GROUNDHOG DAY: A CD Review

Original Broadway Cast – 2017 / Music and lyrics by Tim Michin

Starring: Andy Kartl, Barrett Doss, Rebecca Faulkenberry, John Sanders, Andrew Call, Tari Kelly, Raymond J. Lee

Rate: 4 (from 1 to 10) / Photos by Joan Marcus

Review: When I heard the cast recording of MATILDA, Tim Michin’s previous musical, I decided that it wasn’t for me. The score was too rock oriented for my personal taste. But one day, a friend of mine convinced me and so I saw it. Surprise! Not only did I enjoyed the show, I thought the score worked perfectly on stage, although I still don’t care much about the music.

Like MATILDA, Tim Minchin’s new musical score is too much rock for my taste. The first time I played it, since the first numbers were completely out of my taste, I didn’t pay much attention. Then I remember that MATILDA had at least a of couple songs that I liked, so maybe there was something here that I might enjoy. So, I gave it a second chance and I found some very interesting numbers.

All the songs are strongly character oriented and I don’t know if they can live out of the context of the show, but “One Day”, emotionally sung by a terrific Barrett Doss and then by the company, should have one. It’s a strong, bitter and beautiful song. But the first song of the score to get my attention was STUCK, that for me is the best song of the score and perhaps the one more related with the traditional Broadway sound. Rebecca Faulkenberry shines with the nice ballad “Playing Nancy” and John Sanders has a good moment with the sad “Night Will Come”. In the leading role, Andy Karl sings his songs with gusto. One last word for a very entertaining “Entr’acte” and for the almost all instrumental “Philanthropy” that, for some reason, reminded me of WEST SIDE STORY.

This really isn’t’ my kind of music, but fans of contemporary musicals will have a good time with this one and even old fashion guys like me might find something to enjoy.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A CD and Movie Review

Original Movie Soundtrack – 2017 / Music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice

Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald, Hattie Morahan, Nathan Mack, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson

Rate: 7 (from 1 to 10)

Review: Did we need a live-action remake of Disney’s classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST? No, we didn’t. That movie is still one of the best animated movies I ever saw and I also had a great time with the Broadway stage adaptation of it. Besides one or two new songs, this new movie doesn’t add much to the original. In fact, half of the characters are CGI animated and that doesn’t make them real “live-action”. So, besides the millions it’s doing at the box-office, why bother doing it again? Because of the magic! I love musicals and I love fairy tales, so everything I might say ist’ always suspicious, but I really enjoyed this luxurious big production.

In the hands of director Bill Condon, who had already shown that he could handle a musical with DREAMGIRLS, the musical numbers easily flow through a fabulous fantasy atmosphere that embraces the action with a fantastic visual style and the right amount of humor. As for the polemic gay character, oh please! He already existed in the original and there’s nothing wrong with that. He makes sense in a movie with the message that being different is okay and that the important thing is the beauty inside and not the physical one.

As for the score, the big hits of the original are here, although the singing voices aren’t as good as in the original. Even so, Emma Thompson sweetly delivers the title song and Ewan McGregor leads the cast with style with “Be Our Guest”. Of course, Josh Gad has a big time with “Gaston”, the only number better here than in the original. In the role of Beauty, Emma Watson, of whom I never cared much, doesn’t have a very good singing voice, but she manages to deliver her songs in tune. I didn’t expect that Dan Stevens, as the Beast, and Luke Evans, as Gaston, had strong voices, so they surprised me. I just wish they had given something more to Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe; they did give her one of the new songs, “Aria”, but it’s too short for her enormous talent.

As for the new songs, the best one is “Evermore”, a strong emotional song that is a trademark of composer Alan Menken. There’s also the sweet “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and I couldn’t believe that, once again, they didn’t use the terrific “Be Human Again”. This song, my favorite of the whole score, was cut from the original movie and later used with magic effect on the stage production. In the current movie, it’s replaced by the pretty ballad “Days in the Sun”.

