Search - Eric Rockwell, Joanne Bogart, Craig Fols :: The Musical of Musicals (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

GREAT - but only if you know your stuff

Jason Flum | East Windsor, NJ United States | 03/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hola, Aloha, Hello. This CD is absolutely hilarious - but only if you really REALLY REALLY know your musicals. Case in point - I consider myself a pretty well-versed (no pun intended) fan, but I don't particularly like Jerry Herman's shows. As such, I didn't find that section all that funny. The other four sections, however, had me completely cracking up. I have never heard so many allusions thrown into one segment as with the Rodgers and Hammerstein piece. Strains of melody appear and disappear faster than the Phantom in a sewer, so you really need to listen closely. I'd make a "specific overture" about not Sending in the Clones here, but it would just be redundant. If you smiled at all while reading this, buy the CD - you won't be disappointed. So long, farewell...."

Very funny IF ...

Paul A. Gerard | Australia | 10/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Really top notch musical satire is someone like Sullivan (of Gilbert and) taking off Mendelsohn, or Wagner, or even Handel. The music is not just funny as a parody, it is also a really good example of that style of music, which would stand up quite well if you had never heard the "original". There are moments (my favourite one is "Corn" - a wonderful parody of "Oh what a beautiful morning") where this one comes quite close. Generally, however, most of the music itself is really very ordinary - and is funny (often hilariously funny, I must add) only if you happen to be familiar with what is being laughed at.



The non-musical satire is also very amusing (although many of the jokes are in the "so-bad-it's-good" category, including some absolutely dreadful puns). But again, the point of the joke always lies (sometimes quite deep, too) in the work being satirised. I wonder how many people pick items like "My own little corner" (from the Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical from the fifties, "Cinderella").



The whole exercise is great fun - at least for one or two listenings, and at least for us musicals fans. It is a shame that the humour is so relentlessly "in", and that the music is not of a higher overall standard in itself, as opposed to just being clever parody. I can't help wondering (or wandering) what anyone not familiar with musical comedy in general, and the "musicals in particular" involved would make of it. Very little, I suspect.



For the rest of us - how about a sequel? Without mentioning any names, there are stacks of other composers and lyricists who thoroughly deserve to be satirised!



Hopefully the music would be of a more consistently high standard, and there would be just a little more humour you didn't have to be a musicals buff to get the point of, though."

Best time I've had in a theatre in my life!

Linda Unger | Medford, NY USA | 10/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And that's saying something, since I work in a musical theatre. I saw the show, and had to buy the CD, it is just too hilarious. Never a dull moment, it never drags. If you know anything about the five composers, you can't help but giggle. Absolutely dead on satire!"