Musical Movie Review: ***^Cinderella (1997)

There is lots to love in this made for TV version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.  This was originally performed in 1957 in another made for television version.  The 1997 version was made for Wonderful WOrld of Disney.  This version features Brandy Norwood as Cinderella.  The prince is played by Paolo Montalban.  The king and queen are played by Victor Garber and Whoopi Goldberg.  Bernadette Peters takes the roll of the stepmother and the step sisters are played by Veanne Cox and Natalie Desselle Reid.  The foot man, Lionel, who announces the ball is played by Jason Alexander.  The fairy godmother is portrayed by Whitney Houston.
The musical features tremendous vocals.  The music from Richard Rodgers is wonderful.   And of course the book from Oscar Hammerstein is also superb.
But the thing that overshadows this version the use of mixed race of the families.  This is a story that lends itself to not seeing color, and the performances over power this aspect.  The show was presented on Wonderful World of Disney in 1997, when rolls for minorities in movies was much talked about.  In fact it is still talked about today.  It would be nice to arrive at a place where color of skin is not important.  It isn't in this movie.

Musical Movie Review; ****^Anastasia (1997)

This is one of my favorite animated musicals.   This film boasts an all star cast.  Meg Ryan portrays Anastasia, and Kirsten Dunst plays the girl Anastasia.  However they do not provide the singing parts.  Liz Callaway sings for Anastasia.  John Cusack and Kelsey Grammer plan the two who discover her.  Christopher Lloyd plays the evil Rasputin.  Bernadette Peters plays the grandmother's cohort, and Angela Lansbury the Queen mother, or Anastasia's grand mother.  I love the song "Once Upon a December."  "Journey to the Past" is also wonderful.  And the story of finding yourself, and then maybe that is not the thing you really want to do.  I think the Rasputin character may be over done.  He is always falling apart and putting himself back together, and it gets old after a time.

Bernadette Peters at the Hollywood Bowl - Concert

Here is a You-Tube treat.  I assume this is her 1996 Hollywood Bowl Concert.  Bernabette Peters is a joy.  He makes beautiful music.  She is the person others try to copy when they sing.  She has been performing since age five.
She performs several Stephen Sondheim numbers. 
"Broadway Baby" from Follies.  Peters dances with this song.
"No One Is Alone" from Into the Woods.  This song is one of the touching songs form the second act.  Somtimes things are not what they seem.
"Sooner or Later" from Dick Tracy.
"Not a Day Goes By" form Merrily We Roll Along is a trademark song of Peters.  It repeats the same lyric many times, but the way Peters performs it is interesting and exciting and dis settling all at the same time.  

She also sings "Unexpected Song" Form Song and Dance.   Peters won a Tony for this musical.  This song is such a treat. 

"Glow Worm" was an unexpected and fun song.  She announces it as a sad song.  The orchestra (L. A. Philharmonic Orchestra) even sings this number. 

"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," one of my favorite songs, introduced a Harold Arlen section.  This section also included "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Come on Get Happy." "Over the Rainbow" and "Stormy Weather."

Peters has her own style and tone; but it is all good. 

Musical Review: ****Song and Dance (Andrew Lloyd Webber)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JsFS1Ei3UU
Song and Dance, Andrew Lloyd Webber,Live at the Palace Theater, 1984.
This is a very enjoyable musical although different. I didn't care for the glipses of the audience and preparations.  It was just filler.  But the actual musical was superb.   It is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. I was made aware of it by hearing a Bernadette Peters rendition of "Unexpected Song."  This song is the highlight of the show.  In this version Sarah Brightman portrays the lead part.  The first act is pretty much a one woman show recited the tragedies of her love life.  Some of the songs I had heard before from Webber anthologies.  For example, "Wipe that Smile off your Face" and "Tell Me on a Sunday Please."  This songs are terrific as well.  But both are delivered after relationships go bad.  "Unexpected Song" is delivered when a relationship is going well.  It is a classic love song.  I also enjoyed the letters home  Brightman portrays and English young woman, who is in the United States, New York and Hollywood.  Her take of Hollywood was also fantastic.
The second act is the dance, ballet to be specific.  I am not a fan of ballet, as it puts me to sleep, but this dance has something more.  It has gymnastics and tap dancing.  However the theme again is the hazards of love.  There are five guys and four women.  Our lead dancer, Wayne Sleep goes through all the women, but in the end is left with no one.  The last ten minutes of the production combine dance and singing as Brightman returns to the stage. This resolves the problem of partnerships.  All the dancers sing with her, and she dances with them.

