Customer Reviews

Bells Are Ringing (2001 Revival Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

BELLS ARE RINGING was brought back to Broadway in 2001, in an ill-fated revival that only lasted a couple of months due to lukewarm notices.

Tony-winner Faith Prince (GUYS AND DOLLS) gives her all in the lead role of hopeless romantic Ella Peterson. The role is virtually owned by the late Judy Holliday, who starred in the original Broadway run and later the under-rated movie version. Prince gives us a fresh new look at Ella, with glowing readings of "It's a Perfect Relationship", "Just in Time" and the still-delicious "The Party's Over".

Marc Kudisch, in the decidedly-wooden role of Jeff Moss, sings wonderfully in his songs including the frenetic "I Met a Girl" and "Long Before I Knew You".

This cast also includes Beth Fowler as Sue and Martin Moran as Sandor, who share the comical duet "Salzburg".

Most of the criticism in this revival was aimed at Tina Landau's direction, and the age of the book which seemed too old-fashioned for 'modern' theatregoers. Still, a great musical and a great recording for fans.

Highly-recommended

I loved the revival of the musical. It's classic! It's so funny and charming and unpretentious. But unfortuneately this album displays the musical as dull and lifeless. Faith Prince comes off as overplayed and "kitschy" and Mark Kudisch comes off as bored. When I saw the show neither seemed that way at all. The song "I'm Going Back" brought the house down on Broadway, but I often skip that track when I listen to the cd, I'm sorry to say. Luckily, the big hit from the show "The Party's Over" is still as beautiful as the first time it was written-- and Thank God. It's a good play... a good cast... and has good music! It just comes off as very poor and dull...

The Judy Holiday production of Bells are Ringing has been a favorite. Betty Comden,Adolph Green and Jule Styne have composed a great musical with style, comedy and even a cute long story. The revival left nothing out from the original and gave bew life through Faith Prince to the kind of musicals that are probably past their prime. But they were fun! What is striking about Prince's vocalizations on the album is that she works her own interpretation in her numbers. An one who is very familiar with the Holiday album, these stylizations first seemed out of place. But then one had to simply listen to another artist create the role of Ella Peterson. And Prince does that very well. Her voice is better than Holiday's and while she brings the kind of naivete of the character, she also brought another way of seeing the character. One hopes this show goes on the road.

EXCELLENT CAST I THOUGHT THAT FAITH PRINCE WAS EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS JUDY HOLIDAY, AND I REMEMBER HER WELL.

I CAN SAY THAT THIS DISC IS A EXCELLENT ADDITION TO ONES MUSICAL COMEDS LIBRARY

I had the privilege of seeing 'Bells Are Ringing' twice before it quickly closed, and I found it to be a delightful show, with an equally wonderful cast recording. Faith Prince is a wonderful Ella, and those who couldn't see past Judy Holliday missed out, unable to see the beauty of her renditions of the classics "The Party's Over" and "I'm Going Back", as well as her delightful "Is That A Crime" and "It's A Perfect Relationship". Marc Kudisch is in his best form as Jeffery Moss. His rendition of "I Met A Girl" is wonderful, and he & Prince give a terrific "Just In Time".

It really is a shame that the theater community couldn't embrace this charming show, as the performers were wonderful. You now can enjoy it with this cast recording- and I guarantee that you will.

My copy of "Bells Are Ringing" got to my house just in time! Listening to Faith Prince's wonderful work made my day, as always. My favorite song is "It's a Perfect Relationship" (something about singing Jeff Moss's phone number makes me laugh), and there are many many many more wonderfully performed songs. Well worth the price of admission! Enjoy!

While the show itself left me a little cold this album is wonderful listening. A talented cast bring the Jule Styne melodies alive. Faith may not be the comic caricature genius that Judy Holiday was, but her voice is glorious and the score soars when she sings. Marc Kudish's resonating baritone brings to life "I Met a Girl". And you have to love their rendition of "Just in Time". The party goes on with this cd.

Let's face it..."Bells Are Ringing" is hardly a substantive Broadway classic. It's theme is dated, as are its notions of the male/female relationship, and many of its references remain staunchly in the 1950s conventionailty of its genesis. But you know what? These shortcomings are equally some of this shows definite charms. "Bells..." is a quintessential example of the Broadway musical's prime years of the 50s and 60s. It's light, entertaining, funny, hummable, and just plain fun. There's none of the "sterm-and-drang" that would come post-Viet Nam. This new recording, quite frankly, is a vast improvement over the original for one simple reason: the two leads can actually sing. Judy Holliday was a marvel of an actress, and this show was tailored to her abilities, but her raspy voice actually detracted from the cleverness of these songs. And Sidney Chaplin, poor soul, was a hapless singer even at the best of times. This time out, Faith Prince reinvents the role as her own and displays both the musical and comedic flair that make her such a unique presence on the legit stage. If only she received more roles of this stature. Can somebody please tailor a new vehicle worthy of her talents? Mark Kudisch brings a pleasing baritone and an effortless energy to his role, and the two play off one another beautifully on this recording. Although some of these songs have dated somewhat, it's still a thrill to hear them delivered as if they were just composed. Of course, "Just in Time" and "The Party's Over" have justifiable reputations, but there are more goodies behind the hits. "It's a Perfect Relationship", "Hello, Hello There", "Drop a Name" and I'm Going Back" are all lively and delicious musical cotton candy, funny and fun to hear with these performers. What makes this CD so good is that it's one of the best produced original cast recordings in years. The singers sound like they're right next to you, adding to the intimacy and personable nature of their characters. There's none of the bobast and canyon-like distance so typical of the post-Lloyd Webber age. Here, you feel like you're listening to a couple of old chums and you're just aching for them to find each other. Of course, you know they will, but their musical journey is still a hoot. This "Bells Are Ringing" is a simple, direct, joyously ebullient lark from start to finish. It's a great addition to any Broadway collection, and a reminder of why those simple musical-comedy shows were such a treat in their heydey. Enjoy.

Faith Prince is NOT Judy Holliday and it is unfair to compare her. She does give this charming, old fashioned, romantic musical a new, and welcome, spin. The score is delightful and holds up quite well after all these years, with The Party's Over and Just In Time being standards. I had forgotten how gorgeous Long Before I Knew You was, and in this recording between Prince and Mark Kudisch, is performed beautifully. While some of the plot driven numbers are a bit corny, they still retain an amount of charm.

As I have stated in previous reviews, I like revival recordings because they are technically superior to the originals, and this does not disappoint on that count.

Judy Holliday was a unique performer and personality, and the original cast recording is wonderful, but this is terrific in it's own right, and should be listened to without comparison to the original.
A shame the critics had decided the show was too corny and old fashioned for the new millenium, I guess a nice, simple, romantic musical comedy with a fantastic score, isn't welcome on Broadway anymore, it must have to be graphic and gross like Spring Awakening, or completely Disneyfied, to last.

I had the privilege of seeing 'Bells Are Ringing' twice before it quickly closed, and I found it to be a delightful show, with an equally wonderful cast recording. Faith Prince is a wonderful Ella, and those who couldn't see past Judy Holliday missed out, unable to see the beauty of her renditions of the classics "The Party's Over" and "I'm Going Back", as well as her delightful "Is That A Crime" and "It's A Perfect Relationship". Marc Kudisch is in his best form as Jeffery Moss. His rendition of "I Met A Girl" is wonderful, and he & Prince give a terrific "Just In Time".

It really is a shame that the theater community couldn't embrace this charming show, as the performers were wonderful. You now can enjoy it with this cast recording- and I guarantee that you will.