Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: A MUST HAVE!
Hit: 5 Stars
Although at first the prospect of a stage remake of the 1967 film which starred Julie Andrews as meager Kansas country bumpkin turned outgoing flapper girl and modern Milli Dillmount may sound absurd, in my opinion, the stage version exceeds all expectations and surpasses the film in many ways. This version includes only one song from the original (the catchy title song) however, the music is highly polished, improved and...breathtaking. It indeed must've been a hard job for fresh newcomer to the broadway stage Sutton Foster to take on the famous role created by Andrews all those years ago however, Foster sheds a whole new light onto Millie's bubbly and feisty character as well as keeping in a suitable amount of the Andrews character. Foster's vocals are second to none! There is nothing like a fresh, tuneful and not to mention powerful set of vocal chords. Of course, the re-vitalised score is all 1920's jazz and to me that is what makes it better- the album keeps in touch with the setting and times and the marvelous band makes it a pleasure to listen to- the overture is a treat with blazing brass and tinkling ivorys. Also another highlight is the raunchy and raucous rewrite of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite which is transformed into the murky and brassy "Nuttycracker suite". Foster's best songs being "Not for the life of me" (reprised several times throughout the show annoyingly but pleasuringly) which occurs post to the jazzy beginning title song which has beenleft as it is but also decadently vamped up with harmonies and an AMAZING ensemble who carry it all the way. We think at the beginning of her song that it'll purely be a typical musical theatre ballad, but do ont be decieved- it gets jazzier and jazzier and Foster's voice makes it so pleasurable. Another of Foster's great achievements is the stupendous "Gimme Gimme" which gradually builds to a crescendo and Foster's musical presence (even detectable on cd) and pelty wildness shines through. "Jimmy" is also a great showstoper which is not to be missed and Foster in fact exceeds Andrews portrayal of the 1920's "modern" who finds and seeks love as well as drifting in and out of it. Angela Chrstian's Miss Dorothy is amazing, her concertino style of voice appeals to me and comes across as being fragile but also belty making her numbers such as- "How the other half lives"- stupendous also with Sutton Foster, "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life"- brilliant and "Im falling in love with someone"- great as it progresses into a soaring romantic ballad quartet. However, it is a shame that she never gets a full song to herself. One of the cd's highlights however is Harriet Harris' portrayal of Mrs Meers- the sinister hotel owner who is behind a chinese slave ring. Beatrice Lilli's portrayal was hard to beat but Harris is fantastic. "They Don't Know" is the best song on the cd with a smoky jazz melody to it. "Muqin"- a fabulously comic chinese rendition of "My Mammy" is also not to be missed and likewise with Harriet Harris, it is a shame that she is not more included in the cd. Sheryl Lee Ralph stuns as nichtclub entertainer and rich vamp Muzzy Van Hossmere and her two songs "Only in New York"- a fabulous blues melody which builds to an amazing crescendo made even better by the band. And also "Long as I'm here with you"- Muzzy's "cabaret-esque" nightclub song. The guys also are brilliant- Gavin Creel as broke playboy Jimmy dazzles in his numbers such as "What do I need with love" and Marc Kudisch also is stupendous as Trevor Graydon. Numbers such as "The Speed Test" and "Forget About the Bou" are great in the way they are recorded with the taps from the dancers included.
In conclusion, the cd is an absolute buy and definitely not to be missed......BUT IT!
Free Music Review: Perfection!
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD is about as perfect as you can get without Sutton Foster belting 'Gimmie, Gimmie' two feet from your face!This is Broadway at it's best-they know they're not working with something life-altering and profound and they accept it and have a BLAST. Sometimes you want to see a play that makes you think, and sometimes you want to see what made the Great White Way so GREAT! There's something (And I hate saying this) universal about this musical-no matter how jaded and 'mature' you feel, listening to Sutton Foster's Millie Dillmount will take you back to a point where you were so excited about life. It's funny, it's charming and it's sweet, and it's also brimming to the top with talent. It's the type of CD that makes you smile on a crowded subway, and sing out loud in the shower and hum in mandarin on the elevator!
Overture - Not too bad, gets your pulse racing but you can skip over it after a few times though.
Not for the Life of Me - A wonderful song about that moment in life where you stop and realize "This is it-I'm on my own!" and you love it!
Thoroughly Modern Millie - Cute, from the movie, a crash course in 1920's high society
Not for the Life of Me - see above
How the Other Half Lives - Priceless! It could only be better had they included the text from the performance "I'm not poor, I'm broke, there's a difference. Poor sounds permanent but broke can be fixed!"
Not for the Life of Me (reprise) - Best song sung in mandarin to hit Broadway! ; )
The Speed Test - Disgustingly infectious and catchy, you'll find yourself tap dancing at the gym!
They Don't Know - How amazing is H. Harris? This is without a doubt, ahhhh-I'm speechless!
The Nuttycracker Suite - Mehhhh
What Do I Need with Love? - An amazing song, but I have to be honest, the show belongs to the ladies-
Only in New York - Like Sheryl Lee Ralph, who gives it her all a song you can hear Lady Ella sing.
Jimmy - Awwwww, a good old fashioned love song! You can feel your heartstrings being tugged and you'll love it!
Back at Work / Forget About the Boy - Catchy, this was performed @ the Tony's and is another song which makes you regret not taking tap dancing lessons.
Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life/I'm Falling in Love with Someone - Music swelling, lips quivering, a very period melodramatic piece that comes across like a great piece of lyrical comedy!
I Turned the Corner/I'm Falling in Love with Someone quartet/reprise) - A sentimental song, but by this point, you're ready to leap on stage and join in! A great 4 part harmony.
