Search - Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt :: Roadside (2001 Off-Broadway Cast)

CHARMING, WONDERFUL

MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 08/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt have given theatre-lovers three of the most melodic, clever, winning scores over a period of half a century: THE FANTASTICKS, I DO, I DO and 110 IN THE SHADE are some of the best and most popular shows performed all over the world.Luckily for their fans, they are still writing and still writing well: their latest show, ROADSIDE, had a brief, inventively directed production off-Broadway last season and now, luckily, has been preserved on a terrific CD.ROADSIDE is the story of a happily rootless, travelling family in Texas at the beginning of the last century. If OKLAHOMA! tells the story of Americans who want to plant roots, ROADSIDE is about their opposites: drifters who don't want to settle down. This charming show has some wonderful performances, including the stand-out work of Julie Johnson, the leading lady. But everyone in the hard working cast is first rate. Most interesting is the fact that the Jones-Schmidt score sounds like it is straight out of the travelling tent shows in Texas that were its inspiration. This is a total departure for these writers and certainly not what one hears over and over again in countless, derivative musicals. The score is played wonderfully by a 4 piece country/western combo. Schmidt's music is never less than infectious.Jay Records has done a superb job with the packaging: numerous photographs from the off-Broadway production, authors' notes, a synopsis of the play and complete lyrics. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

ROADSIDE grows on you!

Donato | La Verne, CA United States | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big fan of Harvey Schmidt's music. There's an identifiable quality to his songs; I've never heard one I didn't like. The sad thing about Jones and Schmidt is they really have had only two big hits in their career: THE FANTASTICKS (which ran forever off-Broadway) and I DO! I DO! Since the mid-60's, they've turned out a number of boutique musicals, mostly of short run; then there was the work on two projects, one about Colette, the other based on Our Town, which never quite got off the ground. Despite it all, I'd give up most other theatre music in favor of Schmidt's songs in a heartbeat, if I were given an either-or choice. I like it that much. So, ROADSIDE is different but still Jones and Schmidt. The title song is worth the price of the CD alone: haunting, optimistic, sad, all at the same time. Hard to know if the show was any good, but the recording is a must-have for any Jones and Schmidt fan. I had the pleasure of seeing both in Laguna Beach a few years ago, in their retrospective, THE SHOW GOES ON, and at the Pasadena Playhouse this July in a tribute to their songs and to them. (The Playhouse just staged a wonderful production of 110 IN THE SHADE, which was their respected third modest success.) Both in their 70's, Jones is witty as ever, and Schmidt still plays a mean piano. If only they'd have one smash hit again, given Schmidt's genius to write beautiful theatre music that never sounds trite or boring. At least we have the recordings (some out of print but available if you look hard enough: Colette Collage, Celebration, the original 110 In The Shade, etc.) and ones like ROADSIDE, which serve to remind us how talented those two guys are."