Charming, Touching Piece
Broadway Buddy | 02/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having never seen this first show written by the now-famous Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, I wasn't sure what to expect buying this soundtrack - a small, comic murder mystery musical with a cast of ten seemed a hard sell. Well, I can safely say that this is one of the smartest, tightest pieces I've ever listened to. From the opening song, "Something Funny's Going On," the show moves at a rapid, crazy pace and pulls you in. From fast paced numbers involving the whole cast to beautiful, touching ballads ("Times Like This" is one of my favorite ballads in all musical theatre), the soundtrack allows the listener to get a pretty picture of the story. Performance-wise, the cast is wonderful! Malcolm Gets is excellent as the insecure Harry Witherspoon. I recommend this soundtrack to any musical theater fan."
Very funny stuff
Miriador | New York, New York USA | 01/03/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Such a clever piece! It's one of those musicals that has just about everything - crazy characters, outlandish scenarios, and charmingly catchy tunes that are ever so clever. It'll make you smile, make you laugh out loud, and make you bounce along to the music. There are beautiful ballads as well as wonderfully upbeat songs that paint such a colorful picture for the listener. The entire cast does a great job. Even though Malcolm Gets stumbles a bit on his accent, the warmth in his voice instantly captivates and charms. And Mary Testa is a hoot! Wonderful stuff!"
Buy the other one...
M. Querio | Chicago, Illinois USA | 09/28/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of this show for a long time. I'm a fan of Flaherty & Ahrens in general. This recording just doesn't seem worth it. The performances are certainly no better than the original recording. Malcolm Gets is definitely not better than the original Mr.Witherspoon (how did he get away with that accent?). The most glaring absence for me is the orchestra. A piano-only accompaniment sounds like "rehearsal." The inclusion of material that was cut from the original album is not reason enough to buy this CD. My advice...buy the original."