The new Sunday in The Park Recording...

Saw this production twice at the Menier and can't wait to see the transferred production. Daniel Evans is the best George I've seen or heard. His relationship with Dot is the only one I've actually believed; so very truthful. Such a moving performance. I hope he's able to capture this in the recording.

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Any of you who have the recording ... can you tell me what instruments/players are used in this production. I had heard that it's cut down from the original.

Does this affect the experience ... does it loose anything having less players in the orchestra?

You could have gone to Virgin Megastore and gotten it for at least $10 cheaper.

Never. Never buy from the Colony...always shop around. Their prices are outrageous and they don't carry a thing you can't get online or at Virgin for 10-20 dollars cheaper.

SUNDAY is among my top 3 favorite shows of all time, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new CD.

Upon listening to it, I was beyond diasppointed.

What the hell? Is Eliza Doolittle playing Dot? British, sure - but Cockney-esque? It's just plain sloppy.

I dislike the new orchestrations, and some of the line readings are embarrasing. It sounds like a made for TV soap opera. I absolutely hate it.

On stage, I'm sure it's better - but this is a recording I will never listen to again.

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I thought the Cockney was a clever choice since Dot is from the lower classes - which is where an artist model would have come from in 19th century French society, not to mention she's illiterate -- and the disparity in accents emphasizes the difference in social standing between she and George and serves to further explain why he's so curt and dismissive and superior acting towards her. In a British production her having a "received" (RP) accent similar to his wouldn't have made sense. We don't have those sorts of distinctions accent-wise in America, but in Britain they very much do and thus it was necessary for Dot to have some form of lower class accent.

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I was actually pleased with the absence of the obnoxious trumpeting, except on George's entrance in Putting It Together where it would have actually made sense.
The tempos are indeed another thing, almost like putting the emergency brakes on this one when all you want to do is to get things moving a bit more quickly.

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Well then could you please surprise us and say what she does sing in?

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Thank you for the response, my knowledge of British linguistics is very limited.

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I was thoroughly impressed with 'Putting it Together' in this production. The use of technology to enhance the visuals and illustrate the story was stunning. I believe Jenna's performance only comes through on the recording if you've seen the show. The smaller orchestra is gorgeous and brings the lyrics up front. Daniel's performance leaves one speechless.

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Well the good people of Yorkshire would have issues with it being described as "cockney-esque" - whatever that might mean...the accents are very different.

The choice of accent is no more strange than having her have an American accent, which would be alien in Britain. But the point, at least in the UK, would be to demonstrate the social differences in the characters, such as the Boatman having a Scottish accent, the Celestes having Estuary accents and the Old Lady with her RP.

The tempi are correct. They had to be hurried along for the previous recording. I think it's pretty obvious you don't like the recording and that's fine, however, I much prefer this production and the recording to the originals - as a production it works a great deal better.