Nick & Nora [Cast Recording]

Joanna Gleason, Faith Prince, Richard Maltby, Debra Monk, Chris Sarandon, Charles Strouse, Christine Baranski, Barry Bostwick | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 25, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B000005BHH
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,567 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Is There Anything Better Than Dancing?

3. Everybody Wants to Do a Musical

4. Max's Story

5. Swell

6. As Long as You're Happy

7. People Get Hurt

8. Men

9. May the Best Man Win

10. Look Who's Alone Now

11. Entr'acte

12. Class

13. Let's Go Home

14. Busy Night at Lorraine's

15. Boom Chicka Boom

16. Married Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great score + talented stars = recipe for a Broadway flop!, September 2, 2000

By 

Sean "jjpeachum" (LOOK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nick & Nora (Audio CD)

A murder myster musical sounds like one of the best evenings that I could spend in the theatre. Especially if it has such a complex, yet catchy, score as this one. Johanna Gleason and Barry Bostwick are strong leads, and Christine Baranski and Chris Sarandon are equally so in their supporting lead roles. Debra Monk's "People Get Hurt" is hilarious, and Faith Prince's heart-pounding, pulse-racing, and biting "Men" is definately among the high-lights of the album. These two songs alone make this album very buyable! At first I found the songs "Let's Go Home," "Look Who's Alone Now," and "Class" to be boring, B-flat Broadway ballads, but now I see that they are knowing, and reveal great character. The album deserves repeated listening, as the songs might not catch on at first listen, and the plot and various, over-lapping time sequances can be confusing. But by re-reading the synopsis and re-listening to the album, you will find this as a great a musical as I did. And the songs at the climaxes of both the acts ("May the Best Man Win" and "A Busy Night at Lorraine's"), are among the finest devices ever used in an experimental Broadway musical. Starting out as duets between the main two characters, and then expanding into numbers that include the full chorus (who are not really "present" at all, but who Nick and Nora have summoned up in their minds) is absolutely ingenious. And the story is not just about a murder, but about Nick and Nora Charles examining their glamorous marriage, taking it apart, and seeing it for what it really is. And if what it "really is," really works at all. And you know what? The great score, strong story, and amazingly talented, almost all-name cast didn't help this musical to succeed. It flopped when it opened on Broadway. Go figure, huh? Well, I guess it deserved it, as there were no helicopters or crashing chandeliers or dancing pussy-cats or anything like that along the way.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars one of the big cult-flops of the 90's, June 18, 2003

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nick & Nora (Audio CD)

NICK & NORA was one of the big cult-flops of the 90's. It closed after little more than a week's worth of performances. The show had a lot riding with it: it was Joanna Gleason's followup to her Tony-winning performance in 1987's INTO THE WOODS, and it featured an up-and-comer called Faith Prince...

There are a few good numbers in this otherwise-lackluster score. Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason make good with the charming "Is There Anything Better Than Dancing?", Christine Baranski (TV's 'Cybill' and 'Welcome to New York') is the perfect comical soubrette in "Everybody Wants to Do a Musical" and Joanna Gleason is plaintive and romantic in the 11 o'clock number "Let's Go Home".

The musical also starred Remak Ramsay, Michael Lombard, Debra Monk, Yvette Lawrence, Kip Niven, Jeff Brooks (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Thom Sesma and Chris Sarandon.

Of course, a few good things came out of this huge failure; the biggest thing being the discovery of Faith Prince. Less than 2 years later she was starring as Miss Adelaide in a lavish revival of GUYS AND DOLLS, and won a Tony for her portrayal.

NICK & NORA is a must-have for fans of Broadway musicals, and fans of the delightful Joanna Gleason.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A soundtrack worth owning., August 13, 2004

By 

TerryT (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nick & Nora (Audio CD)

Despite the fact that this show never became a success (and after hearing this record, I can't for the life of me imagine why), the CD is worth getting. The story, a clever murder mystery with twists (how else is a mystery going to go on stage?), is not exactly the most magical or transforming theatre spectacle one would ever hope to see. Yet what could be possibly be so awful about this show to close after a mere week is beyond me, for I have heard/seen far worse that survived longer...and in those cases, the cast was never as enormously talented as this one.

Barry Bostwick is excellent and Joanna Gleason is terrific too (of Into the Woods fame, which IS a magical and transforming experience worthy of its glory). The opening song, "Is there anything better than dancing?," seems like a great start and gears you up for a fabulous recording. Most of the rest doesn't fall short. Personal favorite tracks are "Swell," "Men," "May the best man win," "Busy night at Lorraine's," and "Boom Chicka Boom." And for that matter, "As long as you're happy" is kinda nice as well.

For me the greatest song on the album is "Everybody wants to do a Musical." I love this one; Christine Baranski has an amazing voice and is possibly the most hugely underrated singer of all time. It's a pity this show couldn't have helped her more, but I reckon the plot just wasn't what the critics were looking for at the time. The failure of "Nick and Nora" is a shame, but this record isn't. I give it 5 stars and a thumbs-up and a nice recommendation to theatre fans anyway.