Based on P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories, which recount the adventures of hapless Bertie Wooster and his resourceful butler, Jeeves, this may be the most British musical ever written--yes, perhaps even more than My Fair La... more »dy! In a way, Andrew Lloyd Webber and his collaborator, famed playwright Alan Ayckbourn (book and lyrics), attempt to emulate the bubble-light musicals that Wodehouse himself wrote in the 1920s and 1930s. This is particularly obvious on numbers such as the comic love anthem "That Was Nearly Us" and "When Love Arrives," a duet very much inspired by the ones in the Wodehouse/Gershwins collaboration, Oh, Kay!. It's a bit odd at times to hear Lloyd Webber's majestic chords performed by a small ensemble, but it's also nice to see the composer test himself in this way. Between its first London run in 1996 and its Broadway opening in October 2001, By Jeeves popped up in several cities. This recording is based on the Goodspeed Opera House and Pittsburgh Public Theater productions. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
Based on P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories, which recount the adventures of hapless Bertie Wooster and his resourceful butler, Jeeves, this may be the most British musical ever written--yes, perhaps even more than My Fair Lady! In a way, Andrew Lloyd Webber and his collaborator, famed playwright Alan Ayckbourn (book and lyrics), attempt to emulate the bubble-light musicals that Wodehouse himself wrote in the 1920s and 1930s. This is particularly obvious on numbers such as the comic love anthem "That Was Nearly Us" and "When Love Arrives," a duet very much inspired by the ones in the Wodehouse/Gershwins collaboration, Oh, Kay!. It's a bit odd at times to hear Lloyd Webber's majestic chords performed by a small ensemble, but it's also nice to see the composer test himself in this way. Between its first London run in 1996 and its Broadway opening in October 2001, By Jeeves popped up in several cities. This recording is based on the Goodspeed Opera House and Pittsburgh Public Theater productions. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
CD Reviews
Fun Filled Melodic Musical
Jim Jr | Buffalo, NY United States | 10/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
""By Jeeves" is a rewrite of Andrew Lloyd Webber big failure, "Jeeves" written years ago. It has been produced in various rewritten forms ever since. This latest version is one that began at the Goodspeed Opera House and has been subsequently produced at other locations. In all the American productions, the pivotal role of Bertie Wooster has been played by the extremely talented John Scherer. Listening to the American Premier recording featuring Mr. Scheerer, it is obvious why he claimes the role as his own. He is wonderful in a performance worthy of a Tony award.This is not the typical Andrew Lloyd Webber sung through or heavy on musical numbers show. It is a very funny adaptation of the P. G. Wodehouse stories by the prolific British dramatist Alan Ackbourn (sometimes called the British Neal Simon). The numbers are all wonderful melodic and unforgettable. I find myself humming the tumes as I'm driving. They simply stick in your mind. The score contains one of Mr. Lloyd Webber's loveliest love songs, "Half A Moment" that has been featured on a number of albums with collections of his songs. There are two "By Jeeves" recordings available at present. The British version has a great deal of dialogue linking the songs in a attempt at trying to tell the complicated story. They become boring to listen to after the first couple listenings. These dialogues are omited from the American recording letting the listener concentrate on the great songs. I much prefer the American recording for this reason and for the star making performance of John Scherer. John is really terrific as Bertie Wooster with a voice perfect for the songs plus excellent interpertations of the lyrics from touching to very funny.(...)"
Loved it
Career Counselor | 03/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful show that was bludgeoned by many critics. As a friend said, the reviews were like hitting a butterfly with a sledge hammer. It is a light, silly, frothy comedy. But it is also clever, witty, delightful, and great fun to see (I saw one of the last US performances before it closed). I was particularly taken with the music and songs which are tuney (as LLoyd-Webber can sometimes NOT be) bright and well performed. I was humming the songs as I walked out, as I was at Evita. Great fun."
Not as good as the original 1996 recording..
Marcus Collin | NY | 10/20/2001
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Why get rid of the great dialogue that is on the original 96 recording? That's what made that album great. This music is some of ALW's best in years. Im definitely beginning to think that he is much more prone to success with comedy. The exception being Aspects of Love, which IMO is his favorite work.If you have to buy one album of this show, buy the 96 recording."
A very different Andrew Lloyd Webber-and thats a good thing!
R. Cowan | Portland OR USA | 02/26/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is my first on-line review of anything. I am writing because I think this show deserves a HUGE loyal following. Let me be the fist to point out that I am not a huge fan of Lloyd Webber's shows. I don't like JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, hate JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, love EVITA, am ambivalent about CATS and STARLIGHT EXPRESS, was bored by ASPECTS OF LOVE and SUNSET BOULEVARD, like PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, laughed at WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND and have yet to hear THE BEAUTIFUL GAME or WOMAN IN WHITE. But I absolutely adore BY JEEVES.
I was first introduced to the recording of this show by the 1996 London CD, which encapsulated the show with a clever narration by Jeeves and Bertie which used bits of the actual dialogue from the show. When I heard selections from the Broadway recording, I was impressed by many of the performances, most of which I knew had benefitted greatly from previous performers' onstage "moments." Perhaps the thing that sold me on the US recording came from the song "That Was Nearly Us," when Honoria, after being warned by Bertie of an upcoming "humpback bridge," actually articulates the bump as she sings...very funny stuff and quite in character with the show. All the voices are superior on the US recording...especially John Scherer as Bertie.
I must point out that, as a completist myself, I must own both the London and US recordings of this show, as I love some of the performances on the aforementioned "narrated" recording. There is a third recording of the show, virtually identical to the London recording, but possessing a different opening number, "The Code of the Woosters," which was replaced on the London and US recordings with "Wooster Will Entertain You." As I said, I am a completist, and I must have all three...all four, if they ever release the 1975 recording of JEEVES, the forerunner to this show.
Additional bonuses to the Broadway recording are the Entr'acte, some playoff music at the end, and an instrumental break in the middle of "It's A Pig!" The "banjoless" solos in "Banjo Boy" are very different than the mutterings on the London recording, and very funny to visualize.
Give this recording a try!
Wooster WILL entertain you!
You can be sure of that!
He'll prevail; should he fail,
Bertie will eat his eat-
With bags of mustard!
"
Don't Expect This to Be Like the London Recording
Shaliali | Sevierville, TN | 03/28/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard, and immediately bought, this musical on cassette with the London cast; I was mesmerized! I love the Jeeves and Wooster stories, and this musical does them justice. Of course, the cassette was soon outdated, and I needed to replace it with a CD. Well, I wasn't paying attention, and I bought the American cast recording, and it had none of the charm of the British recording, and this is NOT British chauvanism-- I'm an American. We Americans just can't pull off the proper mix of silliness ("It's a Pig") and sophistication to make it work. The actors are stilted, and it seems to me that they never read the Wodehouse stories, and I don't even think it's a guess to say they haven't seen Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as Jeeves and Wooster. The whole thing just didn't work. I only gave it the extra star because the material itself is so brilliant. Unfortunately, the execution (ooh, unfortunate word choice) turned five star potential into two stars.
You should definitely liten to By Jeeves, but not this version. Be sure to get the London Cast recording."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1