Original Cast Recording - Anne of Green Gables
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Original Cast RecordingComposer: Gretchen Ford
Composer: Nancy Cryer
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2008-12-09
Music Label: JAY Records
Soundtracks:
- Around The Bend
- Pretty Kettle Of Fish
- I Can Stay
- It's The Strangest Thing
- Kindred Spirits
- Making Up For Lost Time
- Use Of The Colon/Two Weeks
- It Was Not Because Of Gilbert Blythe
- Drunk!
- Clock Keeps Ticking
- It's The Strangest Thing (Reprise)
- First Day At The Academy/It's Nice To Know
- Graduation
- Matthew's Death
- Around The Bend (Reprise)
- Making Up For Lost Time (Reprise)/Finale
Free Music Notes for Anne of Green Gables
Free Music Review: Beautifully performed and cleverly musicalized
Hit: 5 Stars
I was lucky enough to see this production when it debuted in New York City at the lovely and intimate off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre. Something that all the reviews on here fail to realize is that the show was cast for older performers due to the years that the characters have to span and the fact that the show was to be toured across the United States. The show begins with Anne as a 12-year-old and ends with her as a university-graduate soon-to-be teacher. (In fact, the actors playing Marilla, Matthew and Rachel were far younger than their characters.) It's the suspension of disbelief that we all are faced with in the theatre. (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth weren't REALLY high schoolers when they starred in WICKED, either.)
Much of the music remains on the CD and while it might seem to be "frenetic" the show was written to be suitable for young audiences and had to be under 90 minutes to be produced by TheatreWorks. That's a lot of story to tell in such a short time. The show was originally 2 hours, from what I've been told, which would allow much more "breathing space" musically. As far as the score is concerned, Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford are a rare pair of sparkling theatre gems. Ms. Ford's sound is sophisticated without being snobby or unapproachable. Her score is palatable and tuneful with melodies that are easy on the ear but fit the characters individually and help to move the story along in time and emotion. (For instance, notice how Anne's first song at the academy makes use of an almost "ragtime" chromaticism which illustrates her struggling with a new place and new emotions. Stunning!) Ms. Cryer very artfully weaves much of the original text in her lyrics, allowing for their language to be a primary means of characterization over book scenes, due to time constraints. The marriage of music and lyric is seamless and far from clunky. Here we have a prime, first-rate example of craftily written theatre music that shines with honesty, drama, wit, and poignancy. There are a great many contemporary musical theatre writers that could learn from this pair. They employ what is still applicable and necessary of the old style of writing, while still creating work that pushes the contemporary listener. It's a beautiful balance.
The performances on this album are gorgeous. Every actor has a wonderful clarity of sound and easy control over their instruments. It's also evident that they're excellent actors not simply through the music, but in the little snippets of scenes that are included. Piper Goodeve was sensational on the stage and it's a joy to hear her on this record. She rarely had a moment to leave the stage and commanded the show with ease and grace. Even to listen to the album you hear her fantastic journey from creative, precocious youth to mature, caring adult. And she has a powerhouse voice!
I think that with a world filled with pop musical theatre crap, musicals such as ANNE OF GREEN GABLES deserve more time and attention. A show constructed out of true talent and craft, AoGG is a delightful piece of work that should live on for a long time. Collaborations such as Ford and Cryer can transcend time with works that resonate deep within the soul.
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