Customer Reviews

Dames at Sea (1989 London Revival Cast)

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

 

 

This version of Dames at Sea is a great disappointment. The score has always been recognized as derivitive and trite, but the delightful performances of the original New York cast, especially Bernadette Peters, made it something special. Sorry to say, that is not the cast with this version. The recorded performances are amateurish at best. These people simply cannot sing. The whole thing is a disaster and should never have been released. Get Bernadette's version instead.

This London revival of DAMES AT SEA cannot even compare to the excellent original off-Broadway cast. Though Tina Doyle has an attractive singing voice in the ingenue role of Ruby, for me Bernadette Peters still defines that role. Her rendition of "The Sailor of My Dreams" doesn't carry the same charm as Peters' version. Doyle has no weight to her voice, and no real vibrato to speak of, either. Sandra Dickinson, Paul Robinson and especially Josephine Blake are all standouts on this record. DAMES AT SEA is a fantastic musical, but at the end of the day, I'll still go back to the Bernadette Peters version.

I know you Bernadette Peters fans are not going to want to hear this. She did a lovely job on the off Broadway production, but this recording is far superior. The vocal quality is wonderful. The songs have so much character in them. Joan sounds like a chorus girl. (In the other recording she sounds like a flake!) Mona is a little lower and more belty and the Diva personna shines through. Hands down this is a better CD. This is a very campy spoofy show and it just sounds too serious on the original CD. This is a fun show. You will enjoy this CD.