REVIEW: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Broadway Cast Recording ✭✭✭✭✭

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Original Broadway cast Recording Review

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Broadway Cast Recording Sony Masterworks Broadway 5 Stars Order a Copy from Amazon.co.uk I was a HUGE fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when it opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Audiences were presented with a theatrical extravaganza, but what really struck me was the fabulous score which used only one song from the Gene Wilder film. Shaiman and Wittman had pulled off the near impossible by channelling the Wonka zeitgeist, creating new music for Charlie of the same calibre and Bricusse and Newley’s original film score. I was therefore interested to hear that for the Broadway production changes were to be made. More song moments from the film have been integrated, numbers from the London score cut (luckily the London cast album exists!) and new songs written. Christian Borle takes over the spoon … Read more

REVIEW: Hello Dolly!, 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Recording ✭✭✭✭✭

Hello Dolly! Broadway revival cast recording review

Hello Dolly! 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Recording Masterworks Broadway 5 Stars BUY A COPY As soon as it was announced that the role of Dolly Levi would be played by the one and only Bette Midler, lovers of classic Broadway musicals were rushing out to get their tickets ensuring that this would be the revival to beat this season. Indeed, on Sunday at the Tony Awards, it took home four awards including Best Revival and Best Actress in A Musical and listening to this fabulous cast album it’s easy to understand why! There’s something about a Jerry Herman score, that unmistakeable magic, the ability to translate character, comedy and that special feel-good something through music and lyrics and Hello Dolly! is no exception. Based on Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker, Dolly Levi is a role that has been  played by some of the greatest including Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Danny La … Read more

REVIEW: Groundhog Day, Original Broadway Cast Album ✭✭✭✭

Groundhog Day Broadway Cast Album Review

Groundhog Day Original Broadway Cast Album Broadway Records 4 Stars BUY A COPY Based on the iconic film, Groundhog Day is the new musical by Tim Minchin, award-winning composer of  Matilda. Opening at the Old Vic in London I was enamoured with the show’s ability to take a complicated premise and make it work musically. Minchin’s music and lyrics still pack a punch. Groundhog Day at its core is about self-realisation and redemption and Minchin’s score reflects this in an intelligent and honest way. The central performance of Andy Carl as obnoxious and egotistical weatherman Phil Connors translates beautifully from stage to cast album. It’s a  performance that won him the Olivier Award in London and when you hear him sing “I’m seeing you for the first time” in Seeing You the show’s closing number you truly can hear a transformation. As Rita Hanson, Barrett Doss is a perfect foil … Read more