AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE GREAT SONG-CYCLE SHOW
Marijan Bosnar | Croatia | 06/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"`Tell me on a Sunday', one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most interesting shows, has an interesting history. The composer wrote this rather short piece in the late 70-is, when he already made great success with his shows `Jesus Christ Superstar' and `Evita', written in the collaboration with Tim Rice. While looking for the subject for his next big show, he composed this song-cycle, which was to be his first collaboration with the lyricist Don Black, with whom he has subsequently written as much as he has with Rice.
The show tells the story of a young English girl in New York, going through various love affairs and dealing with the life in another country. It is entirely sung-through and although various characters are mentioned, we only hear the English girl. The role was originated by Marti Webb and the show had its premiere as a one-off performance recorded for TV by BBC in 1980. Two years later, Webber created a double-bill show, whose first part was comprised of `Tell me on a Sunday' and the second included `Variations', a set of instrumental songs based on Paganini, which he wrote for his cellist brother Julian. The music of `Tell me on a Sunday' was neatly endorsed by the audiences, since it included the beautifully composed set of pop and ballad songs, among the finest Lloyd Webber has ever done. The orchestrations were very well made, as can be heard on the Song and Dance Cast recording.
Yet, as the new millennium approached, it was clear that this little show (which never demanded the big effects and the monumental sets like, for example, `The Phantom of the Opera' or `Sunset Boulevard') has the potential of being modernised to match today's standards while still retaining its original appeal. So in 2003, a new touring UK production was set, featuring Marti Webb and the young Denise Van Outen, and it is this new and modernised production we get to hear on this CD.
The changes to the material are done very satisfactory. The parts of the subject matter have been changed, so what we eventually get is a `Sex and the city' type of musical. In the original version the girl wrote the letters home to England and now she is using email, mentioning `Friends' and benefiting from online dating opportunities. The old standards, such as `Take that look off your face', `Unexpected song', `Nothing like you've ever known' and the title songs are all here, but they have been re-orchestrated in an updated rock and pop manner, whereas the original orchestrations had a bit more classical touch. Don Black's lyrics remain as witty as always.
There are five new songs Lloyd Webber has written especially for this production. They are all nice melodies, especially `Heaven in the sky' (describing the girl's plane trip), `Speed dating' (a clever lyrical description of online dating), `Tyler King' (a rocky description of one of the girl's flames) and a personal favourite called `Somewhere, someplace, sometime' (a conclusion of story in which the girl contemplates about her unsuccessful love affairs, telling herself she mustn't loose hope and that love will eventually arrive).
Denise Van Outen, upon which the whole show lies, gives a persuasive rendition. She is full of energy, both in terms of voice and acting, and she managed to bring something new to the role that is considered to be Marti Webb's best performance.
The booklet contains full lyrics, but as with most ALW's recordings, there is no synopsis.
For those familiar with this show, this recording will be a fresh update. The others will also find it appealing. Both the old Song and Dance recording and this new version are worth checking into.
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Track Listings (26) - Disc #1