1. Meredith Willsons The Music Man
(2000 Broadway Revival Cast) by
Meredith Willson
Wow!!! The Best Music Man Cd Ever!!
Choreographer-turned-director Susan Stroman struck gold twice in the
1999-2000 Broadway season, first with her dance play Contact and then
with her grand revival of Meredith Willsons The Music Man. One of the
most loving--and beloved--celebrations of Americana ever to grace the
stage, The Music Man captures the soul of the heartland with its evocation
of brass bands, barbershop quartets, and even piano lesso ns. The titular
role of the fast-talking con man who hoodwinks an Iowa town has, perhaps
more than any other role in musical theater, always belonged to one
performer: Robert Preston, who starred in the original 1957 Broadway cast
and subsequent 1962 film. Craig Bierko, a movie actor making his
Broadway debut, acquits himself well, sometimes sounding astonishingly
like Preston but without aping him. In his hands, 76 Trombones remains a
rousing signature tune. As Marian the librarian, a radiant Rebecca Luker
(star of the Broadway revivals of Show Boat and The Sound of Music)
beautifully delivers her ballads, including My White Knight, which was
written for the original stage production but replaced in the film by Being in
Love. Longtime fans will appreciate the inclusion of the barbershop tunes
Ice Cream and Its You, and the dance music in 76 Trombones, Marian the
Librarian, and Shipoopi, as well as a booklet with full lyrics. Prestons
magical performances are irreplaceable, but this energetic revival is worthy
of a spot on your shelf. --David Horiuchi

2. The 2000 Broadway revival brought the live-on-stage version of "The
Music Man" to a new generation of theatregoers, and this recording will
take its place among the classics as well. In some ways it surpasses the
1957 original cast recording, although devoted fans will want to have both.
More of the show is included (dance sequences, reprises, some dialogue),
and the sound quality is outstanding.Craig Bierko won't make you forget
Robert Preston, but he's not just aping the master; he finds his own
inflection for many lines. His is a younger, slyer Harold Hill, with more
winks and nudges than Preston, who charmed the townsfolk with his
apparent sincerity. Rebecca Luker's voice sounds uncannily like Barbara
Cook's, but she too makes the part her own. "My White Knight" starts in a
low key, then returns to the original pitch, allowing Luker to build up to a
breathtaking climax.The "Rock Island" sequence adds a drum background
to the salesmen's chant; far from being obtrusive, the drum heightens the
sense of reality, as it sounds just like a laboring steam engine. "Pick-a-
little" is much stronger here than on the 1957 recording, as is the chorus in
general, and there are many surprises and delights throughout the CD.All
in all, a must-have for anyone who knows and loves the show, and a good
introduction for anyone who doesn't.
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