Oscar Hammerstein II - Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Flower Drum Song (1958 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Miyoshi Umeki, Arabella Hong and the OBC
Hit: 5 Stars
FLOWER DRUM SONG is one of the small gems in the canon of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. The score contains some fabulous numbers, including the well-known "I Enjoy Being a Girl", though there is also the heartbreaking 11 o'clock number "Love, Look Away" (which must surely count as one of the duo's best ballads), and rousing numbers like "Grant Avenue".
Miyoshi Umeki has charm and joy to spare in her performance as Mei-Li, the young woman who enters the United States illegally, in order to submit to a forced marriage. Pat Suzuki plays the brash Linda Low, a sexy nightclub entertainer. The cast also includes Juanita Hall (SOUTH PACIFIC), Arabella Hong, Keye Luke and Larry Blyden. The original Broadway production was directed by Gene Kelly but by all accounts it was choreographer Carol Haney who was the real creative heart of the piece. FLOWER DRUM SONG was a modest success, running 600 performances.
Free Music Review: Nice Rendering of Pleasant Score
Hit: 5 Stars
I must say I have enjoyed this score over the years, however, the play does drag and presents itself much better in a concert version, which we are seeing alot of these days of older musicals...Must add that there is a 20 minute clip of original Broadway Cast performing music from the show in full costume with sets on the Ed Sullivan Show from December, 1958, shortly after the show opened on the Internet...it is quite fun to see all of the major stars of the original show performing their numbers, while show is fresh on Broadway...we see Miyoshi Umeki (I am going to like it here), Pat Sazuki (I Enjoy being a girl) Larry Blyden (Sunday), Love Look Away, etc.. also great to see Juantia Hall perform her numbers....many of these stars are now gone (Hall, Umeki, and Larry Blyden, who was killed in a vehicular accident in Morroco at the age of 49...enjoy a great recording!!Free Music Review: A Little known gem from Rodgers & Hammerstein
Hit: 5 Stars
Though horribly dated in its East vs. West/Old vs. New storyline, the music remains fresh with one exception - more on that one later. The cast sings well and deliver the songs well, especially Pat Suzuki as Linda Low and Jack Soo as the entertainment man at the night club. Miyoshi Umeki is absolutely charming as Mei Li, the picture bride and has two very pretty songs she sings with sincerity and tenderness. Now that one song (shudder), "Chop Suey", in my opinion the worst song written by the dynamic duo of R & H. It's just plain embearassing and I always skip through it. There are bonus tracks that are fun and interesting. All-in-all, a good investment for your collection.Free Music Review: Wonderful R & H
Hit: 5 Stars
Even though FDS was not their biggest hit (still a success by the standards of the day), it did not get great reviews (imagine that, compared to so much that has come since.)And there have been many, many shows with music that has barely survived that were bona fide hits. Hum a tune from Two Gentlemen of Verona? Or The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Oh, to have this quality today!Free Music Review: One of the greatest movie and soundtrack
Hit: 5 Stars
Nancy Qwan is gorgeous, talented, great acting and great dancing too. Buy the DVD now since it is available.