Woman in White Cast Recording — Page 2

I bought the cast recording before I saw the show. I love it. But I have to agree I prefer Michael Ball's take on Fosco much better than Michael Crawfords. His "aria" in particular is much stronger.

The only song I can listen to is ALL FOR LAURA.

The thing I love about this recording is that it's essentially the entire musical on cd - most of the dialogue and incidental music is included. I really wanted to see this show, and I still regret not being able too. While I agree the musichas some horibble moments (serving fish anyone?) and the book just isn't that great, I love the atmosphere of the piece as a whole. Everything is so dark and mysterious. The novel is one of my favorite books, and although the musical is vastly different from it, I thought the plot of the musical effictively updated the story. The "secret" from the original novel just isn't scandalous to be considered a "secret" in today's culture.

I don't have the CD, but I haven't been all that crazy for what I have heard.

But a friend ruined "I Believe My Heart" for me by putting it on a mix-tape after "The Song That Goes Like This" from "Spamalot".

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The only song I really liked was "I Believe My Heart" but I don't think it's worth buying the entire soundtrack just for that one song. I saw the show in London and it did nothing for me. And while I would've liked to have seen it on Broadway with Michael Ball in the role of Count Fosco, I couldn't bring myself to sit through it again.

WIW is one of the most under-appreciated shows/scores. I saw it twice, and loved it both times...

In terms of the recording - I campaigned hard for a new recording to be made with the Broadway cast - which sounded a lot better than the original. On top of that, ALW made some changes, cuts, alterations that made the score sound and move a lot better.

One thing I'll never forget is Friedman's live performance of All for Laura - how she hit and held the phrase "I will live to RIGHT... this wrong..." It was one of those moments that made you appreciate live theatre (and terrific actors and actresses)

Jim

Hey Sally - glad you mentioned about the projections. Another thing that was blown out of proportion. One reviewer wrote nasty things about it being an ALW video game, and some less clever ones repeated the ridiculous statement. I found them quite innovative and enjoyed them. Wouldn't want every show like that, but it was an interesting and creative approach.

That being said - was disappointed the UK tour never materialized where they were "reconceiving" the whole production. Considering ALW's being hot and cold on things - and how he soured on the projections after WIW closed - was curious to see what the next approach would have been.

With the abysmal season Bway had last year - if it had continued to run, it could have easily (and deservedly) won a bunch of Tony's....(Score, Musical, Actress - perhaps even sets since some in the industry were impressed with them)

" must say I thought Michael Crawford was one of the higlights of the recording. I saw Michael Ball in video clips and didn't like it that much, since it appeared to me a bit too much over the top."

I saw the show in London and didn't really care for it. I was offered a comp in NY and saw the show again. Not only was the ticket free, but Friedman and Ball were both in that day. I still hated the show. I agree that Crawford was the better Fosco. Michael Ball has a bad habit of playing character roles as caricatures...there is a huge difference. Michael Ball seems to be a bit too much over the top in general. JMHO.

Was that the version that came back to the Westend for a bit?

I saw the original production with its second cast when I was in London in 99--and I admit I saw it (I didn't realize it had already run nearly a year) largely because I knew of the probs with the Hal Prince production and sorta thought this would be my one big chance to see an infamous flop musical. Harsh I know but... I took my mom (who's a bigger Webber fan than me) and maybe it was my non existant expectations but I *loved* the show--the production (which was intimat ein a small theatre while still having pretty major effects including a two tiered stage that raised and lowered like a mini Sunset Blvd) the cast, the music, everything just worked perfectly. I'll never say it's a flawless or even great show but it *was* a great night at the theatre and impressed me a lot.

E

Amazing Score, Amazing Cast, Amazing show. I mean, what can I say, I am bias, look at my username. I just thought this was a brilliant, misunderstood piece of art. It will always be my favorite show. There is so much of it that just shines and outsoars anything I have seen in recent years. Listen to it, and if you don't like it, don't continue, but I must say IMO that it is brilliant.

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I love the score, I love the cast, I'm not that crazy about a lot of the lyrics, and I hate how the CD ends. I've said this twice on two other threads. I'm like Borat and his joke about Premier Bush and his father, Barbara.

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How did it end in the Broadway show?

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