Customer Reviews

42nd Street (2001 Revival Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

42nd STREET made a surprise return to the Great White Way this year even though the original production had closed not ten years ago. The sleeper hit of the season, this production also proved to be an audience favorite and among other things brought the divine Christine Ebersole back to Broadway...in a performance that saw her win a Tony.

The entire cast sounds fabulous here in a sparkling recording that also includes much of the dialogue and incidental music adding to the theatricality and makes you feel like you are listening to a real performance.

Kate Levering (now replaced by Meredith Patterson) is a lovely and sweet Peggy Sawyer who goes on to replace the injured star Dorothy Brock (Ebersole) before the opening of the new show 'Pretty Lady'.

Among the outstanding cast as Mylinda Hull, Michael Cumpsty, David Elder, Mary Testa, Amy Dolan, Jonathan Freeman and Beth Leavel.

An exiting and galvanising listening experience.

I have a history with 42nd Street; it was one of the first movie musicals I ever saw, and I have always loved it. I also loved the original cast recording. When I heard they were bringing it back to Broadway, I was extremely excited and bought the cast recording the day it came out. This cast is to die for, as are the incredible orchestrations. Christine Ebersole and David Elder are my favorites on the recording. Ms. Ebersole has a beautiful voice. Her rendition of I Only Have Eyes For You is not to be missed, and her versions of the songs that were originally in the show (such as You're Getting To Be a Habit With Me and About A Quarter To Nine) make Tammy Grimes's pale in comparison. David Elder and his powerful tenor send chills down my spine in the Dames/Keep Young and Beautiful sequence and I Only Have Eyes For You, and his Young and Healthy is great. Jonathan Freeman and Mary Testa radiate comedy and are in great voice (I still think that Ms. Testa should have won the Tony). The songs are familliar and you'll find yourself singing them everywhere. This is a great cast album and is extremely well done. (I also saw the show on Wednesday, 8/1, and it was incredible beyond my wildest dreams. If you're in NY or are going to be, see it!)

The only way for the latest cast recording of 42nd Street to compete with the Original Cast Album is size. CD technology has allowed for the inclusion of the show's extensive dance breaks, and the inclusion is a welcome one...thrilling would be the word. On top of this, Christine Ebersole tops the original's Tammy Grimes, shining most in a newly added number (obviously) not on the original. The only times when this recording severely pales to that of the 1980 cast is in Lullabye of Broadway and the vocal finale, where the power of Jerry Orbach's voice is sorely missed.

The original cast recording of "42nd Street" was delightful, but it pales in almost every way, when compared to this revival's recording. For the first time, as with so many of the better-produced revivals on Broadway, we get to hear most of the songs, instead of shortened versions. There are also a few new numbers by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, which have made their way into the revival and this recording. The only drawbacks are (1.) the tap dances don't thunder the way the original recording's did (you felt as if you were auditioning with the dancers); and (2.) Michael Cumpsty, while being a brilliant actor, is definitely NOT Jerry Orbach. All in all, this recording is wonderful from start to finish. Mary Testa gives a shining performance, as does David Elder as Billy Lawlor, and Jonathan Freeman as Bert Barry. The real treasure of this recording is Christine Ebersole, who plays the delightfully bitchy Dorothy Brock. She captures the true essence of the sublime 1930s standards which she sings. Her interpretations of "Getting to Be a Habit with Me," "Shadow Waltz," "A Quarter to Nine," and especially "I Only Have Eyes for You," prove why she deserved the Tony Award this year. If you own the original cast recording, you will definitely want to purchase this one. As great as the original was, the revival is ten times better.

I had the chance to see this show on Broadway, NYC, last year and I was absolutely fascinated about it. It was my first musical and I loved it so much that I could not wait to buy the CD. Well, listening to it is like being live in the theatre, you can perfectly picture all the colourful feet when you hear the tap dancing parts. And Christine Ebersole has a voice that makes you shiver, she's fabulous. This truly is a recording to make you love Broadway musicals....it worked with me!

I discovered 42nd Street only this year, as it was my middle school musical. The music is catchy and fun, the lines are cute and funny, and the amount of dancing in the show is just amazing. Although I have yet to see the Broadway Revival,(unfortunately I was born too late for the original, I will never get over that)the CD carries the spirit of the show. Although the tapping is stronger on the original cast recording, the songs are just as beautifully done for the most part.(The original Lullaby of Broadway was better, but I liked the fact that you got to hear what I think is one of the mpost powerful lines in the show before the song). Along with the old favorites are some new ones, such as Keep Young and Beautiful and I Only Have Eyes for You. If you have heard both CDs, you will notice that some songs have different lyrics, like Maggie's verse of Shuffle of to Buffalo, and the added lyrics to 42nd Street. Christine Eberdsole's voice is amazing in range, in fact, if you listen to Shadow Waltz and then skip to the Act I Finale, you will hardly believe you are hearing the same person. Mary Testa and Jonathan Freeman are the perfect Maggie and Bert. Michael Cumpsty, although he is no Jerry Orbach, is a very good Julian Marsh. David Elder has a good tenor voice for Billy. Kate Levering, however, is a little disappointing. While a good singer, she isn't quite a Peggy Sawyer. From what I have heard, Meredith Patterson, the understudy, is more talented than Levering. All in all, if you consider yourself a lover of Broadway musicals, you HAVE to see and hear 42nd Street--Truly the Broadway musical for people who love Broadway musicals.

Even though the original performace only closed in 1989, after a nine year run(one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history), its really no suprise to see 42nd Street back in action. With catchy, classic songs such as the perky, slighty corny "We're in the Money", the comedic "Keep Young and Beautiful", the classic "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me", the wonderful title song, and of course the big one, the turning point, the always great "Lullaby of Broadway", the show is larger than life. Christine Ebersole is truly a star, with an amazing vocal range. If you listen to all of her songs, you will hardly believe you are hearing the same person. David Elder has a perfect tenor voice, Michael Cumpsty, although everyone says he is no Jerry Orbach, has excellent acting skills, Mary Testa and Jonathan Freeman are the perfect pair, and Kate Levering is a talented Peggy Sawyer. The addition of some new songs, such as "Keep Young and Beautiful", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "With Plenty of Money and You" and the new verse to "42nd Street", make the show even greater. The "grandaddy of all backstage musicals" will never die: 42nd Street, that big parade, really will go on for years.

This CD is amazing. Not only are all of the performers unbearably talented (I'm biased to Christine Ebersole!-she is the BEST!!!), it makes me happy every time I play it! I've had the fortunate luck of seeing this musical in New York, and the CD is just like being there in person. There are the usual couple of numbers that you skip by when listening to a CD of a musical, but there are many songs that make this a more than worthwhile purchase.

If you like the show, you'll love the CD. It does a great job of taking you through the production (let your memory of the show fill in the gaps). Christine Ebersole is absolutely wonderful. Her voice-it's amazing range and clarity-is the best thing about the show and the CD. I've never heard a better rendition of "I Only Have Eyes For You," and "Quarter to Nine" is a delight. 42nd Street made me forever a fan.

The current show, of course, is fabulous, and I would encourage any Broadway lover to rush and buy tickets. Christine Ebersole is wonderful. Comparing this recording with the 1980 version, however it falls short. The extra numbers and added length of the CD is welcome, but the taping leaves much to be desired. The sound is too low. Listen to the opening number of the 1980 version; when the taping starts, it sounds like 30 or forty dancers hoofing right in front of you. Then listen to the 2001 recording, it is pale in comparision. Too bad, because the show really is about dancing, isn't it?