Broadway on CD

SPRING AWAKENING

This is one of those rare situations when we need to know what the writers had for breakfast the day they collaborated on this brilliant piece of work. The vocals are as frank and naked as the lyrics themselves. The performances are exceptional as are the musicality and etherial vocal arrangements. This could have been just another sob story about teen angst, but these performances express maturity and intelligence about the subject material and never talk down to the audience. Come Tony Time, this is the show to be reckoned with! A+.


GREY GARDENS

Christine Ebersole has won every award possible for her roles in Grey Gardens. I think they've invented some awards for her to win. Listening to the soundtrack, it is easy to hear why. The infamous story of Grey Gardens is told in story and song, and it plays very well. Christine's transition from Big Edie in Act One to her grown daughter in Act Two is so effortless one would think it were easy.

The best part about this show is that in spite of being based on a documentary, it IS original! It plays like a throw-back to the good, old-fashioned book musicals. And it is quite good. The songs are fresh and alive, and the actors effortlessly breathe life into their characters. A.


A CHORUS LINE (Revival)

Everything you've heard is true -- the ENTIRE montage is here! And it sounds great! All of the actors fully comprehend their characters, and the orchestrations are contemporary enough but maintain the original score's integrity.

Charlotte d'Amboise is breathtaking as Cassie despite what you may have heard or read. Sans guitar and harp, some of the songs sound streamlined, but it is the energy and enthusiasm of the cast that makes this soundtrack a sensation. A-.