Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Talkin' Broadway
"Lucky Stiff is one of those small, light, fun shows...by current Broadway darlings Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens."

London Spectator
"Lucky Stiff is a surprise, and a good one; this charming little show is another triumph..."

Album Description
This is the first, and most complete, original cast album of the score of Lucky Stiff by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens. It features Broadway stars Malcolm Gets, Mary Testa and Janet Metz. The recording was made in New York during the show's run at The York Theatre.

Lucky Stiff is a musical adaptation of the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, and follows the escapades of Harry Witherspoon, who will inherit six million dollars from his recently deceased uncle if he will take the stuffed corpse to Monte Carlo for the vacation that his Uncle Anthony never had!

Lucky Stiff is the very first musical by Flaherty & Ahrens, who have since become two of the leading lights of Broadway - Ragtime, Sussical, My Favorite Year and more.

Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast), Music, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Malcolm Gets, Janet Metz, Cast Recordings, Music Theater, Musical Theater, Pop, Showtunes / B'way
Lucky Stiff (1993 Original Cast Members)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • What more can you ask for?
  • Lucky Stiff... Shocker of a show
  • An excellent score, marred by an underrate cast
  • great show, bad cast
  • "then you say 'ooh la la' which causes...BOOM! I love that!"
 Lucky Stiff (1993 Original Cast Members)
Stephen Flaherty , and Lynn Ahrens
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Lucky Stiff
  2. My Favorite Year (1992 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. A Man of No Importance (2002 Off-Broadway Cast)
  4. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0000014TX
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

  1. Something Funny's Going On
  2. Mister Witherspoon's Friday Night
  3. Uncle's Last Request
  4. Good To Be Alive
  5. Rita's Confession
  6. Lucky
  7. Dogs Versus You
  8. The Phone Call
  9. Monte Carlo!
  10. Speaking French
  11. Times Like This
  12. Fancy Meeting You Here
  13. Something Funny's Going On
  14. Him, Them, It, Her
  15. Nice
  16. Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon
  17. Confession #2/Fancy Meeting You Here (Reprise)
  18. Finale: Good To Be Alive

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars What more can you ask for?.......2006-11-10

There are several reasons for buying this CD
1. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
2. Stiff
3. Fun
4. The *totally wicked* Cast
So, go get it.

4 out of 5 stars Lucky Stiff... Shocker of a show.......2006-07-19

Great satirical well written funny show with a LOT of twists and turns......Loved it.

4 out of 5 stars An excellent score, marred by an underrate cast.......2005-01-03

This score is simply marvellous: witty, fast-paced, wonderful, clever, and the songs advance the plot well. As for the plot, briefly, it's silly and somewhat complicated, but don't worry, if you've never seen the show: neither have I! However, everything is given in a detailed synopsis in the CD booklet, and I feel as though I've really seen the play, and now I really do want to!
As said, the songs are this CD are all excellent. There's only one that I have programmed out not to listen to--the others are all superb! The only problem is the cast. The supporting cast is quite good, but the two main characers, Harry Witherspoon and his uncle, are annoying. The nephew is British, and his accent makes everyone who's ever heard an English accent cringe. The uncle manages an Atlantic City casino--draw your own conclusions!
Bottom Line: Although the cast isn't great, this CD is definitely one to get! Perhaps consider picking up the other version of the show for better performances, but if it's not available, you won't be upset if you get this one!

4 out of 5 stars great show, bad cast.......2004-05-11

I LOVE THIS SHOW. It is funny, fast-paced, and intelligent (surprisingly well juxtaposed to the silly plot). However, the cast on this CD dissappointed me. Harry Witherspoon's accent is, to say the least, embarassing. (To say the most: nails-on-chalkboard-annoying). The Uncle is annoying as well, but at least it fits the character. Rita and her brother slightly less so, but still have their moments of going totally off-pitch. The soloist in Speaking French is quite good, but the person least affected by a bad accent/pitch is Miss Glick. If you like the show still by the recording, but if you don't know it don't get the wrong impression from this recording: the show can sound much better. And try Ragtime! Another great Flaherty/Ahrens collaboration.

