Customer Reviews

Christmas Carol

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Menken's A Christmas Carol is an excellent interpretation of the classic Dicken's novel. It has the well written if somewhat familiar Menken sound and some clever lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. A soundsgood recording of a feelgood classic.

This Christmas Carol knows how to please its audience, which are mostly kids. It also knows how to fill a giant stage with spectacular production numbers. Dickens may turn over in his grave as his story is sweetened and shortened. But he's used to that after "Oliver". I'll stop being a Scrooge and admit that it is joyous with an excellent score by Menken and Ahrens.

Mr. Scrooge and his three Christmas spirits are icons of popular culture, for everyone knows the story of "A Christmas Carol." In this wonderful musical, however, the story is retold and reimagined through an hour and a half of enjoyable music. I stumbled upon this CD accidentally in my local library, and it was a hunt to find it after that. Telling the majority of the story through song, the CD captures the essence and spirit of Dickens's classic, while introducing modern and original touches as well. The cast is wonderful, and they have a strong vocal sound. I certainly recommend this CD to anyone.

Boy, are you in for a treat. Long overlooked, this show contains some of Menken's most surprising music in terms of breadth and sweep--it's as sweet as pieces of "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" in spots, but in others it rivals the dark majesty of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." In addition to the lovely ballads such as "There's a Place Called Home," the raise-the-roof joy of "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball" (so lively it's almost like being there) and the euphoric "Abundance, Charity, Goodwill Towards Men" (with a deliriously wonderful tap-dance number), there are pitch-black pieces such as "Dancing On Your Grave" that startle with their ferocity and grimness. (Ahrens' lyrics are especially impressive here.) Combine all this musicality with some ominous,frightening effects (the quiet whoooosh of ghosts in the wind, the ominous chime of the clock) and you've got a Christmas album like no other. OK, it's a hair overstuffed, and the orchestrations do get a trifle bombastic, but isn't it nice to have a holiday present this generous? Highly recommended, especially for performance.

This version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the BEST ever!!! The CD is the full show (I'm guessing)--the twist of this show is that it is all sung (not EVERY word of course, but the majority). I used to HATE all sung musicals- but a couple of years ago I bought this and fell in love. Since then I've been obsessed with EVITA and other "all-sung" shows. You will love this!!!!! The songs, lyrics, music are all as true to the original story as any other. Some of the most popular Scrooge speeches like "Are there no work houses..." and the ones to Cratchit are in here with a wonderful song usually following. I promise you won't be disappointed!!!! (...)

I first heard of "a christmas carol", serching for lynn ahrens' cd's (the amazing lyric writer that wrote ragtime, seussical others). i am jewish and never celebrate the christmas holiday,
and even though i found an amazing piece of musical-theatre that was so strong and heartwarming that in the last scene (and 14th track)i burst into tears of joy. this is nt only a christmas musical. this carol should play and play all year long-a whole family feast.

The very first time I ever saw this musical, I was in 3rd grade, which would be 2000. I went to see it with a family friend and his mom, and I absolutely adored it. That trip was very special, especially because that friend's older sister was in it, one of the 30 angels in the choir. From that point on, it was my dream to be in the angel choir too. And since she was in it through our school, I knew I would get my chance. 3 years later, in 6th grade, choir auditions came around at school and I made it! You could definitely say that that was the best day of my life. And so I performed with 29 of my friends about once a week, and I remember every moment of it - however, having this CD definitely helps to relive the memories. =) If you didn't get a chance to see this show before it closed last year, buy this CD - it obviously won't be the same but it's pretty darn close! And for those of you who have seen it, you'll love reliving it for yourself. Just get this CD!! It has perfect orchestrations, witty songs and it's an all around joyful experience. And I'm not just saying that because I was in it. =D

I'll agree this is nothing new, but this CD has great music on it. Very exciting and fresh, to go with this old story. The vocalists are great, the lyrics fit right into the story, and the orchestrations are wonderful. After listening to this CD I never want to see "A Christmas Carol" any other way. I strongly suggest this CD for everyone. It is a family show, as well as being a wonderful one for new and old listeners. This CD tells the entire story, there no need to read a synopsis because its all here. Favorite Song: "Dancing On Your Grave"

All of Menken's work has had a unique sound that still allows melodic lines to soar in a way unheard since Rodgers & Hammerstein. Whether it be the 60s Do-Wop style of Little Shop of Horrors or the intense soaring classical-romantic style of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame, he creates soaring music. One of these shows would certainly be A Christmas Carol.

The music starts out perhaps a slight bit weak, lacking in melodiousness, but Ahrens (of Once On this Island and Ragtime Fame) is able to redeem this with important story characteristics which allow the second half to be a ton of fun musically as well.

What this show lacks in originality or variety, it makes up with charm and pure enjoyment points. We all know the story, Scrooge regects the Christmas spirit and is, in result, is visited my three ghosts to show in the past, present and future of Schrooge's Christmas'. What makes this show unique is that it is almost entirely sung through. However, this is also the downfall of the show. There is not quite enough material to merit a the opera-esque elements of the show. Unfortuantely, there are a lot of reprisals of the music, and it is the weaker songs that are repeated again and again, which makes it occasionally tedious. Also, it borrows elements from menkins other musicals, like Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast. The same mediocre material moves from tedious to boring when streched across three shows.

However, the show is a lot of fun, and will make you begin counting down the days until Christmas!
The best songs are LINK BY LINK, the song Marley sings to forsee the arrival of the three ghosts, ABUNDANCE AND CHARITY, a sort of MGM big chorus number by the ghost of christmas present, and DANCING ON YOUR GRAVE, the song the gost of christmas yet to be sings. Its atmospheric and a little creepy.

Overall, its a great family musical for the christmas season.