As you may guess, I recommend the movie and the soundtrack. It’s true, the original movie is better and so is the original Broadway cast recording, but there’s plenty to enjoy here and the “Be Our Guest”. number is a feast to all senses! 

You can see a gallery of poster by clicking here. 

JULIE’S GREENROOM: A CD Review

Original Netflix Series Soundtrack – 2017 / Songs by Zina Goldrich & Marcy Heisler, Eli Bolin & Joey Mazzarino, Chris Jackson & Joet Mazzarino, Wayne & Karey Kirpatrick, Mike Himelstein, Bill Sherman & Joey Mazzarino, Shaina Taub

Starring: Giullian Yao Gioiello, Julie Andrews, John Tartaglia, Jennifer Barnhart, Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Dorien Davies, Tyler Bunch, Alec Baldwin, Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, David Hyde Pierce, Carol Burnett

Rate: 3 (from 1 to 10)

Review: The one and only Julie Andrews is back, this time with a Netflix series created by her, Emma Walton Hamilton and Judy Rothman Rofé. I confess I never heard of the series until this recording came to my attention (that’s what happens when you don’t live in the USA).

The name of Julie Andrews, one of my all-time favorite actresses, was reason enough for me to listen to it. We all know she can no longer sing as she used to, but it’s always a pleasure to hear her very British voice. Here she’s in good company (Carol Burnett, David Hyde Pierce), with a sweet voiced Giullian Yao Gioiello as her main co-star. 

Unfortunately, the material isn’t very interesting. The songs sound like they were written for AVENUE Q and the fact that some veterans of that show give voice to some of the characters make the connection even stronger. But the songs loose in comparison with that show, with none standing out from the rest. Only one of the songs catch my fancy, “Anything Can Happen in the Theatre”; and “You Gotta Bring the Wow” is enjoyable.

This series is aimed to a very young audience and I believe these simple songs will connect with kids. As for me, I was expecting more; well, maybe I'm too old for its charms.

RED EYE OF LOVE: A CD Review

Studio Cast – 2016 / Music by Sam Davis and lyrics by Arnold Weinstein and John Wulp

Starring: Kelli O’Hara, Brad Oscar, Josh Grisetti, Nikki Renee Daniels, Sam Bolen, Sarah Corey, Christine DiGiallonardo, John Morton, Greg Roderick, Leah Stuart, and Matthew Zimmerman

Rate: 8 (from 1 to 10) / Photos by Sara Krulwich and Carol Rosegg

Review: This new musical comedy opened in New York in 2014, but the score had to wait until now to be recorded and the result is a terrific studio cast recording that is one of the best releases of 2016.

The songs have the quality of taking me to a fantasy world where a song and a dance can resolve everything. It begins with the entertaining “Good Old O. O.” and ends with the best “ménage à trois” song I have heard, “Three is the Key Finale”. In between, there are some terrific big showtunes like “Seize the Opportunity”, “The Word on the Street” and “I’m Going to the Movies”, quieter songs like “Among the Navajo” and “Say, Fella”, beautiful ballads like “Rain” and “Yes, Well, Anyway”, delicious duets like “Open Your Eyes” and “Two Fat Cats”, the title song is a passionate tango and I simply love “How Much?” (strongly sung by Nikki Renee Daniels). I just wish they had written an overture for it, because it’s the kind of score who deserves an old fashion overture in the style of Jule Styne or Jerry Herman.

In the leading female role, Kelli O’Hara is at her best.  Perfect in the dramatic numbers and in the funny ones. As her two love interests, Josh Grisetti and Brad Oscar sound like a match made in heaven, making this recording a high enjoyable one.

The music by Sam Davis, who I only knew from his interesting album “Love on a Summer Afternoon”, is the kind I wish there were more written these days. Helped by traditional Broadway flavored orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, his songs take as back to a time were musicals weren’t supposed to be very serious and where you came out of the theatre humming a song or two. This is the kind of old fashion score that I love so much. Don’t miss it!

