Customer Reviews

Peter Pan (1997 Studio Cast)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently saw the video of this Broadway production, and I have to say that it's great! One of the most fun musicals of all time has been given a new life. All the great songs are on here, including "I'm Flying", "Neverland", "Captain Hook's Waltz" and so many more. I really recommend this CD!

Forty some ye3ars ago I saw Peter Pan on its premier performance on television. I bought the record with Mary Martin and I have loved it. I have to say that the Cathy Rigby recording is even better. Cathy beings a youthful presence in her songs. The recording itself is technologically better. The recording includes bits from the play not on the original. And the whole recoding seems to have a life the original does not have. "I'm Flying" is exhilerating. "Once Upon a Time Long Ago" has a more haunting ache. The timing of the songs is different, but not worse than the original. Ms. Rigby is not trying to copy Ms. Martin. Which means for Peter Pan lovers there are two distinctive performances to appreciate. I wish I could see Ms. Rigby on stage. I saw Sandy Duncan some years ago and she was good. This is a great recording.

Watching Mary Martin perform peter pan as a kid, was such great joy... but I have to say that Cathy Rigby puts on a more worthy performance. The new orchestrations are full of life and energy, and the entire cast has great voices and perfomances. I recommend you buy this CD and "never grow up!"

Forty some ye3ars ago I saw Peter Pan on its premier performance on television. I bought the record with Mary Martin and I have loved it. I have to say that the Cathy Rigby recording is even better. Cathy beings a youthful presence in her songs. The recording itself is technologically better. The recording includes bits from the play not on the original. And the whole recoding seems to have a life the original does not have. "I'm Flying" is exhilerating. "Once Upon a Time Long Ago" has a more haunting ache. The timing of the songs is different, but not worse than the original. Ms. Rigby is not trying to copy Ms. Martin. Which means for Peter Pan lovers there are two distinctive performances to appreciate. I wish I could see Ms. Rigby on stage. I saw Sandy Duncan some years ago and she was good. This is a great recording.

Peter Pan is a charming musical! I recently saw Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. Although no one can beat Mary Martin, she comes close and is wonderful as the little boy who won't grow up. Her voice gives Peter Pan a sparkle and a little boy flare! Paul Schoeffer is a wonderfully hissable Captain Hook! This is a truly splendid new recording of Peter Pan!

I have had the vinyl record of Mary Martin as Peter Pan for at least 20 years. Then I got the CD. In January when Cathy Rigby performed Peter Pan at the Temple Buell Theatre in Denver, I was surprised by what a great talent Ms. Rigby was. Her CD is excellent (and I agree with some of the other customers below who said she is BETTER than Mary Martin). Of course, the more-current, beefier orchestrations help. And the Rigby version eliminates "Mysterious Lady" (I mean, what 10-year old BOY would REALLY sing this -- it was so out of character and merely done to highlight Ms. Martin's beautiful singing voice.) And while this Captain Hook is wonderful (he has a better voice than Cyril Richard), Richard seems campier and a bit funnier. And this Wendy is great too. All in all, if I were to choose between the Cathy version and the Mary version(who I still love), Cathy would win by a fairy's wing.

My daughter is playing Wendy in a community youth theater production of Peter Pan. She has been singing along with the CD ever since we received it in the mail. Wonderful sound quality.

This 1997 studio cast album of PETER PAN is a fine testament to this magical musical. Cathy Rigby, star of various Broadway runs and national tours of the show, gives thrilling voice to the title character, and is joined by a first-rate supporting cast.

Paul Schoeffler, also a veteran of the Broadway/national tour, is a great Captain Hook, especially during "Hook's Waltz" and "Hook's Tango". Traditionally, he also portrays the bombastic Mr Darling.

Elisa Sagardia is, like Rigby and Schoeffler, reprising her role of Wendy from the Broadway/national tour. She gives a lovely weight to "Tender Shepherd" and "Distant Melody". She also has a great voice.

Rounding out the cast are Susan Lamontagne as Tiger Lily, Lee Honey-Jones as John, Myles Anderson as Michael, Helen Hobson as Mrs Darling, Anne McVey as Liza, Susan Dale as Jane, Julian Forsythe as Smee and Jenny Agutter as the Narrator. [CDJAY 1280]

I grew up with the memory of Mary Martin as the one, the only Peter Pan. Cathy Rigby has just displaced her in my mind. She is fantastic in the role in more ways than one. Far more physical, more boylike and just as good a singer.

Gone from this version is "Mysterious Lady" which was sooooooo out-of-character for a BOY! The song was merely thrown in to show off Miss Martin's vocal abilities. While a fun song, I am glad that a more reasonable handle on characterization ruled this out. It just made no sense in the scheme of the plot.

And the orchestrations are a mile better than the 1950s version which sound a little tinny.

A great Peter Pan, a great album. And Cathy Rigby, you are A MORE THAN WORTHY SUCCESSOR!

It's true, Cathy Rigby doens't have the vocal power that Mary Martin did, but she's not too bad. It's the rest of the cast and the orchestrations that are great! The music seems to have much more energy than the original soundtrack. Also, I can't say enough about those kids! Elisa Sagardia is wonderful as Wendy! Lee Honey-Jones is probably the best John I have ever heard!! And who could disagree that Myles Anderson is the perfect Michael? I'm sure even Peter Pan himself/herself, Mary Martin, would be pleased with this recording!