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 | Title : Thou Shalt Not: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Words and Music by Harry Connick, Jr.)
Author : Connick Jr., Harry
Release Date : 20020618
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $19.98
Amazon.com Price : $18.98
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Editorial Reviews :
Harry Connick Jr.'s Tony-nominated score for his 2001 Broadway debut, Thou Shalt Not, sounds a lot like, well, Harry Connick Jr. Transplanting Émile Zola's dark novel of passion, adultery, and murder, Thérèse Raquin, to 1940s New Orleans allows Connick to operate in his element, with songs that don't need to move the plot along among the most interesting: Debra Monk's saloon song 'My Little World,' a traditional funeral march ('Won't You Sanctify'), the lively ensemble numbers 'Light the Way' and 'Take Me to the Mardi Gras,' the numerous jazzy instrumentals, and Tony nominee Norbert Leo Butz (The Last 5 Years) sounding like the crooning composer-lyricist himself on 'Oh, Ain't It a Shame' and 'It's Good to Be Home.'
Connick plays piano but doesn't sing on this 77-minute original cast recording, but other cast members include Kate Levering (Peggy Sawyer in the 2001 revival of 42nd Street), Craig Bierko (Harold Hill in the 2000 revival of The Music Man), and Leo Burmester. Director-choreographer Susan Stroman couldn't duplicate her phenomenally successful run of Contact, The Music Man, and The Producers--Thou Shalt Not was generally panned, and the show closed after a three-month run. That makes this CD a historical document, and thus it's great to have the full lyrics, but for those not up on their Zola, a plot synopsis would have been nice.
Buyer Reviews :
I was priviledged to see the show on the 2nd of January (shortly before it closed). At the time, I can say I was much less than impressed with the show.
Now, 6 months later, the cast recording has arrived and is in much better shape than I remember the show ever being in.
The CD is well recorded. The sound is very deep and very, well, Harry... Additional musicians are credited, so perhaps the score has been filled out a great deal by extra pieces.
Kate Levering sounds very comfortable with her role as Therese. Strangely enough, Craig Bierko sounds very little like what I remember from that night at the Plymouth, but, nonetheless, he is a great artist. The star, however, is Norbert Leo Butz, who plays Camille, Therese's husband.
The music is quite evocative and I am remembering a great deal from the show (sets, choreo., etc.)
There are full lyrics but, alas, no pictures in the booklet.
Connick is quoted inside the front cover as saying,
'The last days of my experience with Thou Shalt Not were as exciting as the first. To hear the singers and musicians deliver the words and music comfortably, and with familiarity, was a joy. This recording represents a hugely important time in my life; the exhausting, marvelous days of my first Broadway show. My thanks to Susan Stroman, Tom Thompson, the cast, orchestra, and crew of Thou Shalt Not. Thanks for showing me a path which I'll travel, God willing, for many years to come.' -Harry Connick, Jr.
For those who love Harry Connick, Jr. - you will love the show. It is great Harry music (though he doesn't appear on the recording, he plays piano on some tracks).
Pay special attention to:
3.) I Need to be in Love Ballet
9.) The Other Hours Ballet
15.) Tug Boat
18.) Time Passing
20.) Oh! Ain't that Sweet
21.) Thou Shalt Not Ballet
Well, it's finally here - for the better. It may not have been that great, but it is great to hear it again.
(by William Shutes)
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