4 out of 5 stars "then you say 'ooh la la' which causes...BOOM! I love that!".......2004-01-02

Based on a (now) obscure novel by Michael Butterworth, "Lucky Stiff" is a frothy little musical that has been made into an album worth owning. I ran across it totally by accident when a friend loaned it to me because she was planning on auditioning for a role in it at her college. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked it that much, but after listening to the whole thing, decided that it was way too witty and enjoyable to be passed up.

The plot is silly and complicated. The leads are unassuming and stereotypical. It is Agatha Christie meets Cole Porter. The general idea is that a young, poor, British shoesalesman inherits a fortune from his dead uncle from New Jersey. The twist is, in order to get the cash, he's got to take his uncle (posthumously, of course) on his dream vacation to Monte Carlo. Chased there by the dog charity who is also up for inheriting the money and his uncle's mistress (who accidently is also his murderer) and her brother, chaos and humor naturally commence. But is Uncle really dead? Will uptight British nephew loosen up and find love in the south of France? None of these questions are exactly deep, but the show moves at such a clever, quick pace and the double twist at the ending, though expected, is satisfying.

The best numbers on the soundtrack, by far, are "Rita's Confession" (which has strains spookily reminiscent of "Little Shop of Horrors" song "Mushnik and Son", which is probably only interesting to the handful of people who like that number), "The Phone Call", "Speaking French" (my personal favorite), "Fancy Meeting You Here" and "Nice".
Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Buy the other one...
  • Well... it is quaint
  • Charming, Touching Piece
  • Very funny stuff
 Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Lynn Ahrens , Stephen Flaherty , Malcolm Gets , and Janet Metz
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Lucky Stiff (1993 Original Cast Members)
  2. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. Lucky Stiff
  4. Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0002T7YO4
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

  1. Something Funny's Going On
  2. Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night
  3. Rita's Confession
  4. Good to Be Alive
  5. Lucky
  6. Dogs Versus You
  7. The Phone Call
  8. Monte Carlo!
  9. Speaking French
  10. Times Like This
  11. Fancy Meeting You Here
  12. Finale Act One
  13. Something Funny's Going On Reprise
  14. Him, Them, It, Her
  15. Nice
  16. Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon
  17. A Woman in My Bathroom
  18. Nice Reprise
  19. Confession #2
  20. Finale Act Two
  21. Bonus Song: Shoes

Album Description

This is the first, and most complete, original cast album of the score of Lucky Stiff by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens. It features Broadway stars Malcolm Gets, Mary Testa and Janet Metz. The recording was made in New York during the show's run at The York Theatre.

Lucky Stiff is a musical adaptation of the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, and follows the escapades of Harry Witherspoon, who will inherit six million dollars from his recently deceased uncle if he will take the stuffed corpse to Monte Carlo for the vacation that his Uncle Anthony never had!

Lucky Stiff is the very first musical by Flaherty & Ahrens, who have since become two of the leading lights of Broadway - Ragtime, Sussical, My Favorite Year and more.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Buy the other one..........2005-09-29

I've been a fan of this show for a long time. I'm a fan of Flaherty & Ahrens in general. This recording just doesn't seem worth it. The performances are certainly no better than the original recording. Malcolm Gets is definitely not better than the original Mr.Witherspoon (how did he get away with that accent?). The most glaring absence for me is the orchestra. A piano-only accompaniment sounds like "rehearsal." The inclusion of material that was cut from the original album is not reason enough to buy this CD. My advice...buy the original.

3 out of 5 stars Well... it is quaint.......2005-08-13

I stumbled upon Lucky Stiff as a fan of Malcolm Gets. His performance in A New Brain was simply brilliant. I was hesitant to get this because I have not been a fan of much of what I have heard from Ahrens and Flaherty. Yet with Malcolm Gets and the solid reviews below I finally decided to risk it. Not the worst decision ever, but not the best either.

