Customer Reviews

Raisin (1973 Original Broadway Cast)

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

 

 

I own the original LP of this show and played it until it is now close to wearing out. An absolutely incredible cast brings the Raisin in the Sun story to vivid musical life. Harold Wheeler did the orchestrations and the score moves and pulses with feeling and life.

Winner of the 1974 Tony Award for Best Musical (an admittedly slow season for new musicals) this show is fine example of the trend of taking successful plays and turning them into musicals. The result in this case is acceptable but nothing special has been added by musicalizing the play. That said, at least this show doesn't cheapen the source material. The performances are all fine especially Virginia Capers as Mama and Joe Morton as Walter Lee. As always, Sony has done a splendid remastering job, restoring a song that had been left off the original Lp due to timing restraints ("Booze"... although the synopsis, reprinted from the LP jacket, makes no mention of the tune.) The booklet has some interesting notes about the creation of the show. It also reprints the show's logo which makes it look like one of those inane 1960s musical comedies instead of a serious musical play. I prefer the original play (and the movie) which remain powerful enough wthout songs.

I saw this production on Broadway and was blown away. I hadn't read (or seen) the source play at the time but the emotional depth and poignancy of this musical has stayed with me for years. I've since read the play and seen the film and both, play and musical, are incredible works. (Interestingly, the musical writers have kept very closely to the words Lorraine Hansberry wrote in their lyrics.) All that said, this is an incredible recording with expressive vocals and powerful orchestrations. Isn't the time right for a revival of Raisin?

Excellent score. Indicative of the time, but still relevant. This show deserves a revival. This CD is recommended for theatre enthusiasts looking to fill their collections with "hidden gems."

Listening to this CD we once again get to know Lorraine Hansberry... but from a different perspective. To render "Raisin in the Sun" to a musical play did her justice. This recording is superb. The liner notes do not help understand the musical plotting and I wish they did.