Customer Reviews

The Witches of Eastwick (Original 2000 London Cast)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love original cast recordings. They capture the flavor of any show. The one thing that bothers me of this cast recording is the show never made it to Broadway. And the cast and the music sparkles

Ian (Deadwood, Lovejoy) McShane as Daryl van Horne (the Jack Nicholson role in the movie). McShane strolls thru the music with his bass voice as Rex Harrison or Peter O'Toole may have done. The witch trio is played by Joanna Riding, Maria Freedman and Lucie Arnaz (yes Lucille Ball's Daughter). All together mesh this music with the emsemble numbers.

John Demsey and Dana Rowe's Lyrics & Music are tongue and cheek, not know if this a tribute to other broadway styling or an original try.

On the whole, I wish someone would put this on Broadway NOW-it is witty and funny..and since the Producers is closing on Broadway, its time! Cameron Mackintosh's last musical Mary Poppins flopped-this may be a shot in the arm. And McShane has finished with Deadwood--Its Time!

Get this soundtrack NOW--so when someone smart brings this back, he know the music and will love to watch this on stage--ITS TIME for this BEWITCHING Musical to reappear on stage!

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

I recently saw this show in London and was very pleasantly surprised! The CD contains all of the songs from the show with the exception of a few reprises.

All of Dana P. Rowe's melodies are "hummable" after only a few listenings and John Dempsey's clever lyrics range from warm and tender ("Something") to pompously Neanderthal ("Who's the Man?"). You won't hear anything new or different in the music (like Sondheim, Brown or Guettel might create). All of the musical structures are familiar to musical theatergoers. There's a rousing march in the opening number ("Eastwick Knows"), a tango duet ("Eye of the Beholder"), a bluesy vamp at the opening of Act II and a moving, sentimental ballad toward the end. Neither the score nor the CD is boring, however.

What this CD IS, is a lot of fun with some very strong performances. "Dirty Laundry" is a recreation of the townsfolk of River City gone bad with gossip. Rosemary Ashe's beautiful coloratura (she was the original Carlotta in "The Phantom of the Opera") sails high above the chorus at the end of the number a la Jonesy in "How to Succeed..." - transforming the ensemble number into "The Brotherhood of 'Mean'". Ms. Ashe is truly a highlight on this CD as Felicia Gabriel. Resentment and cynicism ooze from her voice as she spits up coins, candles and cherry pits during my favorite cut, "Evil". It's hard to believe this is the same woman who produced that lovely high passage in "Dirty Laundry"!

Ian McShane (known in the US from the "Lovejoy" series on PBS) rips into the character of Darryl van Horne via some very strong vocal acting on his part and the hilariously vulgar lyrics of "I Love a Little Town". As Alexandra, Lucie Arnaz' hard, jazzy belt is perfectly jaded in the very vampy, "Another Night at Darryl's" (again, some very cleverly written lyrics from Mr. Dempsey). Maria Friedman (Sukie) performs the very warmly written ballad, "Loose Ends" with touching sensitivity.

The three leading ladies (including Joanna Riding as Jane) have similar vocal qualities. Their three-part harmonies are well executed in "Make Him Mine" and are particularly lovely in the finale of Act I, "I Wish I May". I am delighted to find this number in its entirety on the CD and it doesn't take much imagination to hear the ladies fly through the theater as they actually did in the London production (even down to their ad-libs).

My only criticism of this recording is a matter of personal taste and involves the quality of the cast's voices. Not all would be considered strong singers. Ian McShane uses his acting ability to carry him through most of his songs. Maria Friedman, a very well accomplished musical theater actress in the UK (US folks may recognize her as the Narrator in the video release of "Joseph..."), sounds hoarse throughout most of the CD and noticeably "cracks" at times.

All of the leads (with the exception of Rosemary Ashe) have a "nervous vibrato" - the extremely rapid, fluttery vibrato that makes the pitch of every note sung seem almost sharp. A whole CD of this kind of singing is a little hard on the ears, but strong performances and an extremely likable score make this CD well worth hearing.

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK wasn't a huge success when it opened in London a few years back. It later re-opened with a tweaked score and a few new cast-members, but it later closed altogether. The Australian production was canned midway through the Melbourne season and plans for the Broadway production are still up in the air.

This recording may be the only good thing going for this musical.

The cast featured here is excellent; Maria Friedman (MARTIN GUERRE), Joanna Riding (CAROUSEL, MY FAIR LADY) and Lucie Arnaz (THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG) make for the perfect trio of the title, while Ian McShane is perfect as the devilish Darryl van Horne. Rounding out the cast are Rosemary Ashe and Stephen Tate as Felicia and Clyde Gabriel.

The score (which has a few hits and misses) is by Dana P. Rowe and John Dempsey, and is based on the novel by John Updike.

A few highlights of the score include "Make Him Mine" (the song the women use to conjure up Darryl); "I Wish I May", "Dirty Laundry" and "Another Night at Darryl's", Lucie Arnaz's bonafide show-stopper which she colors with a playful sexiness that is hard to resist.

Rosemary Ashe delivers the goods with her big number "Evil", one of the most complex and intriguing songs in the score.

