Customer Reviews

Lucky Stiff (1993 Original Cast Members)

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

 

 

Answer me this... Why are all the best musicals so underrated. I ask this because Lucky Stiff (only 15 performances) for me is right up there with "Assassins" (only 73 performances) as an underrated masterpiece. Lucky Stiff is a musical that is bursting with humor that can't be overtaken. I never laughed so much with a cast recording since I first listened to "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown." This musical supplies us with a charming set of characters ranging from bizarre to just plain loony, and not to mention an original, wacky plotline. Try and name any other musical or anything for that matter where our main character is stuck toting his dead uncle to the Riviera to collect on an inheritence, while at the same time he has a crazy gun-toting "Would-you-please-wear-your-glasses-before-someone gets-hurt" woman, and her panicky brother and plus and dog-activist on his tail all trying to get ahold of the money for some reason. Please have the sense to find this one. Don't deprive yourself of such humourous songs like "Lucky, Dogs V.S. You" and "Fancy Meeting You Here." you'll laugh all the way to the surprise twist and the touching finale / reprise of "Good To Be Alive." And trust me after listening to this musical you'll also feel "you're one lucky stiff, and so am I."

Based on a (now) obscure novel by Michael Butterworth, "Lucky Stiff" is a frothy little musical that has been made into an album worth owning. I ran across it totally by accident when a friend loaned it to me because she was planning on auditioning for a role in it at her college. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked it that much, but after listening to the whole thing, decided that it was way too witty and enjoyable to be passed up.

The plot is silly and complicated. The leads are unassuming and stereotypical. It is Agatha Christie meets Cole Porter. The general idea is that a young, poor, British shoesalesman inherits a fortune from his dead uncle from New Jersey. The twist is, in order to get the cash, he's got to take his uncle (posthumously, of course) on his dream vacation to Monte Carlo. Chased there by the dog charity who is also up for inheriting the money and his uncle's mistress (who accidently is also his murderer) and her brother, chaos and humor naturally commence. But is Uncle really dead? Will uptight British nephew loosen up and find love in the south of France? None of these questions are exactly deep, but the show moves at such a clever, quick pace and the double twist at the ending, though expected, is satisfying.

The best numbers on the soundtrack, by far, are "Rita's Confession" (which has strains spookily reminiscent of "Little Shop of Horrors" song "Mushnik and Son", which is probably only interesting to the handful of people who like that number), "The Phone Call", "Speaking French" (my personal favorite), "Fancy Meeting You Here" and "Nice".

A fantastic album, with songs both funny and full of heart. The score has most of the numbers, as well as several sections of dialogue which help set up the scenes. Since this is a studio album, the singing is absolutely wonderful, with Evan Pappas, Judy Blazer, and Mary Testa as standouts. Debbie Shapiro Gravitte's "Speaking French" is also superb. Written by the same team (Lynn Aherns and Stephan Flaherty) who wrote Once On This Island, Ragtime,My Favorite Year, and Anastasia (the film), this is my favorite. Aherns and Flaherty, like Sondheim, have a unique style appropriate to each project they work on, so it is not identifiable as a A/F project, but one very special to this story. All are recommended, but especially Once on This Island and Ragtime. Other highlights from the score include: "Nice", "Something Funny's Going On", "Rita's Confession", "At Times Like This", and "Good to Be Alive".

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play VINNIE in Lucky Stiff for a local theatre company. This show soundtrack is a must have for all those musical theatre fanatics out there. It's quite hysterical. A few folks stand out in the recording, especially Mary Testa of "Forum" fame. When Dominique de Monaco, a French night club entertainer, asks seductively.... "May I have a blue spot light please?..." I lose it every time. It is of course more fun to DO the show.. or see it, but owning the cast album is at least the next best thing.

After doing the production of Lucky Syiff locally I decided to listen to the recording. The show, based on the book The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo!, is a winner good for any theatre group to porduce. The music it's self gets 5 stars, but this soundtrack could use a few minor improvements, but other than that it's grate. For one, they left out a song (A Woman in my Bathroom), and they chaned a little bit of it. If you'r not farmillar with the show, buy the cd. The show is great. If you are interested in performing the show its avalable via Music Theatre International (mtishows@aol.com)

Great satirical well written funny show with a LOT of twists and turns......Loved it.

This is a forgotten musical that has great music and lyrics. The plot is silly, but it never pretends to be anything else. If you are looking for great Broadway-style music,look here!

This CD is just what I was looking for and not that easy to find. It arrived in about 5 days in perfect condition.
I am enjoying the delightful clever songs of a funny farcical musical! If you are a fan of Ahrens and Flaherty (or you like dogs), this is a must have for your collection!

There are several reasons for buying this CD
1. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
2. Stiff
3. Fun
4. The *totally wicked* Cast
So, go get it.

This score is simply marvellous: witty, fast-paced, wonderful, clever, and the songs advance the plot well. As for the plot, briefly, it's silly and somewhat complicated, but don't worry, if you've never seen the show: neither have I! However, everything is given in a detailed synopsis in the CD booklet, and I feel as though I've really seen the play, and now I really do want to!
As said, the songs are this CD are all excellent. There's only one that I have programmed out not to listen to--the others are all superb! The only problem is the cast. The supporting cast is quite good, but the two main characers, Harry Witherspoon and his uncle, are annoying. The nephew is British, and his accent makes everyone who's ever heard an English accent cringe. The uncle manages an Atlantic City casino--draw your own conclusions!
Bottom Line: Although the cast isn't great, this CD is definitely one to get! Perhaps consider picking up the other version of the show for better performances, but if it's not available, you won't be upset if you get this one!