Little Shop of Horrors (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Little Shop of Horrors (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)
Free Music Review: Finally, the Complete Score! (and then some....)
Hit: 5 Stars
Little Shop of Horrors has a disappointing album history. The Original Off-Off Broadway Cast recording was incomplete, and the film version, while it did update and improve on Alan Menkin's amazing score, left much to be desired as far as performances go, and that includes Ms. Ellen Greene.Then along comes this nearly perfect recording. One of the obvious highlights is that this recording includes the complete score, and massive amounts of dialogue not included on any other Little Shop CD. The five bonus tracks are fun to listen to, but only two are any good. "The Worse He Treats Me" is a fun little ditty sung by Audrey about her abusive boyfriend, but it appears to poke fun at the situation, which is, I assume, the reason it was cut, despite the character development it adds to Audrey. The treasure of the bonus tracks is the amazing ballad "We'll Have Tomorrow," sung by Audrey and Seymour. More serious than any existing song, this darkly foreshadows the terrible events to come. It's serious nature surely is what led to it's removal from the show, yet it would have added more to the relationship of Seymour and Audrey. (NOTE: the demos are sung by Alan Menkin, Howard Ashman, and Ron Taylor)
I find it a shame that Kerry Butler has been criticized for her performance. While I agree that her dialogue during the "Somewhere That's Green" reprise is overly comical, I applaud her for straying from the Ellen Greene Audrey. While Greene's portrayal was a wonderful one, it is GREENE'S portrayal, and it should remain thus. Butler takes Audrey to a more realistic, and human, place. She has been greatly criticized for her accent, which is surely better live, especially now that she has had time to discover Audrey. You have to remember: these albums are recorded long before the first curtain goes up.
Hunter Foster is fine as Seymour, though he takes the geekiness a bit too far. As Orin Scrivello, Michael-Leon Wooley leaves much to be desired. The Greek Chorus' improvisations seem too planned, though not to a fault.
Overall, this is the Little Shop of Horrors album to buy, and not just for it's completeness. Kerry Butler alone makes it a more appealing show, removing the shrill tone usually heard from the character. This is a wonderful album, with clear vocals, a more lively orchestra, and the best cast yet.
Free Music Review: FINALLY, the ULTIMATE LSOH!
Hit: 5 Stars
Just when you thought they'd NEVER release a Little Shop of Horrors cast CD with the FINAL VERSIONS of all the songs, here comes the 2003 cast album. This show has appeared on Broadway, and after much deliberation I bought this with a theatre-loving companion. I devoured this CD like Audrey II wolfing down a sumo wrestler! I can tell that this cast is having lots of fun doing this musical (and why not?). Hunter Foster is perfect as Seymour...nice mix of Haze, Moranis, a dash of Wilkof but still definitively Foster. Kerry Butler makes Audrey more realistic and less of the ditz that Ellen Greene made her out to be. While Ellen is going to be synonymous with Audrey for generations, Ms. Butler definitely pumped some fresh blood into the role. Rob Bartlett...what can I say. From the WWE and Don Imus to this. He knocks 'em out the box with his rendition of "Mushnik and Son", and his performance of Gravis Mushnik can only be rivalled by that of Mel Welles, who created the role in 1960. The doo-wop girls...terrific as always, I have yet to see an awful Crystal, Ronnette & Chiffon anywhere. Douglas Sills, usually called upon as a lead by Frank Wildhorn for his more serious shows, proves he can be funny as Orin Scrivello, DDS (and he is QUITE the ham on "Dentist!") and several other characters. Then there's Michael-Leon Woolley. THIS has to be one of the smoothest-sounding plants I've EVER heard. Where most Audrey II voices sound like a cross between James Brown and James Hetfield, THIS one sounds like Isaac Hayes! I can tell he's enjoying this part immensely. Plus he has a voice that would seduce ANYONE into chopping up a dentist so the plant could have a midnight snack.But, wait, there's more! Much like the reissues of cast albums past (London cast of "Fiddler...", original Bway cast of "Cabaret"), there are demos of songs that were cut as sung by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Of these,the best treat is hearing "Bad" as sung by the first Audrey II voice, the late Ron Taylor. This was the song that would eventually become "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" and earn Ashman & Menken one of many Oscar nominations.
I said it about the 1982 cast and I'll say it about this one. Like Audrey II says...GO GET IT!
