Search - Frank Loesser :: Matthew Broderick in "How to Succeed in Business WIthout Really Trying!"

The ghost of Robert Morse...

Tom Carnahan | Cherry Hill, NJ | 08/04/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love this show dearly, but if you could only own one recording of it, I would urge you to skip this version and pick up the original 1961 (?) Broadway cast album instead. I saw this production on B'way and thought it was spirited and fun (although that CGI scenery thing make it look at times like a giant game of "Half-Life.") When I finally listened to the cast album, something was missing for me. The air had gone out of the fun balloon. Megan Mullally seemed, I dunno, screechier than she had on stage. Broderick's performance which had been bizarrely effective in a theatre seemed flat and lifeless on the recording. Techincally he is a superior singer to Robert Morse, but the latter's perforance on the orginal cast album remains (for me at least) overwhelmingly definitive. I don't need Finch to sing all the notes well and cleanly, but I do need him to charm me, which unfortunately the recorded Broderick fails to do. For those into technical quality, the recording of the 1995 version boasts some snappy new arrangements and a excellent supporting cast (although the talented Ron Carroll fails to completely exorcise the ghost of Rudy Vallee). Note for purists: "Brotherhood of Man" has been mucked around with a bit. Beware. Hats off to Robert Morse for being brilliant and untouchable in a role, hats off to Broderick for causing the role to be once again performed (well) on Broadway and hats off to Frank Loesser, the most talented (and one of the only) triple-threat book/lyric/music writers America has produced."

Excellent -- ESPECIALLY Megan Mullally

essmac | Nashville, TN USA | 11/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ms. Mullally is FABULOUS as Rosemary-- funny, vivacious, and what a voice! Sure it's very much a forward-placed, nasal character voice, but it's got character: strong, expressive, in tune, ballsy. Every note she sings is full of the delicious comic talent she brings to her character Karen on Will & Grace. Plus-- she's just playing up the ironic humor. How could anyone in the 90's sing "Happy to Keep his Dinner Warm" with a straight face. Would you want Sarah Brightman? Gasp! You will love Ms. Mullally, just as you will love every number in this fabulous show (it's truly superior)-- call me a fanboy if you want. I know a good voice when I hear one."

A good revival, Megan Mullally is luminous

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 08/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Frank Loesser's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (or `H2$' as it came to be known thanks to this revival), is one of the top Broadway musicals, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 with the original production, and immortalised on screen with its original star Robert Morse. In 1995, H2$ came back to Broadway in a snappy new revival, starring Matthew Broderck in a Tony-nominated turn as J. Pierrepont Finch, the window-washer with dreams of making it in the world of big business. Megan Mullally (pre-'Will and Grace') makes for a thrilling and endearing Rosemary Pilkington, while Victoria Clark (TITANIC) plays Smitty and Luba Mason is Hedy La Rue, the office bombshell. Matthew Broderick is a warm and winning `Ponty', and his performance alone is worth the investment of this cast album.



Megan Mullally can belt it with the best of them, as evidenced in her numbers "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" and "Paris Original". Victoria Clark is a lovely Smitty (too bad they dropped "Cinderella Darling" which Clark would have turned into a showstopper). Jeff Blumenkrantz is a campy and suitably-slimy Bud Frump, and Ronn Carroll is fantastic as the pompous J.B. Biggley. Lillias White makes the most out of the role of Miss Jones (commanding center-stage during her "Brotherhood of Man" solo). As an added delight for this revival, every time Ponty opened his `How to Succeed..' book, the voice of Walter Cronkite would be heard as the Narrator! Later on in the run, Matthew Broderick's wife Sarah Jessica Parker would replace Mullally as Rosemary. If you've already purchased the original cast album (w. Robert Morse) I would recommend you also buy this version."