Waitress - Sara's concept album vs Musical

[a-mad]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 4:37pm

I'm slowly becoming obsessed with Sara Bareilles's concept album for the songs from Waitress.  I love the music, and Sara sings the hell out of them.  I'm beginning to get worried that when I finally see the musical, that my interpretations of the songs will be so Sara-focused that I will be disappointed in how they are presented on stage.  I'm excited for Jessie - but she and Sara have very different distinct voices and technique.

For those that have heard/seen both - what works better on the CD compared to the musical... and vice versa?  I am looking forward to getting the cast album, as that will allow me to familiarize myself with the difference in presentation/performance before seeing the musical (as well as getting to know the new songs).

[pupscotch]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 5:01pm

The only song I had a preference for Sara for was What's Inside, I liked it a little more with Sara. When He Sees Me is better with Kimiko, and I Didn't Plan It with Keala, and obviously Chris Fitzgerald completely kills his song. She Used to Be Mine and the rest of Jessie's songs sound so good as well, now when I listen to the concept album I think of Jessie's voice. You'll love it, don't worry.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 5:03pm

Loved the concept album, but it lost its charm in the theatre for me. Songs just ended and others sounded just like the one before it. Was very happy to hear She Used to be Mine on the radio this week! 

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:10pm

The sound design/system at the theater is one of the worst Ive experienced on Broadway so the concept album is probably more relatable intelligible. 

Updated On: 5/21/16 at 10:10 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 11:32pm

After religiously listening to the concept album for months before seeing the show, I was 90% disappointed with the musical. 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 11:45pm

Up In One said: "The sound design/system at the theate is one of the worst in experienced on Broadway so the concept album is probably more relatable intelligible." 

 

Is the sound design bad all over the house? 

[seahag2]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:41am

I was also disappointed by What's Inside/Opening Up because those were my favorites from the album but obviously it's gonna sound better digitally, with Sara harmonizing with herself. Still, it felt...off. Door Number Three's orchestrations are still in tact but the melody and lyrics are different, which was also disappointed because I enjoyed that song off the album. I liked how parts of Door Number Three's bridge were used as transitions in the show, though!

Updated On: 5/21/16 at 12:41 AM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:02am

Just want to add to complaints about the show's  sound. I was in the second row and most of the lyrics were unintelligible. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 1:55am

I guess I went on a fluke day because I sat rear mezz and had no problem hearing them and understanding lines and lyrics.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 5:50am

The sound issue has been discussed a lot and it's such a curious thing. I sat mid orchestra first time I saw it (first preview so I cut some slack) and had some problems distinguishing lyrics and even dialogue. Second time I sat closer and had no problems at all and the whole thing sounded clearer in general. 

Im a big Bareilles fan so I'd listened to the concept album quite a bit and enjoyed it. But personally I liked hearing the score with more voices and the appropriate characters singing the songs. I'm looking forward to the cast recording 

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:03am

The shame about the sound is that they are pretty simple song lyrics. I think it may have something to do with the band on stage. A very 70's idea which didn't mesh with the seriousness of the major plot line. Bareilles is such a serious pop song writer, smart pop song writer I was surprised at how lighthearted the production tried to be with its comic relief and staging. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:15am

I'm sure this has been discussed in the other Waitress threads but Up In One's comment made me inquire it again - is the movie that far removed tonally from the musical? I haven't seen the movie and from what I've heard from people who have there's nothing tonally different. I feel like if the musical fits in line with the tone of the source material, the light hearted feel of the production isn't unjust given how it's done in the source material. 

Updated On: 5/21/16 at 07:15 AM

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:22am

Never saw the film - it just struck me that the abused wife and having an affair while pregnant - was at odds with the Mayberry RFD tone of the rest. It kinda reminded me of I Love My Wife but that show had the right comic tone. Waitress faced the emotional tone of the leading characters plight straight on but the filler around it was too fluffy and not sharp at all. Drama written for adults comedy and peripheral characters written for life time tv

Updated On: 5/21/16 at 07:22 AM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:28am

Up In One - I wasn't questioning you specifically about having seen the movie, it was a general question based off your comment. Sorry to confuse you. 

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:01am

No one directs questions to anyone here so no need to apologize. I was addressing the idea that tone needs to carry forward in each treatment whether it be book to film or stage. Truth and sincerity vs pleasing a live audience are more important. You can take a sweet film and turn it into a sweet stage adaptation but once you start to fill the stage with a band and superfluous dancers the tone changes. 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:55am

I haven't seen the film in a couple of years but it definitely included Jenna's "pie dream sequences" which were lighthearted cutaways and had some pretty kooky characters at the diner. When you add songs for characters like that it only enhances their silly side.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:01am

Up In One said: "The sound design/system at the theater is one of the worst Ive experienced on Broadway so the concept album is probably more relatable intelligible. 

 

"

Thanks for saying this. At first, I thought I was crazy.

Saw the show Thursday night and couldn't believe how bad the sound was. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:19pm

The movie is heavy in subject matter, but it is portrayed in a light and dreamlike way.  The musical is done in a similar way.  If you enjoyed the show, you should check out the film.  It's moving and sweet.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:29pm

I just saw it last Sunday and had the same reaction to the awful sound design.  The lyrics were often undecipherable over the very loud orchestra.

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 10:59pm

Hmmm I had zero problem with sound, but I was on on row 6 or so I believe. I missed the song "door number 3" and I missed the closing number... 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 1:37pm

This happened to me with finding neverland.  I loved the concept album over the cast recording. 

[slmlbl]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 11:52pm

Is it sara singing the opening 'sugar butter flour' in 'whats inside' on the cast album?

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 11:56pm

slmlbl said: "Is it sara singing the opening 'sugar butter flour' in 'whats inside' on the cast album?"

Yes, it is Sara. The "sugar, butter, flour" lines in the theatre are her as well (recorded). 

As a big Sara fan I enjoyed the concept album a lot but am personally loving the cast recording. Jessie sounds perfect - her voice is just so versatile and beautiful. I also love getting to hear the women sing as a trio on multiple occasions. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:18am

I LOVE the concept album. I really enjoy the emotion in her voice and the earthy/grounded sound to her voice. Now, add in a bunch of musical theater performers, and the songs suddenly just sounded bland to me. Gehling has a nasally bitch to his voice that just sounds so earnest and doesn't sound "real" to me. Mueller sounds great on all of her songs, and wish she sang more of the score. Seattle is great, but I don't know her big belty take on "I didn't plan it" didn't quite work for me. It felt forced and like it was trying to be this big powerful moment, whereas Sara's version felt more emotional and like she was second guessing herself, which I liked more. And the orchestrations sound like cheesy broadway orchestrations on the cast album. Guitar riffs and stuff. Eh. Not for me.