The Secret Garden (musical, London cast)
Jul. 27th, 2012 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cahnThe Secret Garden (musical) - Original London Cast: 4/5. Very different from the Broadway version; much more true to the book. And here is where I get all out-of-character for me, because I usually a) hate adaptations that don't stay true to the book, and b) I usually get imprinted by the first thing I see/hear and hate the second one... so I would have expected to either hate the Broadway version or the London one, or possibly both. But nope. I suppose the two factors cancel one another out? I adore the Broadway version (I feel it does something new and exciting with the story while still staying true to the book -- and I am a sucker for works that transform what they build on), but I really like this one too.
Philip Quast is freaking amazing in this one and basically sells the whole thing to me. I love Mandy Patinkin like mad, don't get me wrong, but... PHILIP QUAST. I didn't even like Quast in the Les Mis symphonic recording (having been imprinted by Terrence Mann, of course, which in retrospect I'm pretty sure made me not agree with some of Quast's acting/musical choices even though they're perfectly valid ones), but Quast is really, really good as Archie Craven, just spot on and richly emotional and... wow.
I have a personal preference for Rebecca Luker (Lily) in the Broadway recording to Meredith Braun in the London recording; Braun has a much younger, less ethereal sound -- which is in keeping with the London interpretation, and blends better with Colin, but I just like Luker better. The Broadway Dickon is much better than the London Dickon (who has some weird voice tics); the London Colin is much better than the Broadway Colin (it was a treat not to have to cringe through a super-breathy "Round-Shouldered Man" like I always have to do whenever I listen to the Broadway recording); I like the Broadway Martha better than the London one (who is a bit melodramatic). Natalie Morgan as the London Mary, although she's not bad, unfortunately cannot hold a candle to Daisy Eagan on Broadway, which is too bad because Mary is such an integral part of the recording.
Philip Quast is freaking amazing in this one and basically sells the whole thing to me. I love Mandy Patinkin like mad, don't get me wrong, but... PHILIP QUAST. I didn't even like Quast in the Les Mis symphonic recording (having been imprinted by Terrence Mann, of course, which in retrospect I'm pretty sure made me not agree with some of Quast's acting/musical choices even though they're perfectly valid ones), but Quast is really, really good as Archie Craven, just spot on and richly emotional and... wow.
I have a personal preference for Rebecca Luker (Lily) in the Broadway recording to Meredith Braun in the London recording; Braun has a much younger, less ethereal sound -- which is in keeping with the London interpretation, and blends better with Colin, but I just like Luker better. The Broadway Dickon is much better than the London Dickon (who has some weird voice tics); the London Colin is much better than the Broadway Colin (it was a treat not to have to cringe through a super-breathy "Round-Shouldered Man" like I always have to do whenever I listen to the Broadway recording); I like the Broadway Martha better than the London one (who is a bit melodramatic). Natalie Morgan as the London Mary, although she's not bad, unfortunately cannot hold a candle to Daisy Eagan on Broadway, which is too bad because Mary is such an integral part of the recording.
