Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 A Nice Musical March 16, 2003
Beabea (Chicago, Illinois USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
When Barnum first opened in 1980, it was acclaimed as the best musical of 1980, the musical amazement. Some critics expected it to sweep the Tony Awards, and it might have if "Evita" hadn't appeared. When the Tony awards were over, Barnum was left with a disappointing three Tony Awards for Best Actor, Best Scenic Design and Best Costumes. Without the Best Musical award it was also left to fall into musical obscurity. This is a shame because it is actually a respectable musical. The musical is definitely not perfect. The book was weak and it depended significantly on its star Jim Dale. The reason that you should buy this CD, however, is because the music is actually very good. Cy Coleman provided a strong score that was enhanced by the orchestrations of the incomparable Hersh Kay. Yes, it's true that you can hear stars Jim Dale and Glenn Close struggling to harmonize on some songs, but the energy of their performance is beautiful.
This CD also includes some of the original demos done for the show including a few songs that never made it into the finished production. Of these, I think that fans of the show would really enjoy "So Little Time" in which Barnum sings to Charity shortly before she dies - "Where did it go, this lifetime, hurrying by. How did it fly away, leaving so little time to tell you so many things I always meant to say." It is beautiful and it's amazing that it didn't make the final cut into the show.
The original recording is very difficult to find and it is nice to see that the Broadway version is available again.
One of my favorites April 2, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have a love of obscure musicals, and this has got to be the best show that noone has ever heard of (next to maybe Assassins). I did get to see a community theatre production that, frankly, blew me away, and I instantly fell in love with the character and the show.
You have to see the show to truly appreciate this score. The DVD with Michael Crawford is wonderful, but it really doesn't do it justice; live on stage, it's an incredible infusion of energy and in-your-face theatrical magic. The only show that I've seen that is as magical as "Barnum" is perhaps "Wicked," which benefits from more than two decades of technological advances. It's not really fair to compare the two.
I personally think that "The Colors of My Life," while rather trite, is a wonderfully simple way of showing the contrasting relationship between Barnum and his down-to-earth wife Chairy. The lyrics are very Sondheim-like in their simplicity and symbolism. (See Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" for an example of what I mean; Sondheim is a master of saying mountains with just a few words.)
While that song is nice enough, it's really Jim Dale, the con-man incarnate, that sells it to you. "There Is a Sucker..." is perhaps the gem of the show, but there's plenty more to love. Glenn Close gives a joyfully heart-filled performance in "One Brick at a Time" and the ensemble just sparkles in "Join the Circus" and "Come Follow the Band," which just might be the greatest Act II opening number ever. You'll be singing it for weeks. As if that isn't enough, all of the "specialty" numbers ("Thank God I'm Old," "Bigger Isn't Better," and "Love Makes Such Fools...") are tremendous.
I could probably go through this soundtrack track by track and write why I love each one in particular; that's how great this CD is. However, I have to add a caveat; if you haven't seen the show, it might not mean as much to you as it does to me. If you're thinking about buying it, just buy it; don't worry about thanking me.
If you happen to be a Cy Coleman fan, enjoy the bonus tracks, which are more interesting for historical reasons than musically. Still fun to listen to.
 Be a "Sucker" and Buy This!! May 30, 2002
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is an underrated and surprisingly listenable original cast recording of an underrated and surprisingly entertaining show. "Barnum" opened on Broadway 22 years ago and had a healthy 2 year run, but it was never considered a classic or even memorable show. At the time, pompous shows like "Evita" were all the rage, while more traditional ones like "Barnum" were considered antiquities. But unlike other, older shows that were once popular but have since fallen deservedly into obscurity ("Two Gentlmen of Verona" comes to mind), "Barnum" still comes alive with some memorable songs and an energetic cast. It's surprising how durable these melodies are. "There's a Sucker...", "The Colors of My Life" and "One Brick at a Time" are three of the unexpected pleasures here, but overall the music never really slacks and these tunes stay with you. The performances have enthusiasm, even if Glenn Close's wobbly chops sometimes threaten to spiral off the melody. On one song, the otherwise pleasant "I Like Your Style", she and Jim Dale compete for who can harmonize off key with the most consistency; it's a tie. But mostly the energy and characterization of the leads make up for any vocal deficiencies. The sound of this CD is rather crisp and dynamic, a tribute to the original recording and engineering. Overall, a worthwhile addition to any Original Broadway Cast collection.
a gorgeous score December 20, 2002
Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart's BARNUM is one of the most joyful and exciting of all Broadway musicals, which provides a wonderful account of the life of P.T. Barnum, showman extraordinaire.Jim Dale, as Barnum, is a revelation. He offers a touching rendition of "The Colors of My Life" (the score's singular hit), as well as an energetic "Out There" when he has to decide between a life with his wife or an affair with singing star Jenny Lind. Glenn Close (in the role that got Hollywood knocking) is a delight as Charity "Chairy" Barnum, the put-upon wife who knows what is best for her husband and tries to steer him along a path that will see him put his dreams aside. She offers her own glowing rendition of "Colors" as well as the jaunty "I Like Your Style" in a duet with Dale; and the show-stopping number "One Brick at a Time" is ably-led by her soaring voice. In 1993, Glenn Close returned to Broadway to star in SUNSET BOULEVARD. Play this recording back-to-back with SUNSET and you will be amazed at the difference in her voice. Marianne Tatum is given the beautifully-written role of Jenny Lind, the "Swedish nightingale" who steals Barnum away for a torrid affair. She is given the gorgeous "Love Makes Such Fools of Us All", and sings it for all its worth. Terri White, in her dual-roles of Joice Heth and the leading singer in "Black and White" is given ample time to display her amazing belt. In Joice's number "Thank God I'm Old", she slightly restrains her voice, but in "Black and White", watch out! She lets her voice climb to the rafters and you will be a fan forever. All-in-all, this superb recording of BARNUM is a must.
Toe-Tapping Fabulous! June 5, 2002
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
"Barnum" is one of the best musicals ever written and one of my favorites. It didn't gain the tremendous fame of so many others because it was robbed by the vastly inferior "Evita" at the 1981 Tony Awards--which subsequently hogged all the publicity. Jim Dale was incredible as Barnum, and his tour-de-force performance carries over well to an audio format. The music itself is energizing, fun, melodic and memorable in the greatest tradition of musical theater. A circus feel in the orchestrations captures calliopes and clowns. The only bad song in the score is "I Like Your Style". As another reviewer here has already noted, the singing there is frequently off-key and the style of the song (ironically) is inconsistent with that of the others and of the show itself. The remainder of the score is uniformly well-written and superbly performed. I had the good fortune to see "Barnum" on Broadway the 3rd night after it opened in 1980 and I've worn out 3 tapes of the soundtrack since then. I had despaired of ever finding this on c.d. The re-release has made my day! If you love classic musical theater that doesn't take itself too seriously and remembers that fun is its purpose, you'll enjoy this rollicking and original selection. As a final note, anyone familiar with and unimpressed by the Michael Crawford recording and/or performance of "Barnum" shouldn't be put off. The music was slowed and 'Pop'-ed up for that version and is very different from the original. That Michael Crawford was miscast as the lead didn't help. The result was...unfortunate. Forget Michael. Jim Dale's "Barnum" is king!
|
