Many years ago I
saw the Henry Selick movie based on Roald Dahl book and I fell in love with it.
When I read that a musical based on the same material was on its way to the
stage I became very curious. After a workshop production in 2010, the show debuted
at the Kennedy Center’s “New Visions New Voices” festival in 2012 and had its
world premiere at the Seattle Children’s Theatre in 2013.
For this studio
cast recording, the composer and lyricist team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (A
CHRISTMAS STORY) managed to assemble a cast of Broadway veterans that bring
life to the colorful characters of the story.
It all starts
with a true “Overture”, something that seems to be missing in contemporary
musicals, that is followed by “Right Before Your Eyes”, sung by Marc Kudisch, that
sets the tone for this enjoyable recording. Kudisch also leads the company with
“Shake It Up”, which sounds like a kind of Bob Fosse number. There are
melodious lullabies like “On Your Way Home”, sung beautifully by Luca Padovan
as James, or “Everywhere That You Are” led by Megan Hilty and Christian Borle.
Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa show us their funny side with the vaudevillian “Property
of Spiker and Sponge” and also shine with “I Got You”. “Floatin’ Along” and “Have
You Even Begun to Wonder?”, where Brian d’Arcy James can be heard, are two good
ensemble numbers that share a contagious rhythm and there’s also a Brazilian
number, “Plump and Juicy”, where Daniel Breaker has it’s big moment.
This entertaining
recording is, for me, the best score written for a musical based on a Roald
Dahl book. I hope Pasek & Paul will continue giving us enjoyable scores
like this one
Rate: 6 (from 1
to 10) / Photos by Cylla von Tiedeman
Attention: Right now the album is available for free download at jatgp.com.
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