Search - Charles Strouse, Richard Maltby Jr. :: Nick & Nora

Great score + talented stars = recipe for a Broadway flop!

Sean | LOOK | 09/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A murder myster musical sounds like one of the best evenings that I could spend in the theatre. Especially if it has such a complex, yet catchy, score as this one. Johanna Gleason and Barry Bostwick are strong leads, and Christine Baranski and Chris Sarandon are equally so in their supporting lead roles. Debra Monk's "People Get Hurt" is hilarious, and Faith Prince's heart-pounding, pulse-racing, and biting "Men" is definately among the high-lights of the album. These two songs alone make this album very buyable! At first I found the songs "Let's Go Home," "Look Who's Alone Now," and "Class" to be boring, B-flat Broadway ballads, but now I see that they are knowing, and reveal great character. The album deserves repeated listening, as the songs might not catch on at first listen, and the plot and various, over-lapping time sequances can be confusing. But by re-reading the synopsis and re-listening to the album, you will find this as a great a musical as I did. And the songs at the climaxes of both the acts ("May the Best Man Win" and "A Busy Night at Lorraine's"), are among the finest devices ever used in an experimental Broadway musical. Starting out as duets between the main two characters, and then expanding into numbers that include the full chorus (who are not really "present" at all, but who Nick and Nora have summoned up in their minds) is absolutely ingenious. And the story is not just about a murder, but about Nick and Nora Charles examining their glamorous marriage, taking it apart, and seeing it for what it really is. And if what it "really is," really works at all. And you know what? The great score, strong story, and amazingly talented, almost all-name cast didn't help this musical to succeed. It flopped when it opened on Broadway. Go figure, huh? Well, I guess it deserved it, as there were no helicopters or crashing chandeliers or dancing pussy-cats or anything like that along the way."

Great Fun

Mark A. Robinson | 11/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nick and Nora was a victim of bitter critics looking to pan a greatly anticipated musical. At least we have the cast recording to remember to of it's glory by. Joanna Gleason is perfect and sings with style and wit. Barry Bostwick has a nice voice, but the real star of this recording is Faith Prince singing "Men" a bitter diatribe against chauvenism."

One of the big cult-flops of the 90's

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 06/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"NICK & NORA was one of the big cult-flops of the 90's. It closed after little more than a week's worth of performances. The show had a lot riding with it: it was Joanna Gleason's followup to her Tony-winning performance in 1987's INTO THE WOODS, and it featured an up-and-comer called Faith Prince...There are a few good numbers in this otherwise-lackluster score. Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason make good with the charming "Is There Anything Better Than Dancing?", Christine Baranski (TV's 'Cybill' and 'Welcome to New York') is the perfect comical soubrette in "Everybody Wants to Do a Musical" and Joanna Gleason is plaintive and romantic in the 11 o'clock number "Let's Go Home".The musical also starred Remak Ramsay, Michael Lombard, Debra Monk, Yvette Lawrence, Kip Niven, Jeff Brooks (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Thom Sesma and Chris Sarandon.Of course, a few good things came out of this huge failure; the biggest thing being the discovery of Faith Prince. Less than 2 years later she was starring as Miss Adelaide in a lavish revival of GUYS AND DOLLS, and won a Tony for her portrayal.NICK & NORA is a must-have for fans of Broadway musicals, and fans of the delightful Joanna Gleason."