STAGE on DISC by Peter Pinne - November / December, 2009

Sister Act (First Night CAST CD107) is currently London’s biggest hit. Alan Menken and Glenn Slater’s musical version of the Whoopi Goldberg movie is firmly set in the 70s with its sounds of disco and Motown. Patina Miller, in the Goldberg role, has a powerhouse voice, and the score gives her plenty of opportunities to show it off. Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior gets a Menken-memorable-melody with “Here within These Walls,” which she handles with feeling, and Katie Rowley Jones as the shy Sister Mary Robert brings heart to her lament “The Life I Never Led.” It’s a good score, but this is one movie vehicle I feel would have been better as a jukebox musical. Nothing comes close to matching that marvelous religious switch on the pop song “My Guy,” which was so much a part of the fun of the film. ***

The cast album of Dolly Parton’s recent Broadway songwriting bow 9 TO 5 (A&M 925-Butterfly 1) is enjoyable, more for its performers than for its score. Alison Janney (The West Wing) is a revelation on “One of the Boys,” Megan Hilty is nicely introspective on the country-styled “Backwoods Barbie,” and Marc Kudisch, as the sleazy boss, makes the most of “Here For You.” This was one of the first feminist movies, and although the musical is set in period (the 80s) it feels a little dated. Parton can write good songs no doubt, but this is not one of the great Broadway scores. The title song, a huge hit when the movie came out, is still the best song in the show. ***

Stephen Sondheim’s Road Show (PS Classics/Nonesuch 518940-2), a rewrite of 2003’s Bounce, finally made it to Off-Broadway at the Public Theatre with a cast headed by Tony winner Michael Cerveris and Alexander Gemingnani. When Sondheim took a re-look at his problematic show about the idiosyncratic Mizner Brothers, he added new songs and rewrote lyrics for some of the existing score. The opening number “Waste,” with its pure Sondheim bounce, is indeed the song “Bounce” with new lyrics, whilst “It’s in Your Hands Now” is a new anthemic song that replaces “Opportunity.” Best of the old material is the incisive company number “You,” and the ballad “The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened.” The show wasn’t a hit out-of-town in 2003, nor was it at the Public, but musically it is interesting. How can it not be when it’s Sondheim. Back in 1956 Irving Berlin worked for a time on the same story, but abandoned it because he couldn’t figure out a way to make it work. Perhaps after two tries Sondheim should put it to rest. ****

1968, the Age of Aquarius, flower children, the Vietnam War, and full frontal nudity on Broadway, is brought to life in the latest of the New York Town Hall series, The Broadway Musicals of 1968 (OC 6243). Hair and Promises, Promises were the year’s two biggest hits, but there were also good songs from The Happy Time and Golden Rainbow. Best tracks are Annie Golden and Jack Noseworthy in a terrific version of “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” Lisa Howard with “Only Love” (Zorba), Lorinda Lisitza show-stoppingly funny on “Das Chicago Song” (New Faces of 1968), and Shayna Steele and company who open and close the show with songs from Hair. ***

Some of Trevor Ashley’s Sunday night Show Queen gigs at Sydney’s Supper Club have been captured on a live 12 track CD ShowQueen Sessions I. With a cast of top musical theatre divas (male and female), a collection of original and standard show tunes, and classy accompaniment by a tight three-piece group, this album rocks. Best of the original material is Mathew Robinson’s very funny “BoyBand.” Margi DeFerranti nails Dreamgirls’ “I Am Changing,” and Trevor Ashley, in party mode, opens the album with Elton John’s “Club at the End of the Street,” and closes it by hysterically channeling Shirley Bassey in “Never, Never, Never.” ****

Rating
*Only for the enthusiast ** Borderline *** Worth buying **** Must have ***** Kill for it.

Middle Eight Music Top 10

David Harris - 'Till The Night is Done - debut album from Australian music
theatre leading man
Simon Burke - Something About Always - new album from West End star
People vs Mona - 2008 York Theatre Production
Kitty's Kisses - 2009 Studio Cast - rarity from the 1920's
Cry For Us All - Original Broadway Cast - first time on CD for Mitch Leigh
musical
Once We Lived Here - 2009 Original Australian Cast - exciting new Aussie
musical!
Road Show - 2008 Off-Broadway Cast - a must for all Sondheim fans!
9 to 5 - 2009 Original Broadway Cast
Sister Act - 2009 Original London Cast
Broadway Musicals of 1968 - the latest in the New York Town Hall series