Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emotional, eclectic, and enjoyable!, July 1, 1998
By A Customer
After a disappointingly short run on Broadway this fall, SIDE SHOW has been preserved on a fantastic original cast recording that tells much of the story through songs and recitative. Cast members Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner will dazzle you with their vocal dexterity, particularly in their duets that end each act. Composer Harvey Krieger, most well known for DREAMGIRLS, has written a pop-based contemporary musical that navigates its way through the surprisingly universal story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton -- and their conflicting dreams. The score brims with amazing variety, from the rock-based quartet "Tunnel of Love" to the charming Charleston pastiche song, "We Share Everything." Lyricist Harvey Russel brings a Hammerstieinesque simplicity to the story's incredibly complex conflicts; He emotionally injects the pain and anguish of rejection with dignity and honesty. A very satisfying musical -- one of the decade's best.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite CD, August 29, 2000
This is an amazing recording of an amazing show. I can't believe all the talent that got packed into one musical. Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner are two powerful, commanding singers who sound spectacular together. Ever since i heard them sing "I will never leave you" at the tony's, i knew i had to hear more. This show deals with several issues that cause us to questions ourselves - most prominantly, what makes a freak? Throughout the show, the twins are considered freaks because they are conjoined. But as the show unfolds, we realize that the men are more freakish than the twins, because they are cowardly and deceiving and don't follow their hearts. And then there is the freakish society that presures Violet into rejecting Jake simply because he is black, the one man who truly loves one of them. Now, I'm not saying that every song is stellar. There are a few I dislike, but I thoroughly enjoy almost all of them. "I Will Never Leave You" is a touching and poingant end to the play, and "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" is one of my favorite songs, with excellent lyrics coupled with the outstanding voices. Jake's performance is amazing, and peaks in his song, "You Should Be Loved." It is such an original show, and I can't stress enough how awesome the twins' voices are. Definately one of the best musicals of recent years (2nd only to Ragtime, in my opinion). A must for any musical theatre lover!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Score ... Too Bad Show Didn't Last Longer, July 21, 2005
Opening in the Fall of 1997, "Side Show" was roughly based on the lives of Daisy & Violet Hilton, Siamese twins who were Vaudeville performers during the Depression. Unfortunately, the production lasted only lasted about three months before closing.
Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner (both nominated for Best Actress Tonys) are terrific as the twins and have beautiful voices. The talented supporting cast includes Ken Jennings ("Sweeney Todd"), Norm Lewis, Hugh Panaro, and Jeff McCarthy.
Overall, the score is quite good and contains several memorable songs. Henry Krieger's beautiful music, however, is somewhat hindered by the score's uneven lyrics.
Best tracks:
Come Look At The Freaks
The Devil You Know
Who Will Love Me As I Am
You Should Be Loved
I Will Never Leave You
Hopefully, this production will surface again one day. Until then, this cd is a nice listen!
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ Alice Ripley
~ Hair (Related Recordings)
~ Lin-Manuel Miranda
~ Duncan Sheik
~ Steve Pearce
by Henry Krieger 