HAIRSPRAY Live: A CD Review

Original NBC Televison Soundtrack – 2016 / Music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

Starring: Maddle Baillio, Derek Hough, Jennifer Hudson, Kristin Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein, Garrett Clayton, Ariana Grande, Martin Short, Ephraim Sykes, Dove Cameron, Shahadi Wright Joseph

Rate: 8 (from 1 to 10)

Review: “Welcome to the 60s” and to the soundtrack of the live NBC adaptation of the Broadway musical!

This is probably the best and most exciting rendition of the score. The orchestrations are more exciting, the 60s spirit is more alive, the energy is superior and everyone in the cast sounds like they’re having the time of their lives. I haven’t’ seen the NBC production yet so I don’t I know about it, but the soundtrack is great! Besides songs written originally for the Broadway score, it includes “Ladies’ Choice” and “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go)” that were written for the 2007 movie adaptation, and both blend perfectly with the rest of the score.

On her debut, Maddei Baillio as Tracy is a winner leading lady and strongly delivers all her songs. Jennifer Hudson is terrific as Motormouth Maybelle and deliver her songs with feeling. Kristin Chenoweth is probably the best Velma Von Tussle I heard until now and she seems to love every moment of her “(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs”. Derek Hough sounds like he just come out of a sixties show. The one and only Harvey Fierstein returns to the role he created on Broadway and sounds exactly the same, his duet with Martin Short, “(You’re) Timeless to Me”, is one of my favorite songs of the show.

For me, the highlights are the already mentioned “(You’re) Timeless to Me”, “I Can Hear the Bells” and the exciting “Welcome to the 60s”. I also love “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go)”, where Hudson and Ariana Grande strongly lead the company.

This kind of music isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but it’s difficult to resist to the toe tapping rhythms and the contagious joy of living of this recording. Even if you’re a big fan of the Broadway cast recording, I’m sure you’ll love this much better rendition of the score. Believe me, “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.

TALES OF TINSELTOWN: A CD Review

Concept Album Cast – 2016 / Music by Paul Katz and lyrics by Michael Colby

Starring: Christine Bianco, Klea Blackhurst, Nat Chandler, Jake Epstein, Alison Fraser, Harriet Harris, Richard Kind, Tony Yazbeck, Samantha Massell, Nora Menken, Levin Michael Murphy, Ryan Bauer-Walsh

Rate: 7 (from 1 to 10) / Photos by Elizabeth Wolynski

Review: I always have a soft spot for the Hollywood movie musicals of the 30s and in this “movieland musical”, as written by Michael Colby and musicalized by Paul Katz, those magic times come back to life with a bunch of good songs and a perfect cast.

With inspiring orchestrations (I just wish there was a bigger orchestra playing the songs) by Larry Hochman, it begins with a proper “Overture”, something that is missing from many contemporary musicals, and continues with Harriet Harris and company in funny mode with “The Public Wants to Know”, followed by the talented Christina Bianco with a true 30s style tune, “I Belong in Hollywood”. “Let’s Go” and “Keep in Step” could have been written by the likes of Harry Warren.

“Musical Mélange” is the kind of old fashion musical songs that I really enjoy. There’s also a bit of the Nelson Eddy & Jeanette MacDonald operettas (“Someone to Love Me” or “Hunchy”, both sung by Nat Chandler) and the Shirley Temple musicals (“Sounds in the Night” sung by Christina Bianco). No one doubts that Klea Blackhurst can sing and that she sounds just like Ethel Merman; here she shines with “I Can Sing” and “For My Career”. The charming Tony Yazbeck gives his Gene Kelly impersonation with “All Over the Place”. I confess that Alison Fraser’s big number “Jungle Fever” isn’t the most inspiring song of the score, I prefer her “Got to Be Good”. “It’s Mine” would be perfect for Judy Garland

The ballads “All I Dreamed”, “So This is the Movies”, “I’ll Stand by You” and “Stars in My Eyes” sound out of place with their more contemporary pop style, although I like the last two, beautifully sung by Jake Epstein (“I’ll Stand by You”) and Christine Bianco (“Stars in My Eyes”). The country styled “Born to Be Bad” may seem to belong to another musical, but in fact it's an homage to the western musicals of Roy Rogers.