As for plot, Rita (Mary Testa) is married to a casino owner, Nicky (not really a character in the musical). She has an affair with the casino manager, Tony. She embezzles millions from her husband and gives them to Tony. She then finds him cheating on her so she shoots and kills him. In his will, Tony leaves all his money to Harry Whitherspoon (Malcolm Gets), his British nephew. However, Harry will only inherit the money if he takes his dead uncle to Monte Carlo for a last fling. If he refuses, the money goes to a charity for dogs. Harry is a rather depressing chap who leads a humdrum joyless existence and is averse to adventure and fun (Malcolm seems to gravitate to such characters). As a side note, Rita blames her brother Vinnie (Stuart Zagnit) for the missing money to Nicky. So Rita, Vinnie, Malcolm, dead Tony, and even a representative of the dog charity (Annabel as played by Janet Metz) are off to Monte Carlo.

There is nothing particularly memorable about the show. It is pretty bland and forgettable. Some of the songs are quaint (6,7,20). Some are witty (14). Some are actually pretty annoying (9,16). Some fall in a couple categories above (2). None are terribly remarkable. As for magnetic melodies or catchy tunes, they are in short supply.

Malcolm's accent is a bit off-putting but he does a nice job with the part. Mary's Rita is overbearing and very annoying. Her character actually drains enjoyment out of the show for me. This is not Mary's fault, it is just that the character is unlikable. Maybe with time enough she would seem less abrasive. Stuart's Vinnie is a small part but probably was the highlight for me. Annabel is pleasant enough.

There is a bit of a twist at the end which is probably unexpected (it was for me). But who really cares - well one character might(!)? The final lyrics are, "It's good to be alive." Yet the show is not so dramatic or inspirational as such a line would suggest. I doubt its creators intend it to be those things, but why hint at such themes with a pretty hollow story?

The accompaniment is piano only. So there is no lush or beautiful orchestration. I enjoyed the piano, but do miss the diverity and fullness of an orchestra.

It has a bonus track (21) that had been cut from the show which I hoped would be a nice find. As with the rest, it was just okay. Nothing I'd care to hear over again.

Overall, it is just okay. I really can't recommend it. If someone is a fan of Malcolm Gets and is interested in a light and fun musical, I would suggest Amour instead. If you buy it, you probably won't rue the day but neither will you mark it as a highlight.

5 out of 5 stars Charming, Touching Piece.......2005-02-25

Having never seen this first show written by the now-famous Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, I wasn't sure what to expect buying this soundtrack - a small, comic murder mystery musical with a cast of ten seemed a hard sell. Well, I can safely say that this is one of the smartest, tightest pieces I've ever listened to. From the opening song, "Something Funny's Going On," the show moves at a rapid, crazy pace and pulls you in. From fast paced numbers involving the whole cast to beautiful, touching ballads ("Times Like This" is one of my favorite ballads in all musical theatre), the soundtrack allows the listener to get a pretty picture of the story. Performance-wise, the cast is wonderful! Malcolm Gets is excellent as the insecure Harry Witherspoon. I recommend this soundtrack to any musical theater fan.

4 out of 5 stars Very funny stuff.......2005-01-04

Such a clever piece! It's one of those musicals that has just about everything - crazy characters, outlandish scenarios, and charmingly catchy tunes that are ever so clever. It'll make you smile, make you laugh out loud, and make you bounce along to the music. There are beautiful ballads as well as wonderfully upbeat songs that paint such a colorful picture for the listener. The entire cast does a great job. Even though Malcolm Gets stumbles a bit on his accent, the warmth in his voice instantly captivates and charms. And Mary Testa is a hoot! Wonderful stuff!
Times Like This
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • lovely
  • Lovely, But Bland
  • Bright and lovely
 Times Like This
Heidi Grant Murphy
Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Twilight and Innocence

ASIN: B00007G78D
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Tracks:

  1. Warm All Over
  2. Somebody Somewhere
  3. The Boy Next Door
  4. Will He Like Me
  5. On the Steps of the Palace
  6. Times Like This
  7. If I Were a Bell
  8. New Words
  9. I Have To Tell You
  10. If I Loved You
  11. The French Song
  12. Why Did I Choose You
  13. Waitin' for My Dearie
  14. (Vanilla) Ice Cream
  15. Clusters of the Crocus/Come To My Garden
  16. I Could Have Danced All Night

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars lovely.......2004-08-29

Being an opera fan, I'm often disappointed by cross-over albums. I agree with one the of the other reviews that mentions Upshaw are being more successful in this type of repertoire. But Murphy is quite lovely. It was nice to hear a few pieces I was unfamiliar with like "The French Song" and "Times Like This"... and I'm a sucker for "Come to my Garden" (even though I REALLY hated the boy soprano!). Overall, a very pleasant disc - perhaps not too deep on interpretation - but beautifully sung.

