Merrily We Roll Along (1994 Off-Broadway Revival Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Merrily We Roll Along (1994 Off-Broadway Revival Cast)
Free Music Review: No, it's not the original, but it's the best recording...
Hit: 5 Stars
This recording of the 1994 Off-Broadway revival of one of Sondheim's most well-loved flops is by far the definitive recorded version of this fantastic score. Yes, the 1981 Original Broadway Cast recording does have more bite and the original orchestrations with real brass and full orchestra, but that's all it has.The 1981 version is muted and the sound quality is so poor it sounds like you are listening through a tin can down a really dark and hollow tunnel.
Fortunately, this version is clear as a bell and all the changes made to the much edited score and script are all for the better here. "The Hills of Tomorrow" framework was totally unecessary and I don't miss it or the song for a second. Michele Pawk as Gussie and Malcolm Gets as Frank are stand-outs vocally and while Adam Heller and Anne Bobby may not be the strongest singers, their acting ability comes through in their vocals, something that I think adds a great depth to Charlie and Beth, my favorite characters in the show anyway.
The best tracks on this one are "Good Thing Going" and "Our Time". They have a sense of purpose and longing that are perfectly in tune with Sondheim's creative flair. They make me wish I had actually seen this production live.
I've had the 1981 OCR for many years now and have always liked the score, but now with this version I feel I am listening to the score anew, and liking it even more! This recording adds something hard to describe, perhaps a sense of time, a smoothness, a unity that wasn't present in the OCR.
Totally worth every cent!
Free Music Review: An Unsung Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw a live production of this show at the "Chance Theatre" in Anaheim Hills, CA, and it made me look back over my own life of so-called past musical theatre "accomplishments" and feel silly. These songs are beyond genius. They are from another galaxy. I don't know how these people managed it. The tempo changes, the patters, the masterful lyrics. As far as my own ability is concerned, there aren't enough vocal coaches in the universe to get me to where one would have to be to sing these songs. The pitches alone would tie my vocal chords into a knot. That's not to mention that the story itself is brilliant. Going backwards in time from the point of view of a washed-up Broadway Composer, we find out just how he managed to lose his family, his friends, his fortune ... even his self-respect. There are no ideas like this anymore. Now, we have garbage remakes. We have Cameron Diaz doing a remake of "The Sound of Music." It's a disgrace. The industry says it's running out of ideas. I don't believe them. I think they are just getting lazy ... but I digress. The point is, if you are tired of all the fru fru, razzle dazzle, and glittery goody two "shoedness" of today's musical theatre works ("Wicked," anyone? "Hairspray?" The revival of "Little Shop of Horrors?"), stick this into your cd players. Play it, and play it, and play it, until your ears bleed. Trust me, you will never be able to take it all in. You'll hear something new every time.Free Music Review: The Definitive Recording
Hit: 5 Stars
After seeing this Stephen Sondheim musical, I was hardly able to move as the closing had moved me so much. I was determined to find the soundtrack immediately, and decided upon the original cast. I was very much dissapointed, and could see why that cast was a flop. 18 year olds are in no way capable of playing these roles, except for perhaps the last three scenes of it. Much of the finished score was not on it, the plot was almost completely changed. However, six months later I was able to get this. The acting was far better than the original cast, the entire score was there (and even a few that were not in the latest California revival), and the sound was much more clear. This may be Sondheim's most unappreciated out of his non-offensive shows (undoubtedly, Assasins is his most unappreciated). It is a very melodic and moving score. It will make you break down in tears (Not a Day Goes By Reprise), become consumed with hatred (Gussie is one of the most evil characters in musical history, and Michele pawk does a wonderfully evil rendition of Growing Up), and break down with laughter (Bobby and Jackie and Jack, which brilliantly parallels the innocence of the times and characters, not knowing their futures). For your own sake, buy it!Free Music Review: GREAT SHOW!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
The book for the latest revival of "Merrily" has been so thoroughly rewritten that it brings so many new angles to the show. I must admit, the cutting of the graduation opening took me by surprise, but it makes the opening number flow much better. The one drawback in cuts is the cutting of "Rich and Happy" for the newer written "That Frank" however, it still has the same orchestrations as "Rich and Happy" just different lyrics and a different vocal tune. Back to the great points, the character of Beth is brought out so much more. It thrilled me so much that, after hearing women perform "Not a Day Goes By" for years, this song is finally sung both times by Beth instead of once by Frank and once by both. Also, Michelle Pawk, one of my favorite actresses, adds so much to the bitchiness of Gussy. And when she sings the jazzy Act II opening of "Good Thing Going," watch out, it will knock your socks off! I wouldn't say that this revival is better than the original, after all, they are almost two different plays, but it is at least as good. A MUST HAVE for Sondheim fans, Merrily fans, or really, any fan of great musicals
Free Music Review: Sondheim's rarely heard of, AWESOME score.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of Sondheim's best shows...and this recording and cast, as opposed to others, is far supperior. Sondheim does something different with this show, then his others...he makes it peppy and fun, while bringing out the full emotions of the uniquely sad storyline. The story is told backwards: We start in 1980, and we see what happens to Middle Aged Franklin Shephard as we see his life unfold, backwards. In the begining (which is the older portion of his life) we see how he looses his best friends, Mary and Charley. At the end of the show we see how they meet, and the story is more emotional. The thing this recording does, is it brings out the emotions, you can tell what the characters are feeling, where other recordings of the show are distilled by the lack of the emotion that the characters sing. This off-Broadway recording is a must for those of you who love Sondheim, and you'll enjoy it if you haven't heard anything by him before. Two Enthusiastic Thumbs Up!