Music Review: Annie Get Your Gun: Bernadette Peters

Annie Get Your Gun featuring Bernadette Peters, 1999.

This is Bernadette Peters featured in the title role of a Broadway revival of this popular musical.  Tom Wopat portrays Frank.  I must admit, listening to this C.D. there was some sparkle to it—and most of that sparkle centered around these two.  Peters does a terrific job with “You Can’t get a Man with a Gun”.  The reprise, after her heart has been broken just before the end of the first act is even better.  “I Got Lost in His Arms” also highlights the first act. 

The second act is all garbled and misunderstanding.  However when they get to “Anything You Can do I Can do Better” the stage sparkles.  Wopat and Peter do an excellent job, and the characters finally overcome their pride enough to get together.  Pride keeps us from much happiness, and it is good Annie and Frank finally found their happiness.

I enjoyed this music.  As I noted, Peters and Wopat carry the show.  When others were singing, I didn’t care for it very much, but these two make a very good team.

Of course another highlight of the second act is Peters singing, “I Got the Sun in the Morning (and the Moon at Night).”  This is a beautiful song, and helps keep focus on your blessings:

 

Got no diamond, got no pearl,
Still I think I'm a lucky girl.
I've got the sun in the morning
And the moon at night.
Got no mansion, got no yacht,
Still I'm happy with what I got.
I've got the sun in the morning
And the moon at night

Sunshine gives me a lovely day,
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way.
Got no checkbooks, got no banks,
Still, I'd like to express my thanks.
I've got the sun in the morning
And the moon at night.
And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
I'm alright.

Got no butler, got no maid.
Still I think I've been overpaid,
I've got the sun in the morning
And the moon at night.
Got no silver, got no gold,
What you've got can't be bought or sold.
I've got the sun in the morning
And the moon at night.

Sunshine gives me a lovely day,
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way.
Got no heirlooms for my kin,
Made no will but when I cash in
I'll leave the sun in the morning
And the moon at night.
And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
I'm alright.

And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
I'm alright!

Musical Music Review: Sherry!

Sherry! The Broadway Musical, 2003

Sheridan Whiteside played by Nathan Lane, Maggie Cutler played by Bernadette Peters, Lorraine Sheldon played by Carol Burnett, Beverly Carlton played by Tommy Tune, Banjo played by Mike Myers and Bert Jefferson played by Tom Wopat

This is a musical based on the play “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”   The story plays out Sheridan Whiteside “Sherry” for short, is a popular radio personality and critic.  He breaks his leg at a friend’s house, and takes up residence there causing havoc to everyone with his need to be pampered.  X-rays come back negative for a broken leg, but he insists Dr. plays along as he continues the role of the invalid.  Socialite, Lorriane Sheldon,  would like to bag him, and every other man around.  Maggie Cutler is his secretary, and he has cajoled and kept her around and away from other men for many years.  He couldn’t survive without her.  Beverly Carlton is Sheldon’s suitor.  Bert Jefferson is the suitor of Cutler.  Banjo is a second act role to add comic relief, but he also participates in Whiteside’s schemes. 

This movie at times disintegrates into havoc.  Such is the condition for the Christmas Eve radio show.  Most of the music is forgettable, but you don’t forget Bernadette Peters.  She sings a show stopper song I the first act, “Maybe It’s Time for Me.”  That is a song that stays with you.  Carol Burnett sings the title song, “Sherry” and it is humorous and enjoyable.  She also sings ‘Putty in your Hands” which talks of her hopeless addiction to men. 

Maggie is intent on getting away, and having a life of her own.  Sherry does everything in his power to keep her on the ground.  He finally decides maybe the best thing to do would be to marry her himself, and then he can keep her around.  He decides against this, and lets her go.  In the last scene Sherry really does break his leg, and he send Maggie and Bert away to find happiness.  The son “Imagine That” Peters takes the lead, but then Nathan Lane adds a duet part which is very effective.

The original Broadway Production had poor reviews and ran for 67 shows.  The set was taken apart and burned, and the score was thought lost.  After 30 years it was found, and from that we have this studio version of the musical. 

Music Review: *****Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

This concert is beautiful.  I have gotten it through Netflix DVD. It is the 1992 concert.  This is the line up.
Overture: Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Jerry Hadley "Johanna" Eugene Perry, Herbert Perry "Pretty Women"  Sweeney Todd
Chorus line "Loveland" Follies
Jeanne Lehman"Get Married Today"  Mark Jacoby, Madeline Kahn,  "I'm not Getting Married Today" Company
Madeline Khan does an excellent job with this number.  She points thousand of words into a line, and makes the song fun. 
Liza Minnelli. Billie Stritch "Back in Business" Dick Tracy  Liza Minnelli brings some energy to the stage with this number.  Billie Stritch is on piano, and also sings.  The dancers join for lots of fun.
The Tonics "Good Thing Going" Merrily We Roll Along  Beaytiful tone and harmonies.
Dorothy Loudon "Losing My Mind" Follies  "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" Company  Loudon does a great job with character.  Her eyes say a million words, and I am totally convinced she is going crazy.
Harlam Boys Choir "Our Time"  Merrily We Roll Along
Betty Buckley "Children Will Listen" Into the Woods
Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see and learn ...
Careful the wish you make
Wishes are children
Careful the path they take
Wishes come true,
Patty Lupone "Being Alive" Company
Bill Irwin, Karen Ziemba "Sooner or Later"  Dick Tracy  This starts as a comedic interlude, and quickly changes into a steamy dance as Ziemba sings and they both dance.
Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber "The Ballad of Booth" Assassin  This song presents the thoughts of John Wilkes Booth, against the back drop of his being accused of being a nut.
Hunt me down, smear my name,
say I did it for the fame,
What I did was kill the man who killed my country.
Now the Southland will mend,
Now this bloody war can end,
Because someone slew th tyrant
Just as Brutus slew the tyrant- ...
Damn my soul if you must,
Let my body turn to dust,
Let it mingle with the ashes of the country.

Let them curse me to hell,
Leave it to history to tell:
What I did, I did well,
And I did it for my country.

Let them cry, "dirty traitor!"
They will understand it later-
The country is not what it was...
Daisy Eagan "Broadway Baby" Follies
Bernadette Peters "Not a Day Goes By" Merrily We Roll Along 
Harolyn Blackwell  "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" Sweeney Todd
Sixtet "Weekend in the Country"  Glen Close "Send in the Clowns"  A Little Night Music  Glen Close brings down the house with this one.  It is beautiful.
Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.

Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year.
Liza Minnelli "Old Friends" Merrily We Roll Along
Cast: "Sunday" Sunday in a Park with George

Movie Review: ***Sunday in the Park with George

"Sunday in the Park With George" I got through NETFLIX.  I would have scored this movie higher, but tired of listening to Bernadette Peters say "George." I don't know how many times she said this, but it was too many.  This movie stars Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin in two roles.  The songs are intriguing.  "The hat" grows on you, and his singing of the colors is fascinating.  But the song I most enjoyed is "Move On:"
Stop worrying where you're going-
Move on
If you can know where you're going
You've gone
Just keep moving on

I chose, and my world was shaken-
So what?
The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not
You have to move on

Look at what you want,
Not at where you are,
Not at what you'll be-
Look at all the things you've done for me

Opened up my eyes,
Taught me how to see,
Notice every tree-

...Just keep moving on
Anything you do
Let it come from you
Then it will be new
Give us more to see...

Beautiful!

Movie Review: ****Into the Woods

This movie I have watched through Instant Netflix. It is the Stephen Sondheim musical.  My kids did this play when Mark was in Middle School. Mark was Jack with another boy his milky white cow.  It seems like the rest of the kids were involved.  However the version for the Middle School was written for school age, and took out some parts; particularly the second act.  After the first act things end up happily ever after.  However the second act holds several twists.  The princes aren't happy, nor are their brides.  Several characters end up dead, and the rest of the characters struggle with this and putting their lives back together.  This leads to some more heartfelt songs.  The Baker loses his wife to the giant and sings:

No more giants waging war!
Can't we just pursue our lives, with our children and our wives,
'Til that happy day arrives, how do you ignore
All the witches, all the curses,
All the wolves, all the lies, the false hopes, the good-bye's,
The reverses,
All the wondering what even worse is still in store!
All the children.
All the giants..
No more.

 Cinderella sings by way of answer:

No one is alone.  Truly.
No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what's good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.

 And finally the Baker's wife provides counsel from the grave with 

regards to raising their son:

Sometimes people leave you
  Halfway through the wood.
  Do not let it grieve you,
  No one leaves for good.
  You are not alone.
  No one is alone.
  Hold him to the light now,
  Let him see the glow.
  Things will be all right now.
  Tell him what you know.. 

I enjoyed this show.  The songs have stuck in my mind.