrific in the original, but the piece itself left me cold. A pale imitation of Brecht/Weill's Seven Deadly Sins. The story was pretty banal stuff, very flat, and I lost interest in the character halfway through. Act II felt even more meaningless (if I didn't care about the Act I girl, why would I care about her wordless boyfriend?).

Don Black really is just the worst lyricist ever (why does he get work? Have any of his shows made money?), and Lloyd Webber's beginner-level music makes Frank Wildhorn sound like Ravel.

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 1:08pm

Yes Bbuckley ws very very intense..she seemed too old for the part .and she was kind of screaming
.but she did look better dancing in the 2nd act than bpeters did....that I remember...i am glad I saw her though
it was still woth seeing,

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 5:15pm

Hated the revisions in the Denise Van Outen version. Nor did I like her; she never sets the stage alight for me. Always gives a competent performance - on the note and doesn't put a foot wrong - but I don't think she ever connects with the audience and this was essential with this piece. Marti Webb in the original production was superb and has always been my favourite of the performances I've seen (though I did like Gemma Craven and Lulu). I also loved the original lyrics to the number which eventually became 'Unexpected Song'. I remember seeing it for the first time and loving the moment at the end of 'Song & Dance' when the two sang, 'Time, the song begins in time, the dance begins to stir, Once more the world is turning...' Another tour is about to be launched here in the UK based on the original piece with Claire Sweeney in the role and a new song is to be added. I'll be interested to see this.

[moljul]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 5:17pm

"but she did look better dancing in the 2nd act than bpeters did"

Really, Bryan? In what way? I think of Peters as having a stronger dance background than Buckley. Can you elaborate?

The Peters recording is terrible quality-wise. You pretty much have to listen to it with your finger on the volume button because it has to be constantly adjusted. And when I first heard the recording I thought Bernadette had the worst diction as I couldn't understand a lot of what she was saying. But when I saw the Lincoln Center tape, I realized it was the poor recording as her diction on the video is perfect and of course the volume level stayed the same. Not that sound technician's best work.

[byebyebaby12]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 1:10am

I have Denise Van Outen's cast recording. I never saw the show. Wish I could have. I enjoy most of the music except "Haven in the Sky" which is dreadful.

Updated On: 7/24/10 at 01:10 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 11:23am

Buckley actually took a LOT of dance in Fort Worth growing up, she studied under two ex-Fosse dancers. She had enough dance training they tried to work in dance for her when she replaced Jill Clayburgh in Pippin, but couldn't figure out how.

Granted, that came from Buckley's own mouth, and we all know (much as I love her) that she's a bit crazy.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 11:29am

My favorite is Marti Webb's version. LURVE IT!

[Spikemark2]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 1:59pm

I work on this show in a small part and saw it from workshop at 890 to Williamstown thru the New York run. I was a really lovely show with great people and that's when I developed my platonic crush on Charlotte D'Amboise who is lovely person to this day.

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 4:29pm

betty moved better and looked like it was natural for her
it seemed like B Peters was being led around and kind of goofy
It was something I noticed right away

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 5:26pm

Gregg Burge??? was amazing I believe he died very young
so sad..beautiful man great talent

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 6:12pm

I like Van Outen's voice, but I cannot stand most of the revisions. Haven in the Sky and Speed Dating are abominable. Love the Marti Webb and Bernadette Peters recordings (except Bernadette's final note in Unexpected Song which sounds like her eyes must have been rolling back to gawk at her own brain as it was hemorrhaging).

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 6:53pm

Say what you want about ALW, but "Tell Me On a Sunday" is a brilliant song. I've seen it performed in large venues and small cabarets, and it ALWAYS works.

Such a lovely melody from Webber, too.

EDIT: Unexpected Song, as well.

Updated On: 7/27/10 at 06:53 PM

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 8:04pm

I agree the individual songs are great, but how does the show work on stage? It seems like it would be kind of a snooze to me.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/28/10 at 1:59am

I saw a regional production with the amazing Jessica Bartz as Emma. And if you cast the right girl, this show is anything but a snooze fest. Act 2 or "Dance" can be a bit boring though.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 7/28/10 at 8:59am

This is one ALW show where he seems to not be able to muck it up by over-producing it. It remains a lovely, simple piece.

We are aware, though, that Unexpected Song was an addition and comes originally from the Dance section- which is of course a series of variations on a theme by Paganini. So I'm not sure how much we can give ALW total credit for the tune. (NOT meaning to be argumentative or pedantic)

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/28/10 at 9:06am

This show works if you have someone amazing in it. I was never bored and completely entertained by Bernadette Peters
the second act was kind of like being at a dance recital
but Charlotte D'Amboise her Brother Chrisopher , Greg Burge
and the rest were amazing...that is when Charlotte really was head flipping which for some reason never let me take my eyes off her when she was on....

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/28/10 at 10:18am

I love the song "Last Man In my Life" I wish it was not cut from the show.

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/28/10 at 10:59am

I always thought it was a great show. I love it and always thought it would be fun to do a "drag version" of it (lip sync) or else a male version. Now there would be an interesting concept.