Product Details

• Actors: Audra McDonald
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Nonesuch
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Run Time: 68 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004TJTV
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,920 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure in a box, November 20, 2000

By 

efrex (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audra McDonald - Live at the Donmar London [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Is there anything Audra McDonald cannot do in the world of musical theater? Four Broadway roles, three Tony awards, two magnificently different solo recordings, and now this video of her in solo concert format would seem to indicate not.

Audra has long been a champion of the "new school" of theatrical composers, and she begins this concert with one of the more accessible compositions of one of them: Michael John LaChiusa's "I See What I Wanna See". Sweet and charming, Audra introduces modern classics like Jason Robert Brown's "Stars and Moon" with the same reverence as the more familiar "I Had Myself a True Love" "Bill" and "The Man that Got Away." Not a thematic note is missed, as Audra goes from the silly blues of "Beat My Dog" to the simple gorgeousness of Flaherty and Ahrens's "Come Down From The Tree" (which was cut from Once on this Island and may be better known than any song actually *in* that score). Even more "artsy" material, such as Ricky Ian Gordon's compositions, work well in this setting, as her backing band (a quartet? I couldn't quite count the number of pieces) creates a lush musical trapestry behind her.

Although some of the newer material may or not stand up to the classics, depending on your viewpoint, this concert is one which will provide you with more than enough material to enjoy continuously and repeatedly. I have two nitpicks, neither of which is a major distraction: The video doesn't include anything by Adam Guettel (since Audra referred to him in her intro, I presume that she performed a song by him which was trimmed from the final product), and Audra hasn't yet tackled Stephen Sondheim as a solo performer (although she does perform the early Sondheim work "So Many People" as a lovely medley with Wonderful Town's "A Little Bit In Love", and recently did the concert of "Sweeney Todd", it would be great to hear her voice wrap around the work of Broadway's greatest living composer).

This video is superbly produced, with seamless camerawork and fantastic sound. A essential part of any modern musical theater lover's collection.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audra in concert, June 16, 2000

By 

C. Fielder (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Audra McDonald - Live at the Donmar London [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Audra McDonald, the recipient of three Tony awards, is one of the leading lights of the American musical theater. This concert, taped last summer in London, is her first full length video release. It shows McDonald doing what she does best: singing standards and songs by contemporary theatre composers. Her interpretations are unfailingly smart and her musicianship is impeccable. Ted Sperling provides the excellent musical direction, as well as sensitive accompaniment. One of McDonald's strengths as a singer is in her ability to act each song, as if it were a one-act play. She becomes a different character for each number. The songs range from the down and dirty ("See What I Wanna See," "Beat My Dog") to semi-gospel ("Some Days") to the simply beautiful ("Bill"). Her performances reach you in so many ways: she pleases the ear and the eye, the brain and the heart. To see her sing in person is heaven. This tape is the next best thing.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely great!, June 15, 2000

By 

"songburd" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audra McDonald - Live at the Donmar London [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you have never seen Audra in person, you GOTTA see this video! This concert took place in a little cabaret setting, and Audra is totally laid back, relaxed, and still gave a 110% performance (I wouldn't expect any less!). Audra sings a quite a few songs from her second solo CD How Glory Goes, as well as some other songs like Dream Variations, A Little Bit In Love, and Song For A Dark Girl. This video is recommended for anyone who is curious about Audra, never saw Audra perform, or wants to have the best seat in the house for one of the best musical performances in the world!