3 out of 5 stars Lovely, But Bland.......2003-03-14

I've often enjoyed hearing Heidi Grant Murphy at the Metropolitan Opera House. Her crystal-clear soprano is truly beautiful, light and delicate, yet solid enough to handle Strauss and Mozart. Similar singers, most notably Dawn Upshaw, have triumphed in the musical theater repertory, so why not isn't this disc more successful? First of all, Ms. Grant isn't particularly successful as an actress. While some of the songs (most notably "I Have to Tell You") are beautifully realized, most are simply sung, with very little thought as to their meaning for the "character." In recordings a singer has to paint a larger picture, given the absence of sets, costumes, dialogue etc. Perhaps if we could see Grant's face, we'd know what she were feeling; but, of course, we can't. And as the musical director has advised Ms. Murphy to sing everything on the downbeat, the chances of her actually expressing some emotion are slim to none. Additionaly, I find the arrangements to be either unimaginative or intrusive. I will say that I absolutely love the selection of songs here. "Times Like This" is one of my favorite theater songs, as is "New Words." And what a pleasure to see an album of this sort with selections from "She Loves Me" and "Fanny," one not weighted down with the obligatory Sondheim and Lloyd Weber. All in all, this is a pleasant, lovely disc, one which I don't think you'll be sorry to have. But it doesn't compare to Upshaw's Rodgers & Hart CD, Terfel's Alan Jay Lerner disc, or Te Kanawa's Irving Berlin collection, which had the good fortune to be arranged by Jonathan Tunick.

5 out of 5 stars Bright and lovely.......2003-01-31

This is a CD you don't want to miss. An addition to your special collection of all time favorites. Miss Grant Murphy has a voice that is a pure delight of pleasure; a clear and lyricly treat to the senses. Her Choice of music is different and blends well from selection to selection. Her arrangement of The French Song and (Vanilla) Ice Cream is bright and underlined with wonderful humor. Miss Grant Murphy's rendition of If I Were A Bell is just that...a bell...clear and bright.

Do your self a favor and order Times Like This. Bring an early spring into your life.
Lucky Stiff
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Lucky Stiff
    Live Not on Evil
    Manufacturer: self-released
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    RockRock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B0001NJ4Q2
    Release Date: 2001-12-31

    Tracks:

    1. Brainwash
    2. The Machine
    3. The Scary Polka
    4. Sweet
    5. Lullaby For a Lost Soul
    6. Fly Catcher
    7. Flowers
    8. Porcelain Face
    9. Smoked
    10. Outside

    Album Description

    "Live Not on Evil" has combined all its influences to ultimately create a record all its own. Live Not takes its metal tined, guitar dominated rock and molds it into something unique. The music is dark, heavy, and fuzzy, with a melodic side creeping in at times. L.N.O.E. also combines its shadowy and gloomy music with equally ominous lyrics of paranoia, passion, and terror."

    -- Steven Mowatt (Rockpile Magazine)

    Music:

    1. Man Of La Mancha (1965 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
    2. Marie Christine (1999 Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording] [Soundtrack]
    3. Meredith Willson's The Music Man (2000 Broadway Revival Cast) [Soundtrack] [Cast Recording]
    4. No One Is Alone [Soundtrack]
    5. On The Town (1995 Studio Cast) [Cast Recording] [Cast Recording]
    6. One Woman's Live Journey [Live]
    7. Peter Pan (1997 Studio Cast) [Cast Recording]
    8. Play On!: A New Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
    9. Putting It Together (1993 New York Cast) [Cast Recording] [Cast Recording]
    10. Saturday Night (2000 Off-Broadway Revival Cast) [Cast Recording]

    Music

    Music