I urge everyone who cares about this musical to buy the cast-album, as strong sales might make a statement.

Although at the time of writing the London production has closed, a production is still running in Russia after a year or so, and there are constant rumours of a pre-Broadway tour of America. Just listening to this CD should convince you to go and see it whenever and wherever it appears.

The three leading ladies - Lucy Arnaz, Maria Freidman and Joanna Riding - perform stunningly in this adaption of John Updikes novel, each having their own individual 'voice' but blending perfectly to fully accentuate the soaring harmonies that characterise this piece, especially in the three numbers they sing together - 'Make Him Mine', 'I Wish I May' and 'Look at Me'. Equally, the three seduction songs are very different, and serve to deftly outline each woman's character even at the same time as Darryl 'sets them free' from the mundane lives that were outlined in 'Eastwick Knows'

Ian McShane is probably the weakest link, but does a servicable job as Darryl Van Horne, and brings delight to 'Dance with the Devil' with his adlibs during the dance section. However, his singing voice was slightly underpowered on stage, and results in a Rex Harrison-like 'speech-singing' on the recording, although it doesn't really detract from the show.

The rest of the company appear to be having an absolute ball; from the powerful male chorus in 'Dance with the Devil', to the enthusiastic female chorus in 'Dirty Laundry'. Special mention must go the Rosemary Ashe for her outrageously funny portrayl of the towns busy-body Felicia Gabriel

The music is always catchy, and the lyrics never less than good. Unfortunatly, much of the humour in the show came from the spoken dialogue between songs and the staging, which does not come across here. Not that it matters, as the recording has so much energy (provided by Willam Brohns stunning orchestrations) that you'll be bowled over.

The Witches of Eastwick was a great play, comprised of a good musical score. It is quite like the movie, but with music added, it was a wonderful show. Lucy Arnez and company really bring out the quality of music. I recomend this album to any Broadway/Musical fan.

This recording is one of those that you listen to and smile throughout. The leading ladies all have such amazing presence, it makes you want to join them in their songs. I would say the best song on this recording is Evil, sung by the character Felicia Gabriel; such witty lyrics and a tune, worth purchasing the recording in and of itself. BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I assure you it will not let you down!

Currently the only official recording of this show but is well worth buying. This CD will be a a much loved addition to the collection.

The cast is outstanding and the songs are so catchy you'll find yourself humming "Make Him Mine" or "Dance With the Devil" at some point of the day.

Lucie Arnaz, Joanna Riding and Maria Friedman play the three female leads of the Witches. (Alex, Jane and Sukie respectfully) And are co-starred by Ian McShane as the seductive Darryl Van Horne. The original Carlotta from Phantom of the Opera joins the cast as Felicia Gabriel, town gossip and do-gooder. Her husband, Clyde Gabriel is played by Stephen Tate who has starred in Jesus Christ Superstar and CATS as Judas and Gus/Growltiger respectfully. Also in the cast is Caroline Sheen as their daughter, Jennifer and her boyfriend, Michael is played by Peter Joback.

All in all a great recording and as with most CD's the plot is somehow lost a little but not enough for you to lose interest.

I've heard mixed things about the show "The Witches of Eastwick" -- some good, most terrible. I probably won't be able to comment on the show as a whole until the show is brought to Broadway, if it ever is, but I can comment on the score right now.

And "mixed" is still the adjective I reach for, though my feelings about the score on the whole skew more towards the positive. I'm not bewitched by Ian McShane's portrayal of Darryl Van Horn or by the songs he's given, though maybe you just had to be there. And while Rosemary Ashe dazzles as Felicia, I find her songs to be even sillier and less functional than Darryl's.

But all of this is forgotten whenever the leading ladies are heard. Composers Dana Rowe and John Dempsey had their work cut out for them in writing for the Devil, and succumbed a bit too much to caricature when writing for the townspeople... but they came through in spades for the more complex lead characters Alexandra, Jane and Sukie. Their seduction numbers are all brilliant, as are their second-act solos and several trios. Lucie Arnaz, Joanna Riding and Maria Friedman sing beautifully and create memorable characters.

The import price is a little steep for half a good score, but theatre buffs will consider it a must.

I saw this show in both its original and revised incarnations. Strong score, weak book.

This recording is a must for musical theatre performers -There's some great, underused audition material here. Buy the CD, and then get the vocal selections (still in print). Break a leg!

I just saw this show, with this selfsame cast. I'm a musical theatre actress, so I tend to listen very critically when I go to a new show, and while I agree that some of Darryl and Felicia's numbers are contrived, it's a great show. I loved the big prod numbers, especially "Dirty Laundry". These people did their own vocals, too, and considering that I'd just seen another recent and important show about two nights prior that was completely CANNED, I was really impressed. I also had the privilege, several years ago, of hearing Rosemary Ashe sing Carlotta in "Phantom"; anyone with her talent who can actually force herself to sound bad and overblown rates a commendation, and she was outstanding in this show. "Witches" has so much to offer that new shows often lack, not in the least its sense of humor. What else can one say about a show with such an awesome curtain call number?????? If you like rock musicals, forget it. If you like the MGM-showstopper-slightly risque romp, BUY THIS and ENJOY!