Customer Reviews

Frankenstein, The Musical

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was skeptical about purchasing this CD. I had never heard of the musical, samples of the songs were not available on Amazon, and it only cost $8.99. I was very concerned about what I would be getting. But I do enjoy musical theater and was intrigued by the prospect of what could be done with the material, so I took a leap of faith.

That leap paid off in spades. This concept recording is a fantastic treat. It has a lush gothic sound comparable to the best Broadway has to offer, in my opinion. Do not let the fact that it is a concept recording frighten you away. It is a fully realized story with beautiful composition. Based upon the storyline and the gothic sound, comparisons to Jekyll and Hyde are obvious. I intend any comparison favorably and, in fact, this story is better realized.

Most everyone has a general awareness of the story whether they have read Mary Shelley's work or not (as I must admit I have not - though I am tempted to now). I was delighted with how the story was told. It explores deep human emotion and experience like love, loneliness, family, loyalty, science and morality while staying deeply personal. It is a touching tale of how a doctor's desire to free humanity from death yields a personal harvest of the same. A few of the lyrics seemed a bit trite or contrived while trying to be a little too profound. But overall, the songs were extremely well done lyrically and musically.

The lead actors/singers were fantastic for their roles. Ivan Rutherford (as Victor Frankenstein) has a beautiful tenor voice. His delivery is crisp, clear, and full of emotion. A few of the notes were a little high for him, maybe not actually out of his range but cause for some strain. Overall, however, he is a tremendous tenor. Rita Harvey (as Elizabeth, the fiancé) has a sweet sound. Her voice is beautiful, very easy on the ears. Shuler Hensley (as the Creature) has a full, deep baritone voice. It seems so few musicals feature that vocal range. It was perfect for this role. His delivery was wonderful - highly emotive and technically sound. Such great performances absolutely sell the story.

I give only four stars because a couple of the numbers are not quite on par with the rest. While it is not perfect, it is closer than many.

I wholeheartedly recommend Frankenstein, The Musical to anyone who enjoys musical theater.

I bought this CD on the chance that it would be as good as some other 'gothic' musicals such as Jekyll & Hyde, Possessed and Phantom (Maury Yeston).
I wasn't disappointed!!
Created during a Stephen Sondheim workshop this show beautifully creates Mary Shelley's book!! The single-minded dedication and ignorance of Victor Frankenstein is wonderfully executed in such songs as 'Birth To My Creation' and 'The Brides'. The monster/creation himself also gets to sing (not as bad or stupid as you may think!!) in the wonderful 'The Creature's Tale'.
Beautiful ballads are included with Dear Victor, A Father's Love.
Other songs of particular note are: The Coming of the Dawn, Why?, The Modern Prometheus and Amen.
Buy it now!! This musical deserves to be heard and at the price on Amazon it's an absolute steal!!

The music and lyrics are phenomenal and capture the spirit of the story and the time it was written. It is both dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful. The melodies are haunting and I cry eveytime I listen . Hoping for a broadway opening in the near future.

Based on this album the show has, in my opinion, tremendous potential. There are plot points that need serious attention, and the ending may need to be reworked, but all in all it is great entertainment to listen to how they put the ideas into song. I will say, though, that they lyrics are the weakest part of the show and need to be reworked to get rid of some of the more rudimentary rhymes (i.e.: in Amen, the "man" & "plan" rhyme just grates for some reason) Overall, though, excellent, and when this show does get to broadway, you'll be able to say you heard it before anyone else... :-)

Frankenstein The Musical. Another cheap easy gothic story, turned musical? No way! This new version of Frankenstein is the best re-telling any story has had on stage in history and the music just goes to prove that. Even this CD, as a concept album, is close to the quality of a full-blown Broadway recording! The show has a huge amount of promise and I can't wait until it goes to Broadway and the rest of the world. Believe it or not, I am now a fan of this production and shall be keeping a close eye on it - good luck to you all involved. Bring on the UK production!

