The Wild Party (Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Idina Menzel, Andrew Lippa, Taye Diggs, Brian D'Arcy James, Julia Murney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B00004TY8Y
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Sheet music  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,003 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Contemporary Musicals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Some 70 years after being written, Joseph Moncure March's 1928 Jazz-Age poem, The Wild Party, proved it still knew how to inspire: a pair of musicals dedicated to the sultry tale of excess were produced virtually concurrently. Too bad good parties, like good jokes, are often hard to recount. While the Tony-nominated, star-studded, and short-lived Wild Party by Michael John LaChiusa embraced the dark side of the Prohibition-era fête, this off-Broadway production by Andrew Lippa tries too hard to have a good time. March's poem is a seething, seedy work filled with internal struggle, but on this disc we never sense that underbelly. It's not until Taye Diggs, as Black, sings the touching "Poor Child" that we sense any tenderness at all in this morality play. For lighthearted good times, Julia Murney as Queenie and Brian d'Arcy James as her abusive lover Burrs do the job. On the fun, upbeat numbers ("What a Party," "Raise the Roof") this cast shines. But, despite its fascinating premise--a life-changing, epic event in the lives of a bunch of Prohibition-era misfits--this musical somehow still suffers from shallowness. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Electrifying! Newcomer Julia Murney Rocks The House!, August 8, 2000

By 

Robert Lopez (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wild Party (Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

I just recently purchased this CD and was instantly blown away by the music and the TREMENDOUS singers. The cast of 19 features some old faces as well as new. Brian D'Arcy James (Barett of TITANIC) potrays Burrs, the Vaudeville clown involved with Queenie, potrayed by fabulous newcomer Julia Murney. Kate, the prostitute, who longs for Burrs is played by familiar face Idina Menzel (Maureen of RENT) Kate's date for the WILD PARTY is Black, who instantly becomes entranced with Queenie's beauty and sadness, is played by rising star Taye Diggs (Benny of RENT, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE..., GO). Other notable party goers include Alex Kori (who stood by for B. Buckley in TRIUMPH OF LOVE), Raymond Jaramillo McLeod (Peron in National Tour EVITA), and Jennifer Cody (Silly Girl of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Cha Cha of GREASE)

All the songs are phenomenal and energetic. Everyone here is a triple threat. The singers are sensational. I couldn't believe my ears on some of the belting harmonies that occur. Julia Murney, just absolutely steals the show. Her powerful voice can be compared to the DIVA, Alice Ripley! The shear power and emotion behind Julia's voice in songs like "Out of the Blue" "Maybe I Like It That Way" and "How Did We Come To This" is just incredible. Playing her opposite is Brian D'Arcy James, who does not upset at all with his maniacal "Make Me Happy" and a more tender "What Is It About Her?" His voice is strong, clear and powerful, and gives us a nice earful of his belting ability.

Taye Diggs sings his smoothe and sultry songs, his character seems to be the only one who feels anything. He is very distraught over what is going on between Burrs and Queenie. Idina Menzel knocks us dead once again with her powerful, jazzy, rock voice that she displayed in RENT. She's sassy, she's cute, she's sexy, she's Kate who loves to have a good time, a boy does she! "Look At Me Now" and "The Life Of The Party" definitely give Idina her glorious moments to belt her little heart out, not to mention her growls! Also in one of the chorus songs, where they all belt these harmony notes, Idina tears through, and out blasts everyone!

