Search - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lea Salonga :: Flower Drum Song (2002 Broadway Revival Cast)

Flower Drum Song (2002 Broadway Revival Cast)
Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lea Salonga
Flower Drum Song (2002 Broadway Revival Cast)
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1

The experiment conducted with the 2002 revival of Flower Drum Song may be one of the most audacious ever attempted on Broadway. Despite being a hit for Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1958, the show had never been revived. It w...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lea Salonga, Jose Llana
Title: Flower Drum Song (2002 Broadway Revival Cast)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Drg
Original Release Date: 1/1/2003
Re-Release Date: 1/7/2003
Album Type: Cast Recording
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Musicals, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 021471299625

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The experiment conducted with the 2002 revival of Flower Drum Song may be one of the most audacious ever attempted on Broadway. Despite being a hit for Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1958, the show had never been revived. It was felt that it hadn't aged gracefully, its depiction of Chinese-Americans in San Francisco having come under criticism. So playwright David Henry Hwang rewrote the book, shuffling the order of the songs to fit his purpose and completely recontextualizing them in the process. Centering the action on the Golden Pearl Theater, the new Flower Drum Song now has a huge show-within-a-show component, which allows the staging of some of the most sensitive numbers in a pointedly stylized setting. Arranger and musical director David Chase has dusted the cobwebs off the score, and the music pulses with vitality, notably in the two irresistible songs in the middle of the show: "Fan Tan Fannie" is now a hip-shaking number that incorporates '60s surf elements, while "Chop Suey" explodes in a brassy big-band fever. Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon) is quite good in the starring role and confirms her gift for ballads. But watch for Sandra Allen's slinky rendition of "I Enjoy Being a Girl" and "Fan Tan Fannie." Purists can scream all they want; this new recording is ace. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

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CD Reviews

Tony-deserving musical!
jack | Minneapolis, MN | 02/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Revamp that's effective, performed to audiences by a superb cast. This musical deserves the Tonys this year.To Lea Salonga fans, her "Broadway Concert" album contains Ms. Salonga's wonderful renditions of some of the best songs ever sung on Broadway. Get this one along with the Flower Drum soundtrack and you'll hear her delightful version of "I Enjoy Being A Girl." Her self-titled album, "Lea Salonga," released some years ago, is also still available (on-line) and it features songs that are not typical of the ones she usually sings, but which have a lot of charm."
Proud to be Asian
jack | 02/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Watching those incredibly talented asian faces made me so proud. That this show starred my favorite Lea Salonga should have been enough but I thoroughly enjoyed the FDS show last week and I can't wait to see it again. It was funny and hilarious. As usual, Lea was mesmerizing with her glorious , soaring voice. Jose Llana was macho and blessed with a rich voice in "You are beautiful". Sandra Allen was awesome as well as the other characters. But clearly, it was Lea that people came to see. Mabuhay Lea at maraming salamat sa iyo."
Lea rules!
hill top | Manila, Philippines | 01/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just got my copy of the CD and I'm now totally lost in it! The music could never be more beautiful. Lea Salonga has the best emotion-packed crystalline dulcet voice the world has ever recorded and she's the most interesting thing that I've ever seen on stage. Two things about this recording come into my attention, though. Lea's version of "I enjoy being a girl" in her The Broadway Concert CD is far spunkier, more flirtatious and more enjoyable to listen to than Sandra's version but this isn't to say that the latter's version is that bad, no. Also, I like Lea's "Love, look away" in her The Broadway Concert CD so much better than her version in this recording, but again, this isn't to say that it aint good. Generally, this is one of the best cast recordings the musical theatre has ever produced. Kudos to the cast and the creative team for their individual and collaborative efforts!"