Customer Reviews

The Rocky Horror Show (2000 Broadway Revival Cast)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It is next to impossible to hate "The Rocky Horror Show", especially when it is performed by such an amazing and charismatic ensamble cast as this. The 2000 revival of Richard O'Brien's tale of sexual discovery and moral deconstruction was indeed a breath of fresh air in Times Square, however the actual performance isn't represented on this disc. When sitting in Circle in The Square, you'll hear a much more hardcore rock sound, which has been softened on the disc, most notably on Science Fiction Double Feature, which is still perfectly fine seeing as nothing is lost.

Alice Ripley and Jerrod Emick are too enjoyable as the square Brad and Janet. Both have clean and pleasant voices that are vets of a whole slew of musical, which perfectly contrast with the wild and rockin voices of the other players. Though Joan Jett is not on the CD, she still brought a rock'n'roll essence to Columbia that Kristen Lee Kelly doesn't lose on the album. Raúl Esparza is the definition of incredible as Riff-Raff. It's a shame that the recording was released two days after he left the cast (best of luck to him in tick tick... BOOM though). Though Lea DeLaria is often frowned upon, she really kicks as Eddie/Dr. Scott. Both characters are played for the laughs, as they should be. Sebastian LeClause is vocally a great Rocky, but his being shorter than Frank made it a tad awkward, but that affects nothing. Speaking of Frank, has there ever been a greater than Tom Hewitt. He perhaps even bests Tim Curry, if that's possible. His crazy and absolutely perfect voice etch Sweet Transvestite and I'm Going Home, et cetera into your ears — from where they'll never escape. Of course, the real treat is Daphne Rubin-Vega as Magenta. After her hiatus after RENT and her botched CD deal ... she's back in the habit, and she's perfect. The only draw back is that she has to share Science Fiction Double Feature with Columbia, but it's a small price to pay for her incredible talent.

Overall, this is possibly the best Rocky Horror album out there, even besting the Roxy cast, which so many hold near and dear. Buy this and you won't be sorry, and you'll be able to do the Time Warp over and over again.

Prologue: I am a BMM Rocky Horror fan. That means Before Midnight Madness! I bought and enjoyed either the English Cast or pre-Broadway Cast LP album (I don't remember which since I gave all my LPs to charity when my turntable called it quits.) I rushed to get tickets to see the show when it finally arrived on Broadway. (I got to New York on June 12 to discover the Belasco was already dark. So I either saw EQUUS or THE RITZ instead.) When the movie finally opened my friends and I went to the first show on opening night. It was only playing at one theatre in town; a great old neighborhood theater located near the Washington University campus. We were the only six people in the audience. (The theater has since served as failed drugstore and later a used record store.) Finally, when the movie was released on video I quickly snatched up my copy. In all that time (26 plus years) I have never witnessed one of the audience participation versions of the show/movie. With that said, I'll get on with the review of the new Broadway original cast recording.

With one major and one minor exception, the new cast gives an outstanding vocal interpretation of the score. The major exception is Lea DeLaria in the dual role of Eddie/Dr. Scott. She may have the beef, but she's no Meatloaf. I found her vocal style to be extremely annoying on HOT PATOOIE and her Dr. Scott persona carries camp to new amateurish extremes. The minor exception is Tom Hewitt as Frank `N' Furter. He probably gives an outstanding performance on stage, but as recorded his interpretation suffers from the influences of 27 years of Tim Curry's characterization. As I noted at the start, I'm caught in a Rocky Horror Time Warp, and the new recording does not live of to my memories of the original. Director, Christopher Ashley, states in the liner notes that it was impossible to capture "the audience dynamics" of the live performance. Which is correct since in order to do that, he would have had to record the show in a life performance. Besides, the original recording survived without "audience dynamics" - the HAIR recording survived without "audience dynamics" - hundreds of successful original cast recordings survived without "audience dynamics." As the director says in the liner notes, "It is a rock album!" Just not a good one in my opinion

The revival of "The Rocky Horror Show" on Broadway at Circle in the Square in 2000 was treated with some skepticism. After all, the film version is a cult classic and the epitome of the midnight movie. But this is a revival that is fully aware of what the source material is and who would be coming to see it or, in this case, listen to the cast album. After all, those of us who brought our lighters, squirt guns, newspapers, hot dogs, and (at least in my case) a bell, are twice as old and there is nothing wrong with enjoying the madness of our misspent youths. Watching the movie, especially without the company of a theater full of fanatics and all are assorted props, is rather unfulfilling these days. But listening to this 2000 Broadway Revival Cast album of "The Rocky Horror Show" brings back a sense of the fun.

