The crappiest revival, with the worst acting, and horrid casting becomes the "longest WSS on bway". Have you seen every WSS revival? Did you see the horrid 1980 production? or the misguided Lincoln Center summer revival? How about the appalling tour headed by Jack Wagner that never even dared play Broadway? Even if you are just considering revivals of 2008/09 season, did you conveniently forget GUYS AND DOLLS?
As stage productions of WSS go, this one had some miscalculations but it's hardly a disaster. The acting was considerably better than the caricatured performances preserved in the 1961 film version. Given the limitations of the script, the revival cast did quite an admirable job of creating believable characterizations.
The text of WSS is not as brilliant as the showmanship. I have a feeling some people blame production faults when it really should be placed on the writing.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com