Broadway on CD

JERSEY BOYS

The term "Jukebox Musical" may be as tiresome as the genre itself, so in this parade of Mamma Mia wanna-be's, it is refreshing to hear another take on the format. Instead of weaving popular songs into a generic story, Jersey Boys is a biopic of the musical group the Four Seasons. It is an unapologetic look at the backstory that made them and almost broke them.

In the CD, the songs are amazingly fresh and alive, quite an achievement considering many people have been listening to them since the 1960's. Credit is given to the musical direction; the songs are as exciting and enjoyable to listen to as if it were the first time. The talent of the men who make up the Four Seasons is most impressive. It is easy to see by just listening to the soundtrack why this show has become so popular--the story is interesting, and the musical numbers are entertaining.

A


THE WOMAN IN WHITE

Andrew Lloyd Webber's return to Broadway offers the listener a dark, atmospheric tale of mystery and intrigue. The orchestrations are uniquely interesting, and the singing voices are desperately enchanting. Despite a few catchy numbers at the beginnning, however, the melodies begin to melt together. At some point, Webber stops the ebb and flow of music, and every song begins to sound alike. It is almost as if he were content with maintaining both the same melodies and notes.

Fortunately the story flows well enough that this can still offer good listening. The book is a streamlined version of the original novel, and while it may seem melodramatic at some points, the CD still paints a decent picture of the show for the listener.

B-


THE COLOR PURPLE

There is nothing on this CD that is bad; there is just nothing that is great. Except for LaChanze, the singers amble throught their numbers with good voices but not enough power or individuality.

The main issue is that the songs were written too safely. Not only are they too short, but none of them take any risks, something one would expect in a show such as this. Instead of conjuring up images of the Broadway Show, the listener instead finds themself thinking of either the movie or the book. The score is not strong enough to stand on its own. LaChanze as Celie appears to be the only actor to create a character all her own. Otherwise, this Purple lacks too much Color.

C


SWEENEY TODD

We are taught at a young age that if something isn't broken, don't fix it. Don't mess with the masterpiece. So, when Sweeney Purists heard that we are to attend the streamlined tale of Sweeney Todd, there wasn't much enthusiasm. We've gone from a 27-piece orchestra and cast of 30+ to ten actors playing the instruments.

However, the CD just might remove most doubt. Not only are the orchestrations a creepy pleasure to listen to, but this bare bones approach does bring out the horror quite well. Apparantly, the audience is observing people in an insane asylum re-telling the tale rather than watching it be acted out. This comes through in the recording. Patty LuPone & Michael Cerveris as the leading roles are a decadent joy. They have re-captured the esssence of their dark characters and made them their own. Knowing that they are also performing as the band raises the bar to another level.
This may or may not be recommended for those who have never seen an original staged performance, but this Sweeney may be a cut above the rest.

A-