The production in general and the performers for the most part are not interesting in the art of imitation. The aesthetic here is clearly one of camp, perhaps down to excess, but the rules say you cannot do anything to excess in the realm of "Rocky Horror." From the start with "Opening/Science Fiction Double Feature" it is clearly everybody knows what is going on; the audience is encouraged to spell out "R-O-C-K-Y" just like it was another midnight showing. When "Science Fiction Double Feature" turns into a duet you not only think that it makes sense since it is about a "double" feature, but you also realize that the goal here is to make things sound different (if not fresher) than what we recall from the movie.

So there is more energy throughout, as is appropriate to a stage production (a fact I can attest to because I got to see a local production of this version that was great: who would have thought Frank would work without the fishnet stockings as a platinum blonde drag queen?). Of the cast Alice Ripley as Janet Veiss (Weiss) does the best job. As Dr. Frank N. Furter you will notice that Tom Hewitt tries to sing around Tim Curry's definitive performance trying to come up with something different without straying too far, an approach that proves problematic. Jarrod Emick plays Brad Majors and gets the joy of singing "Once in a While," which was cut from the film but is a prime track from the original Roxy cast album. Dick Cavett pops up as the Narrator, but you never get the sense that he gets the point of the festivities (the joke of his being in the show is over before he opens his mouth). But Lea DeLaria, known for her performance in "On the Town," gets to play both Eddie and Dr. Scott, thereby providing the best representation of the insanity associated with enjoying the movie with your friends. Sebastian LaCause sounds pretty good as Rocky, but the monster often seemed like it was a throw away part in the various casts.

It would seem with all these complains that I would not like this particular cast album, but the success of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was always because it embraced its faults. These songs are serviceable and it is what you do with them more than the original material that matters. Richard O'Brien's musical always was more fun than the sum of its parts, and it should be pointed out that this production was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical in the 2001 Tony Awards). Granted, my memories of taking unsuspecting neophytes to midnight showings so they could be shocked out of their gourds might be affecting my hearing, or the fact that I am growing noticeably death, but I think this album reminds us of the need to give ourselves over to absolute pleasure.

Richard O'Brien's sexy, gritty, thrilling and provacative revival of the cult classic ROCKY HORROR is fantastically preserved on this CD. While its a little toned down from the live version at Circle in the Square, it's still just as good.

This cast is FANTASTIC with a capital F. Daphnie Rubin-Vega makes a triumphant return to the boards after her post-RENT absence. She should have been nominated for a Tony. Alice Ripley and Jerrod Emick are absolutley delecious as Brad and Janet...a million times better than Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. Kristin Lee Kelly and Raul Esparza are fantastic (I saw Kristin instead of Joan Jett the night I went, and she was perfect) as Columbia and Riff-Raff respectevally. Dick Cavett is perfectly cast as the Narrator, and Lea DeLaria is great as Eddie/Dr. Scott(although, at the end of "Hot Patotie", she was a little sickening to listen too). Hunky Sebastian LeClause has a surprisingly excellent voice as Rocky and "The Sword of Damocles" is perfect. The real star of the CD is the one and only Tom Hewitt. He gives Tim Curry a run for his money as the "sweet transvestite from Transexual-Transylvania". He knows how to play Frank-N-Furter with just the right amount of estrogen/testosterone. Fantastic.

Buy this CD and you will NOT be disapointed, I promise you that. The orchestrations are great and the cast is to die for. Finally, ROCKY HORROR is back on Broadway where it belongs with a stellar cast that comes along every once and a while. LETS DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!!

I thought that this was gonna be just another edition of the Rocky Horror Show.But boy was I wrong.I loved it they really modernized and gave it more of a Rock flavor than in the original play which was more pop.I just loved how they had the Overture and Space shipa partof the cd.They really recreated great for broadway.When i heard that broadway was doing Then Rocky Horror Show I didn't know what to think.Because Rocky Horror had been an off-broadway show for many years.The thought of it being onBroadway was just amazing Because people back in the 70's and 80's always thought that The Rocky Horror Show was much too trashy to be put on Broadway.Because you always think about broadway plays as being classy and eligent.They didn't want a play about Sex and Horror and Gay Transvestites.But this was just a head turner.I loved it.It's definitely 5 stars.The cd quality was great.It was so professionally done and it was great.I think any RHS Fan will love it.This was no candyman!

