Witches Of Eastwick, The - Original London Cast

...opinion.

The Witches of Eastwick is the second musical by Dempsey and Rowe to hiot the West End, and is enjoying the success that the first one (The Fix) also deserved. The music is enjoyable, the lyrics are artful and funny and the performances are truly incredible. The show takes its inspiration equally from the original book and the film, which shows through in the opening number, which is far closer in feel to the gbook than the ...
...the harmony of the three witches - absolutely delicious, if one can use such a word about music. I heartily reccommend this CD as an excellent record of the stage production and as a generally good listen. Fabulous, musical, funny performances of an excellent new score (knocks Mr Lloyd-Webber into a cocked hat) which should be enjoyed by everyone from overture to finale.  ... more

First, just to be pendantic, I'd like to point out that this isn't actually a soundtrack, it's a cast recording, completely different beast. Anyway, now that's off my chest, onto the opinion.

The Witches of Eastwick is the second musical by Dempsey and Rowe to hiot the West End, and is enjoying the success that the first one (The Fix) also deserved. The music is enjoyable, the lyrics are artful and funny and the performances are truly incredible. The show takes its inspiration equally from the original book and the film, which shows through in the opening number, which is far closer in feel to the gbook than the film (as the film ignores all possible reference to the theme of small-town claustrophobia which pervades the novel).

Dempsey and Rowe's score as presented here is marvellous and varied. They've written some engaging patter songs for the Devil (as Ian McShane isn't really that great a singer), of which 'I Love A Little Town' is highly enjoyable, and somewhat reminiscent of The Music Man. In fact, much of the score reminds you of the classic old musicals, and not in a plagiaristic way.

Highlights:

'Something' - a duet for the two young lovers who really can't find the words to express how they feel. this could sit happily with Seymour and Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors - sweet, amusing, highly melodic.

'Words, Words, Words' - a patter song for Maria Friedman in the style of G+S and other masters of vocal gymnastics. The speed with which she gets out the lists of things she'd like to talk about is astonishing, and I pity the understudy in the West End! She also gets to showcase her powerful belting voice at the end of the song to create a truly phenomenal number. Later on the CD is another number for her called 'Loose Ends' which deals with feelings of loss and grief - totally heart-rending.

'Waiting for the Music To Begin' - Joanna Riding's song of repression. Ostensibly it's about musical freedom and expression, but there is a sexual undercurrent which becomes very clear in the orgasmic climax of the song. Quite a feat, really, and not something I've heard before or since.

'Dirty Laundry' - the absolute best number, for the chorus of the show, which is astounding on stage but works equally well on disc. It is a 'gossip' number, with news of various shenanigans racing through the community like wildfire. Exhilerating and catchy, this is a tune that won't go away, with amusing little character studies in the lyrics.

The only weak link in the score is the song 'Who's The Man' for McShane and the male chorus, which is flat and dull compared to what comes before and after.

A highlight which extends beyond any one song is the harmony of the three witches - absolutely delicious, if one can use such a word about music. I heartily reccommend this CD as an excellent record of the stage production and as a generally good listen. Fabulous, musical, funny performances of an excellent new score (knocks Mr Lloyd-Webber into a cocked hat) which should be enjoyed by everyone from overture to finale. 

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