Alex Corey plays Madeline True, a lesbian party goer. Her solo "Old Fashioned Love Story" is a riot and a half, not to mention a belt fest. (Dang, what song ISN'T Belted on this CD? :)

By just listening to the CD it is kind of hard to follow the story. There is a synopsis included, for those of us who haven't seen the show, and don't know the story line. There are also lyrics, and some quite beautiful "CABARET"ish photos inside. This CD is definitely worth it, especially for those of you who love DIVAS and DIVA, BELT shows like (DREAM GIRLS, SIDE SHOW and ROCKY HORROR SHOW). By one minute into it, I bet your leg'll be tapping!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew Lippa's WILD PARTY -- alive & well & unforgettable!, July 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wild Party (Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Wow. The life of this exuberant and passionate WILD PARTY has translated so well to CD. Having seen the show at Manhattan Theatre Club earlier this spring, I can tell you that this recording is simply amazing. The voices are tremendous, especially Julia Murney (Queenie), who's heartbreakingly expressive as she sings "Maybe I Like It This Way" and lights a diva fire with "Raise the Roof". Idina Menzel (Kate) rocks the house with "Life of the Party" and "Look at Me Now." Brian D'Arcy James voice is completely magnetic as he portrays of Burrs, Queenie's abusive lover -- when he unravels during "Let Me Drown" (those of us who saw the show) you know this was one of the great moments of this year's theater season. Taye Diggs played Black -- and his voice is just a slice of heaven! When these four sing "Poor Child" -- it's mesmerizing to hear their voices weave over one another as they express their different points of view. The number is vaguely operatic, yet completely accessible.

The CD has almost every number from the show (with the exception of one song, I think) -- and you can pretty much follow the story by listening along. Of course at some point, you'll probably feel like hitting your kitchen dance floor on ensemble numbers like "Wild, Wild Party" or "The Juggernaut"!

What more can I say? These are real songs that stick with you, long after you've left the theater or turned off the stereo. This is stuff you want on full blast at your own Wild Party! Enjoy!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So torn..., March 9, 2006

By 

Aidan Reilly "Mr. OCR" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wild Party (Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

It's very hard for me to give this album less than 4 stars. For a long while, it's been in perpetual rotation on my iTunes, and right from the start it's been one of my favorite cast albums. But a few days ago, I listened to the entire record straight through, and came to a painful conclusion -

Andrew Lippa is a terrible lyricist. I mean, really, not just bad, terrible. "Tasty, like birds of prey 'round the hors 'oeuvres tray"? "Will he really die for you, or is that just the after-dinner show"? "Let's get out there and tear up the carpet-mat"? Taken out of context, they may seem a little out of wack, but when set to music, the effect is uncomfortable - Lippa's fond of sacrificing logic for the sake of matching rhythm and rhyme. I simply can't take Brian D'Arcy James seriously when he's belting "HE WAS A VERY SCARY CLOOOOOWN!" at the top of his lungs.

Which brings me to the selling point of the record - actually, the two selling points. One is Lippa's score. Holy Christ, the music NEVER lets up here - it gets the pulse pumping, the heart racing, and it makes you want to reach out and grab the nearest seven people for a night of debauchery. Lippa's pastiche of hot jazz, funk, gospel, pop and rock, while not exactly period-appropriate, is endlessly fun to listen to. And the extreme vocal demands of the score are more than matched by the cast. Julia Murney belts ALL of her songs right out of the park (and I do mean all - Lippa writes songs for women more or less in dog's-ear range), Brian D'Arcy James' clear tenor constantly astonishes with its range while expressing a huge display of emotion and character, and Idina Menzel gives everything she has to her showcase numbers, growling and screaming and generally setting the mic on fire. Even the secondary characters are great - Alix Korey is endlessly funny with one of Lippa's more clever lyrical turns in "Old-Fashioned Love Story", Raymond Jaramillo McLeod is charming and lovable in his duet with Jennifer Cody, and the ensemble lends their powerful voices to various parts in the group numbers. The only one who strikes a sour note is Taye Diggs - he's either too monotone and flat, or indulging in pop-diva histrionics in place of emotion.

If you're not bothered by awkward turns of phrase, this is an unmitigated purchase. Even if you're big on lyrics, you should still give this recording a try - it contains some of the most genuinely exciting music written for theater in the past ten years, socked over by an obscenely talented cast.