Search - Gerard Alessandrini :: Forbidden Broadway: Unoriginal Cast Recording, Volume 2 (1991 Revue Compilation)

The Best of the Forbbiden Broadways!

05/17/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a Sondheim fan, I'm particularly fond of this album because Alessandrini & company cleverly spoofed his work many many times. And not being a Sarah Brightman fan, I love that they refer to her singing voice as "a nightingale on lsd..." Though in recommending this particular CD, I do have to emphasize the Les Miz sequence, which is so funny that I'd buy the CD if those were the only songs on it."

Hilarious Broadway parody

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 01/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lots of people are very quick to make fun of Broadway and musical theatre in general; but Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY revues point out that musical theatre can also lampoon itself, too. This disc features highlights from several of the early FORBIDDEN BROADWAY revues.



Patti LuPone is mercilessly skewered by Toni DiBuono in "Anything Goes/I Get a Kick Out of You". In "Liza One-Note", Linda Strasser gives an hilarious rendition of Liza Minnelli who proudly exclaims "all of my fans snort cocaine!". In "The Ladies Who Screech", Roxie Lucas does a superb Elaine Stritch during her COMPANY days. Mary Martin, the Broadway darling who somehow always managed to escape the poison pen of critics, is showcased by Roxie Lucas in "Never Never Panned". And "Chita-Rita" plays out the fictional rivalry between Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno, who are still confused for each other because they both played Anita in WEST SIDE STORY.



There are also hilarious roastings for "La Cage aux Folles", "Les Miserables", "Phantom of the Opera", "M. Butterfly", Stephen Sondheim, and Madonna. Highly-recommended for those who love a good laugh."

Still laughing in 2007

Julie S. Higginbotham | Chicago, IL United States | 06/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"16 years after it was made, and after I dunno how many listenings, this CD still makes me laugh OUT LOUD at least 5 or 6 times every time I put it on. A deep and longstanding knowledge of musical theatre helps a lot, but some of it would be funny regardless. The piano playing is strong and versatile, the vocal performances are uniformly inspired, and Gerard Alessandrini -- well, let's just say the guy's way with a twisty lyric (complete with internal rhymes) would put him in the Sondheim category if he were working in a more 'serious' genre.



Highlights -- the Elaine Stritch impression and lyrics of "Ladies Who Screech"; the spot-on harmonies and style (and hilarious faux british accents) of "Teeny Todd (the smaller version of Sweeny)", and ... oh yeah, that Les Miserables sequence. (For my money, the "Bring It Down" parody of "Bring Him Home" -- with its despairing, impossibly lovely tenor voice agonizing, "God, it's high ... pity me, change the key" -- is one of the single funniest pieces of music ever recorded.)



Enough said. If you love Broadway, and you need more laughter in your life, get this CD now -- and keep it handy."