These small problems apart, this in an enjoyable score that easily puts a smile on your face and a hum on your lips. It takes us back to more innocent times, when musicals didn’t need to have a message, they were just made to entertain and this TALES OF TINSELTOWN does just that.

CHARLOTTE SWEET: A CD Review

Concept Off-Broadway Cast – 1982 / Music by Gerald Jay Markoe and lyrics by Michael Colby

Starring: Mara Beckerman, Lynn Eldredge, Jeff Keller, Timothy Landfield, Merle Louise, Michael McCormick, Polly Pen, Christopher Seppe

Rate: 4 (from 1 to 10) / Photos by Elizabeth Wolynski

Review: Before THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD brought the British Music-Hall back to the Broadway stage, this small show did it a few years before Off-Broadway. Now, for the first time, the complete score was finally released (the early 90s CD include only selections of it).

Like they say on the CD booklet, this musical is “an amalgam of musical comedy, music hall, opera, operetta, and melodrama, not to mention the rhymed musicals films of the early 1930s”. Likewise, the music style is reminiscent of the work of Gilbert & Sullivan, of which I was never a big fan. This is one of those scores that I believe could work brilliantly on stage and by listening to the recording the actors were perfectly chosen. But this isn’t my cup of tea.

It begins well, with “At the Music Hall”, and the title song is sweet and funny. Lynn Eldregde leads the company with the entertaining “Quartet Agonistes” and she also has a good time with “Keep It Low”. “Bubbles in Me Bonnet” is deliciously sung by Merle Louise, who also nicely delivers an old fashion ballad, “Good Things Come”. Michael McCormick has a funny time with “Vegetable Reggie”. “It Could Only Happen in the Theatre” is a typical number of these kind of shows. In the title role, Mara Beckerman has a pitchy voice that is perfect for the role, just listen to her “Lonely Canary”.

Both the music by Gerald Jay Markoe and the lyrics by Michael Colby catch the true spirit of the British musical-hall and if you love this kind of stuff you’ll have a lovely time with this recording.

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY

Original Broadway Cast – 1963 / Songs by Naomi Caryl Hirshhorn & Charles Aidman

Starring: Betty Garrett, Joyce Van Patten, Robert Elston, Charles Aidman, Hal Lynch

Rate: ? (from 1 to 10)

Review: This play with music based on Edgar Lee Master’s “collection of short free-form poems” isn’t a musical. So the original cast recording has more talk than music, something that never appeals to me. I know many theater fans like to listen to recorded plays, but I’m not one of them. So, although I listened to this one, I guess that to be fair to it I shouldn’t review it. I’m not the right person to do it.

The songs, practically all sung by Naomi Caryl Hirshhorn, sound too much alike and I guess it has to do with the spirit of the play. I confess I was expecting to hear the great Betty Garret belt a number or two, but this isn’t that kind of show. Some of the songs sound kind of sad and I never cared much for folk music, and I think that’s what these songs are, but it’s possible I’m terribly wrong.

I believe there are other theatre aficionados and collectors who will love to add this recording to their library.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A CD Review

Original Cast – 1995 / Music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Starring: Walter Charles, Nick Corley, Ken Jennings, Jeff Keller, Joseph Kolinski, Michael Mandell, Robert Westenberg, Andrea Frierson Toney, Joy Hermalyn, Michael X. Martin, Michael Christopher Moore, Bill Nolte, Darcy Pulliam, Emily Skinner, Mary Stout, Gerry Vichi, Theara J. Ward, Christopher Sieber, Natalie Toro, Walter Willison

Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

Review: Just in time for Christmas, we have the reissue of the cast recording of Madison Square Garden´s production of the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic. This big musical played on that avenue for several Christmas, from 1994 through 2003.

