The Musical!

Yes! Lithgow is a very talented singer.
Would you recommend this to someone who's just a really big fan of the movie. I'm not too into musicals (obviously I don't hate them either) but this is the first one I've been interested in a musical since the Black Rider. What sets this apart from most other musicals?

"The piano has been drinking... not me."
-Tom Waits

Norbert Leo Butz performing "Great Big Stuff" at the Tony's was the highlight of the ceremony, in my opinion. I was so glad he won Best Actor!
And if you guys haven't heard him as Fiyero in Wicked, go buy the cast recording. It is WORTH IT.

I've only heard the CD, (LOVE IT) so here is the review I posted iny my LJ...

Well, as a fan of the 1988 film, I expected for the musical to suck compared. I was pleasantly surprised. The music fit the premise and the setting very well. I was very pleased with Norbert Leo Butz's performance (not as much how the character was writtne though. But he performed it very well). Even though Freddy was written as a greedy sex fiend (which I didn't like, since i focused more on the sex fiend part in the musical, where it focused more on the greediness in the film, which I found much funnier than all the sex jokes in the musical) yet Butz made the character a lot more likeable than he sounded. John Lithgow did a great job, but the character (again) was written differently than in the movie. In the movie, you could believe that women might find Lawrence (played by Michael Caine in the movie) suave and charming, but the way David Yazbeck wrote Lawrence in the musical, he seemed much too exaggerated to be believed. Same with Christine (known as Janet in the film, which I think was much more clever. Why the hell did they change her name to Christine?? I thougth that was a stupid decision). She just seemed much much too gullible. But I thoguth for the most part, the songs were funny and clever, and the plot (mostly) stuck to the same plat as the movie. All in all, I thought the musical was very good, but it could have been closer to the movie (it still confuses me as to why they changed Janet's name to Christine. It wasn't even in any songs, so they didn't have to rhyme it with anything). If you don't compare it to the movie, it was a very good musical. Even though I prefer the movie (I love Steve Martin & Michael Caine!!). I DID like that Andre had a larger part. Not so much Muriel (known as Fanny in the movie. Another useless name change), but since they ended up together, I guess Muriel's part was necessary for Andre's part. I really really really liked Norbert Leo Butz in this (I love his voice!). I have a quote from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the movie in my user profile that I'm very curious to know if it was in the musical (it's my absolute favorite part in the movie. It's not even the funniest part, but I just love it for some reason).


But I'm very critical, so that's just me. I LOVE THE MUSICAL.

Here's the quote I mentioned being in my user profile...

"Freddy, as a younger man, I was a sculptor, a painter, and a musician. There was just one problem: I wasn't very good. As a matter of fact, I was dreadful. I finally came to the frustrating conclusion that I had taste and style, but not talent. I knew my limitations. We all have our limitations, Freddy. Fortunately, I discovered that taste and style were commodities that people desired. Freddy, what I am saying is: know your limitations. You are a moron."

I saw this musical this summer, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although it's not one of my favorites. (That honor goes to The Light in the Piazza.) Norbert Leo Butz was fabulous, as always. (I've loved him since his days in The Last Five Years.) While not the greatest singer in the world, you have to give John Lithgow props for how far he's come vocally since Sweet Smell of Success, for which he won the Tony without being able to sing. The rest of the cast was brilliant and wonderfully energetic, especially the fabulous Sherie Rene Scott, and David Yazbek's lyrics were delightful. I can't listen to "Love Is My Legs" without cracking a smile and singing along.

I bought the cast recording after seeing the show, and I think I actually enjoy listening to it more than seeing it, partially because so many of the lyrics were lost within the audience laughter, and I found some of Butz's onstage antics as Ruprecht rather distasteful. I know, the character is supposed to be like that, and they worked well. I just, personally, did not wish to view them. Call me old-fashioned.


~This is almost touching what the beauty is.~

I'm so mad! I went to see the musical version, and Norbert Leo Butz(Freddy) had an UNDERSTUDY! Oh, how I loathe that word with a passion. I'm sure if Norbert was there, I would have enjoyed it a lot better because just him on the soundtrack made me pee my pants.