Customer Reviews

The Magic Show (1974 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is by far a hidden treasure. I remember seeing The Magic Show many times on Broadway and hearing the score bought back many memories of those days at the Cort Theater. Many in the show have gone on to bigger better things(David Ogden Stires,Anita Morris, and little known at the time keyboardist Paul Shaffer)IT is wonderful to have them together here in this wonderful CD. I had forgotten the great lyrics of The Goldfarb Revolations and Twos Company and Dale Soules powerful West End Avenue. Thanks to this great CD they live again.If only the show could be done today. Now that would be truly magical!

I just recently bought "The Magic Show" because of hearing previous renditions of "West End Avenue" (Alice Ripley; absolutely amazing), "Lion Tamer" (Christen Chenoweth), and "Solid Silver Platform Shoes" (Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner; DIVA!) The album itself is very upbeat and energenic. The rendition of "Solid Silver..." is awesome and doesn't fall short of the new one. The best thing about this album is the fabulous Anita Morris. Her "Charmin's Lament" is a singing sensation. It's a great comedy piece as well as vocally challenging. There's also some great belts in "Sweet, Sweet" Overall the entire album is a fun show, and besides I love Stephen Schwartz. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

This cd includes some of the funnest music I have heard on a broadway cd in quite a while. Stephen Schwartz rocks and this cd proves it. The songs range from goofy, fun songs (Solid Silver Platform Shoes, Two's Company) to Sexy Ballads (Charmin's Lament) to surprisingly emotional songs (Lion Tamer, West End Avenue.)

I first saw The Magic Show when I was 7 years old in 1974. I've loved it ever since. It was a thrill to finally find it available on CD; something I never expected would happen. Now if the play would come back to Broadway, my life would be complete. Everyone should check this CD out, it is outstanding!

Before Stephen Schwartz wrote lyrics for some of Disney's newer animated films he was writing for broadway. "The Magic Show" represents his third full scale work after "Godspell" and "Pippin". The score, like "The Magic Show" itself reflects the flower power of the early seventies, with a great deal of the profound Schwartz lyrics and complex arrangments that have made him the composer he is in the nineties. The harmonies of "The Goldfarb Variations" are simply amazing. The celebration of the art of magic comes through clearly in "Up To His Old Tricks." Listen to the timing changes and powerful lyric of the broken dream ballad "West End Avenue". I would have rated this album even higher if they included more of the instrumental music that was part of the broadway experience. Also keep an ear open for a young Paul Schaffer (David Letterman) on the keyboards.

The Magic Show was Steven Schwartz's return to a rock band format after Pippin. He mostly hand-picked the musicians from his various Godspell bands, including Paul Shaffer who was the musical director for the Toronto company of Godspell. I came from the NYC company.

This show has some of Schwartz's best compositions, like West End Avenue and Lion Tamer. While it all sounds a bit dated now (a bit??) there's no arguing that Steven is a brilliant composer and lyricist. I always thought the show's musical book never got the praise it deserved.

Ordered The Magic Show and was so totally pleased. Absolute 80s but what a riot! Sad to know at least two of the stars have died...but how well they will be remembered. I've played it numerous times and it brings back such great memories.

Stephen Schwartz's third major musical about a local magic man staring the late Doug Henning. It is a really fun show, not as good or as big a hit as Godspell and Pippin, but it was a fun show. My personal favorite is David Ogen Stiers and the song Style. Also songs like Sweet,Sweet, Goldfarb Variations. I still find it odd that Doug Henning is the star of the show but he doesn't sing. I guess he is not a singer, but he is the star of a musical.

I would give it 4.5 stars if I could... this is a diamond-in-the-rough, cute, and catchy score. Stephen Schwartz among his most enjoyable works-- it's just a shame the show revolves Doug Henning and isn't easier to reproduce. At some times retro-fun ("...my solid gold record/ and solid silver platform shoes!") and sometimes tragically dated (read:orchestrations in the opening song "Up To His Old Tricks"), the good far outweigh the bad. The show will be a wonderful surprise for you, too, if you go in not expecting much (or anything). It's ironic that "Lion Tamer" was the most popular song from the show at the time, and it is the weakest one on the album. "Goldfarb Variations" "Two's Company" (also on Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner's fantastic 'Duets' album) "It's A Matter of Style" and "Dream Come True" are my highlights on the album. It is essential to a "complete" musical theater collection!

I just want to say that it is great to hear Anita Morris' voice again. As a big fan of this actress I was sure I had seen/heard all that there was of her career. This rerelease is kind of a "lost jem" and a welcome addition to my collection.