The first time I heard this score it didn’t conquer me immediately. But I fall instantly in love with one of the songs, “Abundance and Charity”; this one became one of my favorite Christmas songs and if we close our eyes we can easily imagine Susan Stroman’s choreography (I never saw the show, so I just use my imagination). Alan Menken came up with a very British score and probably this is his most different score, far from his usual pop flavor emotional musical style. There’s good big numbers like “Mr. Fezziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball” or “Christmas Together”. The song “Dancing on Your Grave” sounds like a premonition for Menken’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. And of course it has a romantic song, “A Place Called Home”, a nice ballad “The Lights of Long Ago” and a beautiful emotional song, “God Bless Us, Everyone”.

Walter Charles is an excellent Scrooge and the rest of the cast give him strong support. The orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Douglas Besterman keep it alive and we can feel the spirit of Christmas in the end result. So go into your Christmas and enjoy this score!

SIMPLY HEAVENLY: A CD Review

Original Broadway Cast – 1957 / Music by David Martin and lyrics by Langston Hughes

Starring: Claudia McNeil, Melvin Stewart, Anna English, Marilyn Berry, John Bouie, Brownie MgGhee, Duke Williams

Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

Review: “Based on “Simple Takes a Wife” and other “Simple” stories by poet Lansgton Hughes”, this Negro musical opened Off-Broadway and was then transferred to a Broadway theatre where it played 62 performances.

The jazz and blues score begins with the delightful title song, beautiful sung by Marilyn Berry, and what follows is an enjoyable recording; later Berry delivers the romantic “Gatekeeper of My Castle” with Melvin Stewart. Anna English has a lot of fun with “Let Me Take Your for a Ride”, “Let’s Ball Awhile” and “The Men in My Life”, and surprises me with her rendition of the melodious torch song “Look for the Morning Star”. Claudia McNeil, whose voice reminds me of Pearl Bailey, delivers the best song of the score “Good Old Girl” and has a good time with her duets with John Bouie, “Did You Ever Hear the Blues?” and, specially, “When I’m in a Quiet Mood”. In the leading role of Simple, Melvin Stewart kind of talks through his songs and, for me, his numbers are the less interesting of the score, although in terms of lyrics they are the ones who reflect the issue of race: “Flying Saucer Monologue” and “Mississippi Monologue”.

There's a 2005 London recording of this show, that includes other songs and strangely it cut Simple's monologues; unfortunately, I'm not familiar with that recording. Anyway, I believe you’ll have a good time with this not very famous score and it may even surprise you with some of its simple and unpretentious songs. 

POLKADOTS - THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL: A CD Review

Wolrd Premiere Cast – 2016 / Music by Greg Borowsky & Douglas Lyons and lyrics by Douglas Lyons

Starring: Alex Newell, Shanice Williams, John Arthur Greene, Lilli Cooper, Katie Thompson, Alysha Deslorieux Talia Thiesfield, Gerard Canonico, Brittney Johnson, Julie Knitel, Sara King

Rate: 5 (from 1 to 10)

Review: This new musical is inspired by “the true events the Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine”. According to the press release notes, it “follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot who just moved to the “Squares Only” small town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in an all Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. From daily bullying, to segregated drinking fountains, Lily’s quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson for children, reminding them that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.”

As for the music, it reminds me of GLEE. The songs have the sound I associate with that television series and fans of it will surely love this new musical. As for me, I’m not a big fan of pop tunes, so I confess this one isn’t really for me.

One of the best songs, “Sticks and Stones”, could easily been part of a Motown recording and it’s sung with gusto by Alex Newell, who was part of the GLEE cast. Shanice Williams, the Dorothy of the recent television production of THE WIZ, beautifully delivers “One Pal”, a kind of Alan Menken emotional song. “Beautiful” is well sung by John Arthur Green of AMERICAN IDOL season 15, Lili Cooper has a good time with “Cool Kid” and so does Katie Thompson & Alysha Deslorieux with “The First”. I don’t like the rap “The Squadot”, but it’s very rare for me to like a rap song. There’s two bonus tracks, the beautiful “Taught” sung by Katie Thompson and a kind of Motown Christmas number, “Polkadot Christmas”, sung by Brittney Johnson.

