Legally Blonde - The Musical - Original Broadway Cast

Advantages: Fun songs, great cast
Disadvantages: Not for children or the easily offended

..., definitely not to everyone's tastes, due to the 'strong language and sexual content'. There are a couple of tracks which I really dislike, but they are essential from a plot point of view. This really isn't a CD for everyone, but it might appeal to some people who don't like the traditional musical. You will either enter into the spirit of it and love it for its unique charm, or you won't, and will probably find it the oddest, most disturbing thing you've ever heard. I, in case you hadn't worked it out, love it. The show is so very American that I don't think it would be likely to come over to the West End, which would obviously increase its availability (and possibly decrease the cost), but it is well worth getting even when there is little or no prospect of seeing the show. - - - - - The facts. The CD 'Avenue Q – Original Broadway... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet, Alan Jay Lerner's lyrics, Frederick Loewe's music-most of it.
Disadvantages: Some shopworn, predictable tunes and weak orchestrations.

..., 'What Do the Simple Folk Do?' in which they wonder how non-royals deal with marital ennui such as theirs. It's deceptively lighthearted in tone, ends on a sombre note, and suggests the beginning of the end for Arthur and Guenevere. My fondness for 'Camelot,' especially this original Broadway cast recording, may stem from my childhood exposure to it. Having now understood many of the situations portrayed in the play, I've come to appreciate the plot more. Yet, I've grown more critical of the music, too, beautiful as some of it remains. The spare and skeletal orchestrations serve only to shadow the singing lines, without offering any interesting emotional or musical counterpoint in the harmony, unlike the music of that towering genius on Broadway, Richard Rodgers ('The Sound of Music,' 'Carousel,' etc.). My final assessment... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Fantasic atmosphere; exciting and intriguing
Disadvantages: Some weak links, varied music not for everybody

...My brother went to see the show up in London just before it moved to Broadway, and came home raving about how wonderful it was; happily he also brought home the soundtrack to the Musical. As an illustration of how good it is, we have been fighting over the CD since! The sheer genius to combine so many Billy Joel songs in to one musical- a coherent musical with a plot at that- cannot be understated. The songs render deliciously, Micheal Cavanaugh a superb singer and pianist, rivalling and even surpassing Billy Joel himself in some places. The CD takes you through many of the Musical highlights, each track beautifully recorded live. The music is atmospheric and delightful. The style is ranged over a wide and varied selection; from peppy jazz numbers to harder rock pieces, and even a few Classical attempts by Billy Joel, each... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful