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Generally forgettable musical by Mike Read

The Music Man | United States | 06/18/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not sure what inspired TER records to create a permanent record of this West End show, other than the presence of Darrin Day, who was signed to the label shortly before this show was produced. Mike Read, who has since gone on to television hosting duties in Britain, isn't much of a composer, at least as evidenced here. The songs are mostly in a pop/broadway style, with little differentiation in mood or style between them, and the performers, especially Darrin Day, shows no special talent in creating an interesting main character, and sings in a thin, boy-band tenor which fits perfectly the bland material he's given to perform. The best numbers are character pieces like "Handel" and "A Theoretical Case" which manage to capture the peculiar British sense of humor which Dickens had in spades. Unfortunately for the composer, he seems to have little feeling or understanding of Dickens sardonic bite, and instead slathers the score with banal pop songs. Buyer beware."