Search - David Evans, Winnie Holzman :: Birds Of Paradise (1987 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

Fabulous Undervalued Musical!

duchessconlon | Williamsburg, VA | 10/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got lent this album by a friend who did the show in high school and I was just delighted with it. That was about a year ago and I still listen constantly to the music. The show is based on Chekhov's The Seagull and tells the story of a community theater group. The score is complex, the lyrics are clever, the story is funny and heartbreaking and wonderful. And you really can pick up on the story just from listening to the album. I really can't say enough good things it. Specifically:So Many Nights~ Just brilliant and really gives you a feel of what's going on
It's Only a Play~ Really funny, yet true at the same time. People who have done theater productions will really get this one
Imagining You~ Absolutely GORGEOUS group ballad. This is definitely in the running for my favorite song on the album
Penguins Must Sing~ Great, just great . . . giant crabs, giant women!
You're Mine~ One of the most heartbreaking songs I've ever heard.
After Opening Night~ wonderful mother/son dynamic, especially the middle bit that Homer sings accusing Marjorie of all sorts of things
Chekhov~ I detest this donut, but I can't let it go . . . I'll just let you listen to it ;-)
Something New~ The finale of the show and a really lovely, hopeful song. Now go on and buy this wonderful soundtrack!"

Melodic, inventive score

Mark Falconer | New York, NY | 10/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great little show with a fun little score. It's not a classic, by any means, and some of the lyrics are not great, but the music manages to stay inventive and pleasing throughout. And, of course, any musical version of Chekov is going to appeal to me (although perhaps not to the general public.)



The songs are very much 80s pop meets musical theatre, in the same vein as Baby or other Maltby/Shire works. Most of the songs are fairly conventional (the opening number that sets up all the characters and their situations, the establishing number for the antagonist, the unrequited love ballad, the "we've learned so much" finale, although in the show, the song is kind of turned on its head in a way that you don't get from the cast album), but they are superior examples of their kind. What works best in this show is the gleeful inanity of Homer's musical-within-a-musical, which we sample in "Penguins Must Sing," and when the authors come up with something original, not suggested by The Sea Gull in any way, as in the song "Chekov," which starts "Chekov's life was miserable. Chekov had TB. Chekov suffered for his art...like me!" And yes, it gets better from there.



So basically, I like the score quite a bit. The show is perhaps not up to the high standards of the score, but it still holds up quite well onstage. I had the opportunity to direct this show, and I can say that the book doesn't read all that well, but much of it plays beautifully. I highly recommend this CD to the curious."

Funny, moving, and FABULOUS

Laura Garner | Bourne, MA United States | 03/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I read the script and was intrigued; I ordered the CD and fell in love. Great characters, quirky story line, brilliant concept: not just a show-within-a-show, but "The Sea Gull" within "The Sea Gull." As a directer I feel not just the urge but the NEED to put this show on. It should be much better known! I can't recommend the cast recording highly enough."