Although this is hardly my kind of musical score, I prefer the traditional Broadway sound, it doesn’t hurt my ears and as pop musicals go, this one has melody and more than a couple of enjoyable songs.

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: A CD Review

Original Television Cast – 1966 / Music by Moose Charlap and lyrics by Elise Simmons

Starring: Judi Rolin, Nanette Fabray, Ricardo Montalban, Jack Palance, Roy Castle, The Smother Brothers, Jimmy Durante, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Coote

Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

Review: I love when I discover a musical I never heard before and this television production fits in that category. I don’t’ know how it work on television, but by listening to this enjoyable recording I hope that one day I’ll be able to see it.

Composer Moose Charlap (also known as Mark “Moose” Charlap) didn’t write many scores, but one of those was for Mary Martin’s PETER PAN, that is without doubt is most famous work. For this ALICE he was in an inspired mood and the result is the kind of songs I really like.

The best songs are sung by the great and almost forgotten Nanette Fabray, “I Wasn’t Meant to Be a Queen” and “Alice is Coming to Tea” that sounds like a big production number (according to the notes on the booklet it was “probably the wildest number choreographer Tony Charmoli ever staged”). As Alice, Judi Rolin shows a sweet voice with “Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are” and with the pretty ballad “Who Are You?”; she has a good time with Jimmy Durante, “’Twas Brillig” and with the Smother Brothers, “The Backwards Alphabet”. I don’t know why, but too me Jack Palance sounds a bit like Alan Cumming on “Jabberwock Song”. Ricardo Montalban give us a charming “Some Summer Day”. The only song that I don’t like is “Keep on the Grass”.

This isn’t as good as PETER PAN and the orchestrations are a little bit dated, but this is very entertaining and it’s always a pleasure to hear Nanette Fabray. I believe this deserves a place on every musical fan’s library and, besides that, it’s quiet enjoyable.

FUNNY GIRL: A CD Review

Original London Cast – 2016 / Music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill

Starring: Sheridan Smith, Darius Campbell, Marilyn Cuts, Joel Montague, Gay Soper, Valda Aviks, Philip Bertioli

Rate: 8 (from 1 to 10) / 

Photos by Marc Brenner

Review: On the night I saw this show, Sheridan Smith was out and the role of Fanny Brice was brilliantly played by Natasha J. Barnes and I sure miss her in this album. Barnes has a strong voice that, although we can’t compare her with Barbra Streisand (no one compares with her), carried the songs with feeling, power, humor and emotion. As for Smith, she has a good singing voice, but her power range isn’t very high and she sounds better in the comic numbers.

As for the recording, this is one of the best scores ever written for a musical. With songs like “People”, “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and, a personal favorite of mine, “The Music That Makes Me Dance”, this is Jule Styne at his best! I confess I love all the songs, but you know me, I’m passionate about this kind of music. Besides the songs I already mentioned, I can’t resist tunes like “I’m the Greatest Star”, “His Love Makes Me Beautiful”, “Funny Girl” (written for the movie version), “I Want to Be Seen with You Tonight”, “Who Are You Now?” and all the rest.

There are two new songs that I never heard before and I don’t even know if they were part of the original Broadway production. One is “Temporary Arrangement” sung by Darius Campbell as Nick Arnstein, that fits perfectly into the score and the same can be said about the too short “What Do Happy People Do?”.

Back to the cast, Darius Campbell has a sweet manly voice that makes his Nick perfect. In supporting roles, Marilyn Cuts as Fanny’s mother and Joel Montague as Eddie give it all with the funny “Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?”.

Of course this new recording doesn’t have the power of the original Broadway cast or the movie soundtrack, but it’s impossible to duplicate Streisand. This is also a small scale production and the orchestrations by Chris Walker aren’t as strong as the original ones by Ralph Burns, but they have a true feeling of the period and I enjoyed longer versions of some of the songs, like “Henry Street”.

This won’t replace the original with Streisand, but it’s more than enjoyable and it has the kind of “music that makes me dance” and dream!

To read my review on the London revival click here.