What a thrill to have an original Broadway cast album of a new score that
starts out with a big, bold, tuneful overture just like they did back
in the golden age of the American musical theater! Of course, it helps that
the overture is followed by a big, bold, tuneful score just like they had in
the golden age of the American musical theater! The show is a tribute to
that great genre that thrills so many people sitting, as Edward Kleban used
to say "in a dark room in a large building in the central part of town with
a lot of people listening who have all paid a great deal to get in." Kleban
might not even believe the $111 price tag of an orchestra seat on Broadway
today, but you can have a taste of this delectable confection for a great
deal less - and you can listen to it as many times as you want. My guess is
that you will want to listen many, many times. |
Storyline:
The show tells the story of the cast and creative team of a musical
having its pre-Broadway tryout in Boston in 1959 who are rocked by the
murder of the star of the show during the curtain call on opening night. The
police detective assigned to investigate is a died-in-the-wool theater fan
who is honored to meet everyone involved, but who must also suspect everyone
who was on stage at the time. In the course of his investigation, other
members of the company are murdered as well. The detective not only solves
the crime, he makes suggestions to solve the problems of the musical and
wins the love of his favorite member of the cast.
It has been a long time since a project that seemed to be so jinxed early on
has come to such a delightful conclusion. The show this disc documents
through its thoroughly enjoyable score started as a concept in the mind of Peter
Stone working on a project left unfinished when Abe Burrows died. But then
Stone died. Rupert Holmes picked it up and now a solidly satisfying
structure serves the show well. The score, by Kander and Ebb, was
substantially complete when death again intervened. Fred Ebb died but Kander carried on.
He and Holmes added lyrics where necessary, without, they say, doing much to
change those that Ebb himself penned before his death in 2004. Enough talk
of death! Lets talk about the show. What a series of delights!
This
"original Broadway cast recording" captures the performances of a first
class cast. David Hyde
Pierce took home this year's Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by an
Actor in a Musical - you will understand why when you listen to him as the
stage struck detective. Pierce finds the basic intelligence and
decency in the character and delivers the songs nicely.
Everyone in the company is a version of one or another stock character from
theater lore. The money-grubbing producer is a show-stopping Debra Monk. The innocent ingénue is the lovely
and graceful Jill Paice. The star turned songwriter who is forced back into
performing is the ever impressive Karen Ziemba, and she's paired with Jason Danieley.
Powerful, big-band musical arrangements by
William David Brohn support the songs, and there are really nifty dance
arrangements by David Chase. Even musical director and conductor David Loud
gets into the act with a cameo of his own ("The Man Is Dead" - listen to
track 11). With all the good fun, however, the disc may be most memorable
for its most touching moment. The plot allows the silver-throated Danieley,
as a Broadway song writer, to introduce John Kander's loving and lovely "I
Miss The Music" which laments not having his partner to write with anymore.
It is a shame, however, that this package doesn't include printed lyrics so
readers could appreciate the art and craft of Fred Ebb. John Kander isn't
the only one who misses him.
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