Customer Reviews

The Secret Garden: A New Musical (1986 London Studio Cast)

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

 

 

As an alternative to the popular success of Simon-Norman's adaptation of "The Secret Garden" that played Broadway in the early 1990s, this studio album is perfect. It features some of the greatest of the Broadway stage. Tony winners John Cullum, Judy Kaye, George Rose and the immortal Barbara Cook lead the cast of this Sharon Burgett musical.

It's a vastly different approach to the material, more from a traditional musical standpoint (Rodgers and Hammerstein-esque). It's material is beautiful with a knock-out overture. It may remind some of Alan Menken's compositions for "Beauty and the Beast", however this was made 5 years before that hit film.

The standout is "My Mother", the duet between Martha and Mary. There are many excellent musical sequences and it would be nice to see this musical have some more exposure in the form of an actual stage production.

I really liked this CD. The songs were beautiful, but it took a while for me to get to like them. the song"MY Mother" is very touching and sad, while "Just like me" is really cute. I would really recommend this CD, especilly if you need music for a talent show act, some of the songs would make great dancing music!

The music on this CD is not strikingly catching at first, but it grows on you. Some of the songs are very funny, and some are tear shedders. It is beautiful, and some are perfect for a talent show act, dancing and choragraphy would go along great. While listing to the songs on this CD, I could just picture the whole play happing in my mind. And after a while, the songs can bcome fun to sing along to.

I bought this because I love the story and had also thoroughly enjoyed the OBC of the Lucy Simon version.
I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by this version. Many of the songs (notably Before You Know It's Summer, One Patch of Blue, Wings) are better than the version produced on Broadway and in London. However, my only criticism is that Barbara Cook is far too old to play Martha, and even though she sings her songs beautifully I couldn't help wishing it was someone younger! Since obtaining the London Cast of the Lucy Simon version (much better than the OBC!!) I would say I love both versions equally!
Buy it before it's deleted!!!

The flat, unoriginal music in this boring musical does nothing compared to its flowering rival, Simon's "The Secret Garden" (Broadway). Buy the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Lucy Simon's musical, the original is a dead weed.

I liked the OBC of this show and found it much more enjoyable! Barbara is too old to play Martha and she has about 4 solos and 2 duets, WHY? Mary the main character in the show dosn't have a solo! WHY? If you want somthing enjoyable get the OBC or the London.