Though it sounds painful, I've really just been away. :-) Now I am ready to jump into the current topics.
- Music Man
Barbershop q-tet work: Hoo-ah, that was some nice singing, and fairly representative of what I have heard from the finest groups in the last few years. For those that do not know, Dallas is home to the Vocal Majority, one of the best purveyors of the barbershop style. I've heard them (and some of the top quartets) four times in the last two years, and the Music Man q-tet is representative of the state-of-the-art.
Its true, the sound of barbershop has changed since the original movie. IMO, for many reasons, not the least of which is the persistent use of amplification. Another reason: singers of a very high quality and level of training are participating. If you want to hear more stuff at this level, snag a copy of any of the CDs by the group called 'Reprise'. They all came out of the CHOIR at Brigham Young University, and they have a thrilling sound. Most interesting (to my ear, anyway) is the lyricism inherent in the vocal production made possible by the use of tenors on the bari, lead and tenor part.
- Matthew Broderick
I heard Matt on Broadway just after Christmas a year ago- in his famous role in 'The Producers'. His vocalism for Music Man (the role he left Broadway to do) is more consistent and lyric to my ear. Maybe he needed the sleep. :-) IMO, he got this gig because he was bankable, and had a good agent.
- Kristin
While I agree with the others on the list that she sings with a very bright tone, her sound is very typical of the ingenue vocalism I have heard in recent years, especially in England (where I saw 'The Beautful Game', 'Lion King', 'Les Mis', 'Phantom','West Side Story' and 'La Boheme') and also in the American touring companies of 'Les Mis', 'Phantom' and some other shows.
- the characterizations
What I really missed in this Music Man was the distinct, over-the-top performances of each of the character actors which were so enjoyable in the original. I missed the frazzled blustering of the Mayor, the snobishness of his wife, the skewed-mouth, grab-yer-hat-and-run of Buddy Hackett. This one seemed to lack fire, except in the role of Marion.
All the Best
Steven Fraser
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