Muqin - LOL. This is what comedy is all about!
Long as I'm Here with You - Another jazzy toe-tapper by SLR! This woman has a set of pipes on her that you wish they'd showcase more often.
Gimme Gimme - You know how some singers have songs that'll follow them around? Yeah, this is Sutton Foster's-This song explains why this woman deserved every award thrown at her feet and should still recieve MORE! This is the definition of SHOWSTOPPER! BUY THE CD FOR THIS SONG! This is why Sutton Foster has been praised by even those who hated the show. She's AMAZING!
Finale - Cute
Final Bows - A nice full circle to come to, and eases you off your emotional rollercoaster!
Free Music Review: Thoroughly Marvelous More Like
Hit: 5 Stars
As a precurser, it should be known that I saw "Thoroughly Modern Millie" about a month ago, and have been waiting for the cast album to come out ever since. Do you know how difficult it is to be kept away from such fantastic music for that long? Very very difficult! It becomes a little daunting for others when you only sing the lyrics you remember; but now--oh now!--every note is available on one fantastic disc!What makes TMM so special is the fact that, unlike many new musicals on B-Way, it reaches back into the roots of musical comedy. It may be un-modern to fashion a musical that is pure bliss (don't get me wrong, I love modern musicals), but it is also refreshing to have that one show you can always count on to make you smile. TMM is just that--a chuckle a minute, dance around in the living room, belt at the top of your lungs when no one else is home, happy-go-lucky-and-proud-of-it phenomenon.
Sutton Foster, simply put, is Broadway's next big box-office draw. With a stellar voice, incredible mannerisms, and that triple-threat (acting, singing, and dancing) she is truly a talent to be reckoned with. Her renditions of the title song, "Jimmy," "Forget About the Boy," and "Gimmee Gimmee" should make the list of everyones "Favorite Broadway" mix CD. But don't just listen to those songs! There are much much more!
Gavin Creel is oh-so ooey gooey wonderful when he coos in "What Do I Need With Love," and Marc Kudisch is hilarious during "The Speed Test."
In what I thought was slightly wobbly on the stage, Harriet Harris and Sheryl Lee Ralph perform on the CD with great vigor and vocal finess, though it may take a few listens to fully appreciate them. I'm just glad to know I saw them on what must have been a bad day--though they were still good.
OK, so go buy "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and go see the show--in both cases you won't be disappointed.
Free Music Review: Suddenly Sutton, is here to provide you... sweet melodies
Hit: 5 Stars
This show is a KNOCK OUT! Having been cursed with a little known star (Filling in Julie Andrews big shoes), having been based on a little known film, and having to perform in the awful Marquis Theatre. This show has thrown all skeptics to the ground with the sole standing person being the shows lead Sutton Foster yelling "IM A PIONEER WOMAN PAL!" and that she is. I saw this show on Broadway post-Tony's and was personally skeptical of Suttons rave reviews. And I must say I could not have been more out of place, I have not (in recent times) seen an actress so charming, funny, talented, and expressive as Sutton Foster. When she belts out those last lines of her belty ballad 'Gimme Gimme';"Fly dove, sing sparrow! GIVE ME FAT BOYS FAMOUS ARROW! Gimme Gimme that thing called love" you find your self wanting to stand up and cheer.
And it's not to say the Sutton stands alone on that stage in her glory, her strong supporting male co-horts Gavin Creel and Marc Kudisch stand close by. Gavin will melt your heart in his moving ballads "What Do I Need with Love?" and "I Turned the Corner". And Marc will make you roll with laughter in his co medically brilliant songs "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" and "The Speed Test". Also equally wonderful are Millie's Roommate Angela Christian (sings "How the Other Half Lives") and the new-and-improved-Muzzy Sheryl Lee Ralph (sings "Only in New York"). Unfortunately Harriet Harris's Mrs. Meers does not transfer well to album. Fans of the show will love her performance but those who haven't may not understand her character voice.
All in all this is one of the BEST Broadway recordings of all time. So go buy... go buy it NOW!
Free Music Review: Suddenly Sutton, is here to provide you... sweet melodies
Hit: 5 Stars
This show is a KNOCK OUT! Having been cursed with a little known star (Filling in Julie Andrews big shoes), having been based on a little known film, and having to perform in the awful Marquis Theatre. This show has thrown all skeptics to the ground with the sole standing person being the shows lead Sutton Foster yelling "IM A PIONEER WOMAN PAL!" and that she is. I saw this show on Broadway post-Tony's and was personally skeptical of Suttons rave reviews. And I must say I could not have been more out of place, I have not (in recent times) seen an actress so charming, funny, talented, and expressive as Sutton Foster. When she belts out those last lines of her belty ballad 'Gimme Gimme';"Fly dove, sing sparrow! GIVE ME FAT BOYS FAMOUS ARROW! Gimme Gimme that thing called love" you find your self wanting to stand up and cheer.
And it's not to say the Sutton stands alone on that stage in her glory, her strong supporting male co-horts Gavin Creel and Marc Kudisch stand close by. Gavin will melt your heart in his moving ballads "What Do I Need with Love?" and "I Turned the Corner". And Marc will make you roll with laughter in his co medically brilliant songs "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" and "The Speed Test". Also equally wonderful are Millie's Roommate Angela Christian (sings "How the Other Half Lives") and the new-and-improved-Muzzy Sheryl Lee Ralph (sings "Only in New York"). Unfortunately Harriet Harris's Mrs. Meers does not transfer well to album. Fans of the show will love her performance but those who haven't may not understand her character voice.
All in all this is one of the BEST Broadway recordings of all time. So go buy... go buy it NOW!