After seeing the show on BRoadway, I decided to buy the cast recording. I absolutley adore this CD. The vocals are amazing, but the stand out is SURELY Raul Esparza, who plays Riff Raff. He has the most amazing voice. They way that man can sing is insane. And Daohne Rubin-Vega is also a standout, she plays Magenta. She was great in RENT and great in this. The entire CD is great. i reccomend it to everyone. And, if you like Raul, buy the Tick, Tick....BOOM! cast recording. It is equally as good.

ROCKY HORROR 2000.. this album features some of Broadway's best. With talent the likes of ALICE RIPLEY, RAUL ESPARZA, DAPHNE RUBUN VEGA, JARROD EMICK, and TOM HEWITT, who could go wrong? The show is indescribably amazing in the theatre, and perhaps that is the only problem with the cd. Each performer holds their own, but the recorded version of ROCKY HORROR LIVE doesn't have the same energy. Of course it is a wonderful addtion for any ROCKY HORROR LIVE fan or any fan of the amazing performers, but if you are looking to duplicate the experience, its not quite there.

From the moment Daphne Rubin-Vega (Magenta) opens her mouth for "Science Fiction, Double Feature," you know you're in for a whole new experience. And this CD is absolutely amazing. Occasional missteps aside (i.e. the "Once in a While" arrangement), the whole CD is fresh and totally fun. All the songs have been worked over and given a rockin' edge, while maintaining the campy quality we all love from the original. Tom Hewitt is hysterically wonderful Frank n' Furter, cleverly embellishing his delivery at every turn. Rubin-Vega makes you completely forget any previous Magenta with her raw, seductive delivery. Jarrod Emick and Alice Ripley have really truly remarkable voices and deserve more material in the show, if that were possible. Raul Esparza (who?) is a true star in the making. Lea DeLaria is rough and Dick Cavett, Kristen Lee Kelly and Sebastian LaCause are faboo in their roles as well.

The only real reason I gave it four stars is because, as one reviewer mentioned, some of the singers seem to be trying too hard at the gritty vocalizations (easily reminding us that these actors are, after all, legit Broadway-style singers). And let's face it, "Rocky Horror" is rock seen through a musical theatre filter - not exactly "real rock." Overall, though, this CD overcomes the occasional over-production to give us a performance that stands alone (and 2nd to the Roxy) as a great testament to Richard O'Brien's score.

What would happen if you took The Rocky Horror Show and got rid of its `dated' sound and gave it a treatment more akin to Rent? The answer lies in this newest, highly produced glitzy version from Broadway. While not nearly as `pop' as Rent in style, it is definitely, for better or worse, a more polished sound than previous recordings. It is another example of a rock musical adopting a modern sound and losing the grit that made it appealing in the first place, ala Jesus Christ Superstar. The singers are mostly talented and insert all the proper inflections to make their performances stand out, but it all sounds somehow too clean. Maybe it's just the overkill on the guitar overdrive or the tamer chorus arrangements. The audio clips I heard on the web site for the show got me very excited for this recording, but the soundtrack doesn't seem to capture the essence of the live show. This is completely an issue of personal preference, as I have always preferred the grungier sound of classic rock. In the liner notes, they note that they "aimed to reinvent this score...with the seventies washed right out of its hair." They certainly, and sadly, succeeded. If you're looking for a grittier version try the Roxy Cast Recording. Incidentally, I gave it four stars because while it's not my cup of tea, it is a quality recording and should be checked out by any fan of the show.

The new Rocky Horror CD does something rare in show recordings...it actually keeps much of the high energy from the live show. Broadway's revival sparkles with color and high octane vocals, which the disc preserves in fine form. Tom Hewitt's Frank-N-Furter stands out as a different, yet equally entralling take on the character, and he gives amusing new inflections to familiar lines. Even Dick Cavett as the narrator is given a few moments on the recording, with his wonderfully droll exposition. The band is allowed to perform much like a rock album instead of being ineffectively buried at the back of the mix, and they use the opportunity to drive everything forward. Tempos are sharp and fun, the new orchestrations rich, and the whole album oozes forth with a good time.