Search - Gerard Alessandrini :: Forbidden Broadway: The Hit Musical Revue (1982 Revue Compilation)

Hilarious!

05/22/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I was in college and hopelessly bored with class, I would "lampoon" songs for the heck of it. I should have submitted my songs to the Forbidden Broadway series (FB, FB Vol. 2, FB Vol. 3 and FB Strikes Back!). This first one is not as funny as the next three, but as professionals who get better with their next works, the series gets progressively funnier. This first CD opened the door to musical irreverence. What makes it great to listen to is that the quality of the singing voices of the artists are comparable to any Broadway artist. I suspect that they came from there and ventured out to this unusual type of entertainment. You should enjoy the "Don't Cry For Me Argentina (lampooning Patty Lupone vs. Barbra Streisand vs. Madonna) and the Audition Sequence (lampooning They're Playing Our Song). You don't have to have extensive familiarity with the musical itself, but it would help to know the history of Broadway artists. If you've got a penchant for irreverence and are able to laugh at yourself, this CD is for you."

Some Great Spoofs

05/17/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you've ever seen the movie Pirates of Penzance, auditioned for a show or wondered what an Ethyl Merman/Mary Martin duet would sound like, you'll like this CD. Nothing is sacred to Alessandrini & company--they spoof Webber, Sondheim, Fosse, Carol Channing, Catholic musicals, you name it. The singers imitate voices so well it's frightening (though the Linda Rondstadt impersonation is a little on the mean side). Be sure to bring your sense of humor when you listen to this CD."