Free Music Review: The definitive "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is what "Little Shop" fans have been waiting around 20 years for, a CD that contains the entire score of the musical, including quite a few songs that those who only saw the movie do not know. This album also has bonus tracks--demo tracks recorded by the composers of "Little Shop," Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman (the team that later wrote Disney scores such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast"), of songs that were later excised from the final product. So, not only are you getting ALL of the music from "Little Shop" but music that didn't end up making the final cut.And even more so, you are getting the best cast to ever perform the show. I saw them on Broadway two weeks ago, and they are absolutely a revelation. Every actor, from the three fantastic girls in the Greek Chorus, DeQuina Moore, Trisha Jeffrey, and Carla J. Hjargrove, as Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronnette, to Hunter Foster (who originated the role of Bobby Strong in "Urinetown"), who is absolutely perfect as Seymour, Kerry Butler (of "Hairspray" and "Bat Boy" fame), whose acting and vocal talents as Audrey are stunning, to the inimitable Douglas Sills as Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., as well as about 8 other small parts, Rob Bartlett, who takes the role of Mushnick to new comedic heights, by way of Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof," and the pitch-perfect Michael-Leon Wooley as the Big Green himself.
The lyrics are just as fresh and hilarious as the day they were written, and the music remains one of the most tuneful, beautiful scores in the history of the musical theatre--not a small feat for a play about a plant who eats people. This recording will also introduce those who have only seen the movie to the dark, grim ending of the original play.
The most amazing thing is I never thought I would be recommending a recording of "Little Shop" that didn't star Ellen Greene as Audrey, but Kerry Butler more than fills her shoes, and brings a completely new interpretation to the role that is just as satisfying, and on its own merits is simply dazzling.
If you live in New York, run to the Virginia Theatre to see the greatest production of this outrageously fun musical ever...Those who don't but are fans NEED to purchase this CD pronto!
Free Music Review: Outstanding!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have bought everything I could buy for LSOH now all I need to do is to see the show anywho this cd is excellent every track has awsome sound. I too was mad when Ellene Green was not going to play Audrey but I do like how the creator of the show decided to just dump the accent thats all to familar to us, Kerry Butler Audrey is awsome (Perfect is Ellene). Hunter Foster is an Awsome Seymour but here is my gripe and has to do with my favorite song Suddenly Seymour im sorry but if you sing nerdy in that song in my opinon it ruins it also I was looking for an BIG BIG rendition of the song instead we get a light farce which at the end kicks up. the suddenly seymour in this cd is good just not what I was expecting.The Chorus girls are more like the movies version (which I prefer) and are loud and souly. Rob Burlett from what it sounds like is an awsome Mushnik.Dougless Sills Plays probly the best dentist (on par without trying to be Steve Martin).Micheal Wooley Plays a more soul darker Audrey2(which is awsome) when compared to the ranchy movie version and the spacy loud Off brdway version.Also just like said below you get the complete soundtrack and more. Probly the best demo track is We'll Have Tomorrow (which is when Seymour tells audrey everything is going to be okay before the bad ending) which sounds like an awsome brdway number probably might have gone into the show if they used a happy ending however at the end of Don't Feed The plants the last line is We'll Have Tomorrow so maybe not but that song was so good. The other demo tracks explain audrey insecurity (the worse he treats me). Orin and how he came to be(I found a Hobby). A little Dental Music is what would play while Seymour is waiting to kill Orin. Bad was written for the stage but cut it out at the last minute however this one says (film version) which I dont know what that means this song is bassiculy a rough draft of Mean Green Mother From Outer Space from the movie. All in all an Outstanding Cd To Outstanding Show.Free Music Review: Ellen Green/Kerry Butley/Jackie Joseph Audrey's a character.
Hit: 5 Stars
I was not able to see the broadway version, but did see the touring company in Los Angeles. I loved the show (previously I had only seen the movie and a couple high school productions), despite what is percieved here as "disney-fying" it, and in the lobby I bought the soundtrack. Yes, Foster's Seymour is lacking, and Mushnik isn't perfect. Douglas Stills is great as are the girls (all of this has been stated in other reviews).
My main comment is on Ms. Butler as Audrey. I think we can all agree that Ellen Green played the part to perfection. Unfortunately Ms. Green is likely getting too old to play Audrey and either way I'm sure the Broadway producers wanted a fresh face/ voice in the role. It's just silly to say "only Ellen Green can play Audrey" Remember folks the role wasn't even originated by her, but Jackie Joseph in the 1962 Corman film of the same name. Musically yes, Ms. Green was untouchable, but Kerry Butler does some WONDERFUL things with the role (musically, of course. I didn't see her act the part). She's got some beautiful touches on "Suddenly Seymour" that I have to listen to over and over, and she is far more than servicable in her other songs.
[SPOILER]
Her death scene is absolutely riveting
[/SPOILER].
So to anyone that hasn't heard this CD, I HIGHLY reccomend buying it and making up your own mind about Audrey. The bottom line is that if you put aside your prejudices about Ellen Green's obvious superiority, you might actually enjoy Ms. Butler's fantastic performance.