Search - Harry Connick Jr. :: Thou Shalt Not: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Words and Music by Harry Connick, Jr.)

Fabulous Connick; awful musical theatre

Kris Joseph | Nepean, Ontario Canada | 06/24/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Thou Shalt Not is one of Broadway's most recent flops, assuming a place of honor alongside such other eager shows as Seussical and Jane Eyre. The score for the musical did win Harry Connick, Jr. a Tony nomination for Best Original Score, and the score has been preserved on CD for fans of Harry Connick, Jr., if for nobody else.The CD itself is minimally packaged; lyrics to the songs are presented but there are no appreciable liner notes and (most regrettably) no synopsis to aid with connecting Connick, Jr.'s music with the story, which is a re-telling of Emile Zola's 1868 book, "Therese Raquin". The show's creators moved the setting from Paris to New Orleans, giving Connick, Jr. free license to use his talent for New Orleans jazz writing.The story of Thou Shalt Not is built around the relationship of Laurent LeClaire (Craig Bierko) and a married woman, Therese Raquin (Kate Levering). Their heated affair climaxes at the end of Act One with the murder of the one obstacle in their relationship, Camille Raquin (Norbert Leo Butz) -- Therese's husband. Act Two features the return of Camille in ghostly form, intent on torturing the adulterous lovers.If I had just purchased a new CD by Harry Connick, Jr., expecting his usual mix of fabulous jazz crooner songs and big band numbers, I would be extremely pleased with Thou Shalt Not. This point is emphasized even more in the sound of Norbert Leo Butz's rendition of "All Things" and "Oh! Ain't That Sweet", where Butz channels the sultry tones of Harry Connick, Jr. (and therefore, indirectly, Frank Sinatra) with astounding accuracy. The fact is that the recording encompasses some of Connick, Jr.'s best writing; that in concert with his full orchestration make this an almost must-have album for any fan of Harry Connick, Jr. An end-to-end listening to the recording, however, merely highlights Connick Jr.'s discomfort with the genre of musical theatre.All of this discomfort is summed up in "Sovereign Lover", a five minute mishmash of styles that starts out as a love ballad for Therese (Kate Levering) before quickly turning into an upbeat jazz number, followed by a bizarre out-of-place tap break complete with "we're going to commercial at the Oscars" orchestra swells... and just when you're wondering what on Earth Connick is doing, all three all thrown together into a horrid non-climax that leaves you thinking you've just been listening to the original cast recording of "Waiting For Guffman"'s Red, White and Blaine. In fact, about a quarter of the recording is completely orchestral; this is no doubt due to the influence of Susan Stroman, who undoubtedly put intense, torrid music like "The Other Hours Ballet" and "Thou Shalt Not Ballet" to extremely effective use with her trademark 'Stromanography'.As a cast recording from a piece of musical theatre, I think this is an extremely weak effort. As a collection of "Very Harry Connick, Jr." songs, I think it's wonderful. Musically, there are several standouts besides the aforementioned "All Things" and "Oh! Ain't That Sweet". Craig Bierko does a respectable job of a song I'd love to hear Connick record -- "The Other Hours". "Take Her To The Mardi Gras" is a high-energy company number with brassy orchestrations and latin overtones; "Won't You Sanctify" is a slow-burn New Orleans funeral march; and "It's Good To Be Home" (thanks to the efforts of Ted L. Levy as Papa Jack) reminds me of the best of Louis Armstrong.All in all, this is a very strong recording of a musical theatre score that simply does not comprehend the genre. If Hamlisch's score for Sweet Smell of Success is a mix of ingredients that don't quite gel, Thou Shalt Not is a recipe that should never have been taken off the shelf. If you are a fan of Harry Connick, Jr., I think there is a great deal to enjoy on this CD."

A Fantastic Recording of a "so-so" Show

B. Shutes | Sharpsville, PA United States | 06/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was privileged to see the show on the 2nd of January (shortly before it closed). At the time, I can say I was much less than impressed with the show.



Now, 6 months later, the cast recording has arrived and is in much better shape than I remember the show ever being in.



The CD is well recorded. The sound is very deep and very, well, Harry... Additional musicians are credited, so perhaps the score has been filled out a great deal by extra pieces.



Kate Levering sounds very comfortable with her role as Therese. Strangely enough, Craig Bierko sounds very little like what I remember from that night at the Plymouth, but, nonetheless, he is a great artist. The star, however, is Norbert Leo Butz, who plays Camille, Therese's husband.



The music is quite evocative and I am remembering a great deal from the show (sets, choreo., etc.)



There are full lyrics but, alas, no pictures in the booklet.



Connick is quoted inside the front cover as saying,

"The last days of my experience with Thou Shalt Not were as exciting as the first. To hear the singers and musicians deliver the words and music comfortably, and with familiarity, was a joy. This recording represents a hugely important time in my life; the exhausting, marvelous days of my first Broadway show. My thanks to Susan Stroman, Tom Thompson, the cast, orchestra, and crew of Thou Shalt Not. Thanks for showing me a path which I'll travel, God willing, for many years to come." -Harry Connick, Jr.



For those who love Harry Connick, Jr. - you will love the show. It is great Harry music (though he doesn't appear on the recording, he plays piano on some tracks).



Pay special attention to:



3.) I Need to be in Love Ballet

9.) The Other Hours Ballet

15.) Tug Boat

18.) Time Passing

20.) Oh! Ain't that Sweet

21.) Thou Shalt Not Ballet



Well, it's finally here - for the better. It may not have been that great, but it is great to hear it again."

Must have for Connick fans!

american_maid | slc, ut United States | 07/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am SO HAPPY they made a CD of this musical. I saw it twice on Broadway. The wonderful upbeat numbers with Connicks music and Stroman's choreography was what made it so wonderful. The story is very dark, I mean VERY DARk. But the music is so fantastic for Harry's first try at a musical at the age of 32! I hope he does another. The musical numbers reminded me of a Harry Connick concert, with everyone joining in the party, and one feels like jumping out of one's seat and joining them. The story was much darker though. But, I really liked when it swerved into dark comedy. The ending... is something I've never seen before. I use this CD to work out to all the time. It is from a truly gifted artist that I hope will keep writing new things for stage and elsewhere!"