Musical Reviews

I've listened to a few new musicals this week, all noteworthy in their own ways.

Bounce - Stephen Sondheim (2003 Original)

This is Sondheim's newest musical, still not all the way to broadway yet.  This recording's from a few years ago - its since been through several iterations and is right now running as Road Show off-broadway with Michael Ceveris.  While a bit slow at the start, a song or two in, Sondheim's unmistakable style was evident.  A bit of a blend between Merrily We Roll Along and A Little Night Music, it isn't my favorite Sondheim show by far, but it's pleasant to listen to.  The cast is good and the music is interesting on its own merit (the plot seems a bit sketchy, but hopefully it's been improved in the new version).  I'll definitely be getting the updated version when it comes out to see how it's changed

Candide - Leonard Bernstein (1974 Revival)

While sometimes referred to as an opera, the frequent spoken lines of this show, plus its highly comedic, modern nature, classify it as a musical for me.  I haven't read Voltaire's Candide, but it seems like it follows that plot only loosely.  Rather the closest comparison I could make is probably Pippin, by Schwartz, but with better music and a more epic plot.  It follows the adventures of Candide, a budding philosopher, and his many encounters and seperations from his love Cunaganda.  The bizarre story includes people dying and then returning to life, several social criticisms and a few wars, but its pushed along by well-crafted songs and a nice, full orchestra.  Fun to listen to and a quality piece of work.

Jekyll & Hyde - Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse (1997 OBC)

I am actually listening to this as I type.  I haven't finished it all the way, but it seems to be in the same vein as the modern literary classic shows such as Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Secret Garden.  While I've never read the book, the story seems easy enough to follow and the actors all have great voices.  Of course I'll point out a show that makes heavy use of complicated vocal harmony, for that is all to rare in modern theatre.  It will definitely join the list of my most-played shows in the coming months.

Other than listening to broadway CDs, I've spent my day working on Ms. Bergeron's Poetry Project...analysing and presenting Fleur Adcock's "The Telephone Call" for my 5th Period class.  Oh, and finally getting over my cold - that's a big plus!