CD & DVD Reviews

Book/Lyrics: Jonathan Christenson Reviewer: Charlotte Robson Edgar Allen Poe may seem a strange choice for a musical biopic. However, this darkly brilliant cast recording of Catalyst Theatre’s Off Broadway production lifts elements from the writer's life and work, real and imagined, to chart his course from ignominious birth to aptly-titled "mysterious" demise. The tiny cast of seven show astounding measures ...

Reviewer: Mark Clegg When a Broadway performer tackles one of these intimate cabaret recordings at 54 Below, the results tend to swing one of two ways. They either give the audience what they expect and pepper the program with songs from shows that they are known for, or they ignore their legacy and take the opportunity to perform a whole ...

Reviewer: Holly Spanner Billed as the “cult sequel to grease” Cool Rider is in fact Grease 2 – reloaded. Revamped and given a new face, Cool Rider follows unlikely lovers Stephanie Zinone (Ashleigh Gray), leader of The Pink Ladies and English exchange student Michael Carrington (Aaron Sidwell) who quickly becomes smitten. After learning that Stephanie is looking for a devil ...

Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Reviewer: Jackson Cooper It’s a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought: that if a musical gets a revival, its recording will reveal something new about the show. This brings people to a deeper appreciation to the score and shows overall. Lincoln Center’s The King and I ranks among the great ...

Music &Lyrics by Wayne &Karey Kirkpatrick Reviewer: Mark Clegg Shakespeare is no stranger to musical theatre. Kiss Me Kate, Return to the Forbidden Planet, West Side Story, The Lion King: the list of shows based or inspired by the works of The Bard are numerous. Something Rotten! takes a slightly different approach and sticks Will himself right in the middle ...

Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Anthony Drewe Reviewer: Mark Clegg The musical writing partnership of Stiles and Drewe has never really got the success or recognition that it deserves. From their award winning Honk!, through to their partnership with Disney writing the new songs that would stand alongside the Sherman brothers classics for Mary Poppins on stage, to their fantastic but ...

Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Adaptation &Arrangement: Rob Fisher Reviewer: Lauren Humphreys 64 years since the classic movie musical, the first stage adaptation of An American in Paris is currently wowing them on the Great White Way, trailing 12 Tony Award nominations in its wake alongside a wave of positive reviews. Re-set to the immediate aftermath of WW2 and ...

Reviewer: Charlotte Broadbent Ben Stock's debut album And there was music is a warm invitation to enjoy his musical inspirations, personal favourites and classic crowd pleaser's. Stock covers a broad range of tunes from the golden era of musicals. As Stock has worked extensively in musicals as both a performer and as musical director we know that we are in ...