This CD is excellant - the Lyrics are wonderful and touching - the Performers are Terrific and their voices very touching. It is a CD that you cannot stop listening to as it is very thought provoking. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes musicals.

Being a musicals fan, I have heard many exceptional and even brilliant musicals over the years. Most of them, when following the story they are based on, is not as perfect as it should be, unfortunately (though they still retain their phenomenal qualities). But this musical, is one of the precious few shows that actually follow the Original story as closely as possible, while still retaining a fantastic score of music and lyrics, a cast worthy of any Hit Broadway show production (Hensley, Rutherford, and Harvey), and the suspence and drama to give an authentic aura to the atmosphere of the show.

This show is the closest version of Mary Shelley's classic horror novel of a man who dares to play God and creates, perhaps, the most frightening character in Literature and at the same time, retains a uniqueness that is wholly of its own design.

Shuler Hensley (known for his previous work as Jud Fry in Oklahoma) is, along with Boris Karloff, the best portrayer of the Creature (as he is rightly known) ever. From the beginning to the end of the show, he retains all throughout the show, despite the horror and menace, a certain humanity to his role which at times causes you to pity the Creature's plight for being taken from Death and to live a life as a monster. His deep, baritone voice perfectly suits the role and I feel that if he played the part on Broadway or London, he would win rave reviews for his performance. He is truly brilliamt.

Ivan Rutherford (known best as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables), is equally as brilliant, if not more so than Hensley, as the fateful Dr. Victor Frankenstein. He captures the part perfectly in playing him not just as a man soughting to rid the world of death, but also in playing man who soughts greatness and thinks of himself as a God figure who can bring the dead back to life. His beautiful tenor voice lends beautifully, and some of his best songs, "Amen" and "Birth to my Creation" just show off his phenomenal range as a performer.

Rita Harvey (known for playing Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera) is the perfect, ideal Elizabeth. Her portrayal is very innocent and very gentle, her light soprano voice lending itself beautifully to the part. This actress clearly displays her talent in playing the role of Victor Frankenstein's fiance, who eventually discovers the reason for her fiance's absence and fatally meets the Creature. She retains a forgiving and almost righteous attitude, during the show, even as she lays dying in her fiance's arms. Clearly she knew what she was doing when she was hired to play the role and she just shines in this role, as she has in her previous roles.

This show is one of the best things I have ever heard, and the rest of the cast does a spectacular job and leaves me in suspence and the tunes have now lodged themselves into my brain. This is worthy of Tony material. This is one of the best musicals, indeed, ever! And I applaud the creators of "their" Frankenstein. Hopefully this is one "Frankenstein" that will live forever and triumph!

BRAVO!!

I'm a huge musical theatre fan and bought this CD on amazon.com based solely on the glowing, positive reviews that were posted here.

I'm sorry to say that this is one of the worst musicals I've ever had the misfortune to listen to. The orchestrations are trite and predictable. The rhymes are completely insipid and an absolute torture of the English language. I found myself continually groaning and rolling my eyes at the painfulness of it all.

Also, it's completely derivative of "Jekyl & Hyde," without any of the quality music and lyrics. Do not buy this CD if you enjoy quality musical theatre. You will be sorely disappointed.

Amazing. I really enjoyed it. Would love to see it on stage. I don't know how anyone can say this is bad. I highly recommend it. I happen to think this Studio album recording is a notch above the Off-Broadway album which cuts/rearranges some of the music, but both are good. Definitely worth trying out.

I will admit that upon receiving this cd from a friend whilst doing a production of Les Miserables i was sceptical about what it may be like. After letting it sit on a shelf for weeks i finally got it down admittedly so i could mock the content....i only wish i had got it down sooner. It is superbly executed and conveys it's subject matter in a dramatic and excellently scored way. The music and performances are breathtaking, each character conveys powerful emotion through voice alone. Even for the sceptics i recommend this as i was once too but am now totally transferred.