Today I just received LaChiusa’s The Wild Party on CD (saved 10 bucks on it from amazon.com!). I also have the Wild Party by Lippa.
I have not read March’s The Wild Party in full yet, so this review is just based on the CDs and the music.
Which one is better is always the question asked of these two recordings. Now, on one we have Toni Collette, Mark Kudisch, Many Patinkin, Tonya Pinkins, and the always amzing Eartha Kitt. That’s LaChiusa’s. Lippa’s has more “modern” stars like Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs (as if I needed their last names), as well as Brian D’Arcy James, Alex Corey, and Julia Murney.
As far as which CD has a better cast? I would say – neither (or both). Both casts are great. The biggest difference you will find between the CDs is that Lippa’s is belted – almost always belted. And, for that matter, belted well. LaChiusa’s is more jazz-age meets Broadway (which is what it should be).
In the overall scheme of things, I feel LaChiusa’s is much better in describing the story. The music flows very nicely and it feels like an overall summary of the party. By the end, you can feel the party crumbling to hell and no one able to save it. Lippa’s, however, has better solos – as far as lyrics and melodies go. It is much more fun to listen to Madelaine True’s “Old-Fashioned Love Story” (Lippa’s, Alex Corey) than her “Like Sally” (LaChiusa’s, Jane Summerhayes). This has nothing to do with Summerhayes, but with the music itself. Also, Kate’s solos in Lippa’s version (Idina Menzel) are much more fun than LaChiusa’s version (Tonya Pinkins).
However, Lippa’s version leaves out solos (and maybe characters – never saw the show) by Dolores (Eartha Kitt), the D’Armano brothers (Nathan Lee Graham and Michael McElroy), Gold and Goldberg (Adam Grupper and Stuart Zagnt), and Jackie (Marc Kudisch). Eddie and Mae’s duet in Lippa’s is just as good (maybe a little funnier) as their solo in LaChiusa’s.
In all, I recommend you buy LaChiusa’s first if you want to understand “The Wild Party” and all of its inhabitants, as well as for a beautiful, jazzy, musical that still has the Broadway feel.
For listening enjoyment, fun, catchy tunes, and mind blowing performances, I recommend Lippa’s version. The songs never seem to be too depressing, as LaChiusa’s are (in a good way, that is).
If you listen to me, however, I say buy both. You won’t be sorry.
I also recommend that you buy the beautifully illustrated “The Wild Party” by Joseph Moncure March (illustrated by Art Spiegelman).
Some favorite songs on each CD:
LaChiusa Queenie was a Blonde Marie is Tricky Uptown Gold & Goldberg Best Friend Gin/Wild People Like Us The Movin’ Uptown Blues When It Ends
Lippa Queen Was a Blonde Raise the Roof Look at Me Now An Old-Fashioned Love Story A Wild, Wild Party Two of a Kind The Life of the Party Let Me Drown Come With Me
*Note: It was easier to pick favorites from Lippa’s version because, as I said, each individual song was fun and exciting. In the overall scheme of things, however, LaChiusa’s better captured the mood of what March described as “The Wild Party.”
Thanks for that! Now anyone who wants to know which one is better, will just have to read this and decide which feel they want.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
We just discussed this the other day. I think the general consensus was that although the music to Lippa's is more accessible to the average listener, there was much more substance to the brilliant LaChuisa score. Another major point is that LaChuisa's complex score is much more true to the period. He created a very dark, layered, somber, cacophonous sound that IMHO was much more true to the source material. One melody just flows into the next giving it a very poetic nonstop pace that build to crescendos that overwhelm the listener at every turn. Furthermore the music is extremely atmospheric which richly serves the libretto. Okay, I love this score and although I'm basically repeating the same thoughts I had previously on this subject it's just because this man's music for "Wild Party" and "Hello, Again" have brought me so much pleasure that I feel a need to share it with others.
I'd like to add that while I listen to LaChiusa's version, I can actually picture the party happening. Lippa's version seems to be a very different party...but I can't see the party actually happening. I can't really see the big difference between the beginning of the party and the end...
I like both but if I had to choose one over the other I would have to go with Lippa's. For one, it has a better cast (uniformely) and also if I wanted to go to a party I would rather go to Lippa's than LaChiusa. But, again both are great and should be owned.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
Hmmm I don't know. Better cast? How can someone say that Brian D'Arcy James, Julia Murney, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel are better in their perspective roles than Mandy Patinkin, Toni Colette, Eartha Kitt, Marc Kudisch, and Tonya Pinkins. These people are miles ahead in my book. Eartha's a legend!
I think it is hard to compare the actors because the shows are so different. I don't think Mandy would do a good job as Burrs in Lippa's version - nor vice versa.
I think that compared to March's book, Mandy does a better job.
I think Julia and Toni are pretty well matched.
The only thing, and maybe it's because the roles seemed a lot differen (as far as the music goes), I think Idina is better than Tonya - not because I am more of an Idina fan. I think Tonya was amazing. I think her relationship with Queenie is demonstrated a lot more in LaChiusa's version. I think, however, Idina comes off more as a whore.
I don't think Idina acts much in the Lippa version. I don't think it's her fault. She's a whore, that's all Kate is. But in the LaChiusa Kate is so deeper. I saw Tonya to it and I can't imagine Idina coming close.
Just the shows are so different, it's hard to compare.
I think Idina could handle it...but I dunno. Maybe it's me, but La's versions seems to have a more...umm..."soulful" Kate (meaning written for a black woman).
Heh "soulful" Kate came from what Tonya brought to it. She's a black woman who sings jazz and her culture very much informs just who she is. I don't find Idina remotely "soulful" in that way. I don't think she could handle kate in LaChiusa's but Tonya would be a little odd in Lippa's too.
IT's one of those things where, for the most part, each cast is great in their respective shows.
If you compare casts, you have to do it to the book itself.
I think, with the exception of Jane Summerhayes (not that she is bad - she's good), LaChiusa's cast is better in relation to March's book than Lippa's cast.
Well the interesting thing is that its a poem and everything isn't spelled out in th poem. You can tell by watching both of them where they drew from the original work. I just did a show with Jane Summerhays. I talked to her about Wild Party and Madeline in LaChiusa's version had at least a couple more songs that ended up getting cut because the show wasn't about her. Ya know Michael john does a great job of making the show truely ensemble like. Lippa doesn't do that as well. It may not have even been his purpose. But I do think that if madeline had another song it would tip the scales a little bit. I mean the focus SHOULD be the major 4.