Outlander The Musical
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CD Details
Composer: Kevin WalshComposer: Mike Gibb
Performer: Sue Robertson
Performer: Allan Scott-Douglas
Performer: Ross Croll
Performer: Michelle Bruce
Performer: Annie Lennox
Performer: Cait Lennox
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Soundtrack
CD Release Date: 2010-09-15
Music Label: Honest Toil Records
Soundtracks:
- The Way That Life Was (Frank and Claire)
- Falling (Claire)
- I Am Ready (Jamie)
- The Message (Dougal MacKenzie, Claire and Jamie)
- Could I Surrender My Heart? (Jamie and Claire)
- Is Tu Fuil o Mo Chuislean (Gaelic Chorus with Jamie and Claire)
- Such A Fool (Jamie and Claire)
- Perhaps I Am A Witch (Geilie Duncan)
- Farewell (I Am Ready Reprise) (Jamie and Claire)
- Why Did I Marry a Fraser? (Claire, Jamie, Jenny and Ian Murray)
- Say The Words (Capt. Jack Randall and Jamie)
- Ellen s Son (Sir Marcus MacRannoch and Claire)
- Safe (Claire)
- The Right Road (Jamie and Claire)
Music reviews of Outlander The Musical
Music Review: Could have been much better!
Rating: 2 Stars
I awaited the arrival of this CD with great anticipation, but alas, it made a caricature of the plot and motives of the original characters of Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. It could have been so much better! It feels like a concept album - not a finished product.
As a longtime fan of the Outlander series and of Scottish/Irish folk music, as well as a little bit of a Broadway snob - okay, I admit it, I admit it! - I did purchase this CD with a few expectations. I wasn't expecting a full-scale Broadway score, but the two expectations I did have in order to be satisfied by this purchase were: 1) It had to stay faithful to the characters of Outlander, and 2) It had to leave me wanting to listen to it again, at least at some point. I wasn't really satisfied on either point, which I will address in detail below.
1: I was not happy with how they handled Claire's motives. In the novel, she did NOT want to marry Jamie. She did NOT fall in love with Jamie until after the wedding. And she certainly didn't know how strongly Jamie felt about her at first - not until he gave her the wedding ring, and the full breadth of it didn't hit her until they were at Lallybroch. All of these premises are stomped on in "Could I Surrender My Heart?" and "Such a Fool."
While the closing lines of the novel left me with goosebumps, the closing lines of the musical induced a facepalm. In the musical, Jamie just got done telling her they'd be living like fugitives, in poverty, etc -- which Claire happily agrees to. Then she adds as an afterthought that there would be three of them. It rings false, makes her sound like she's perfectly OK with raising a child while sleeping in a haystack, etc. As the musical closed I wasn't feeling warm and fuzzy. My thoughts were more along the lines of: "Huh?"
2: Kevin Walsh's voice I have no complaint with, but musically, the soundtrack needs some help. I cringe during some songs. While waiting for this CD to arrive, I was heartened by the free MP3 of "Is Tu Fuil..." available on the CD's website - unfortunately, the rest of the CD does not reflect the same quality.
I think the main problem I had with the CD was the way they carried the story: the characters sing themselves through every action and thought. You'd think that's what musicals are supposed to do, right? No, this CD has a bad case of "telling not showing" the audience. It's definitely supposed to be the other way around.
Another problem had to do with sheer logistics. They tried to condense a complex, 500+ page novel into a little over 45 minutes of music. Honestly, to do justice to Outlander, you'd need no less than a multiple-act musical with at least one intermission and a multiple-CD soundtrack to go with it. Look at the success of Miss Saigon, Les Miserables et al. (Speaking of which, "Is Tu Fuil" smacked of "Dju Vui Vai" to me. That lost it some points.)
I think after "Why Did I Marry A Fraser?" they carry the plot way too fast. I'm not sure of the setting of "Safe," but did they skip the monastery entirely? They missed a killer opportunity for a mind-trip and an emotional rollercoaster by leaving out the scene where Claire "heals" Jamie, psychologically speaking.
Also, the bagpipe is not a suitable instrument for background music - at least not as used in "The Message." Its sharp sound drowns out the dialogue a little, and it seemed unnecessary.
On the other hand, I thought they missed a great chance to enrich the musical with good use of folk tunes. The music seems strained in many places, instruments used at the wrong time (as mentioned above) or the music too simple, especially paired with the characters sing-songing their way through the dialogue. I'd gladly have swapped the snare(?) drum (like that used in "Farewell (I Am Ready Reprise)" for the sound of a large bodhran, which never fails to inspire goosebumps in me. Besides, I think that a deep, thundering drum like that suits Jamie's personality much better - but that's IMHO! If you're in the mood to look up examples, The Corries did wonderful things with bodhrans and many clips are on Youtube.
Now for the good points:
I got a laugh out of "Why Did I Marry A Fraser?" and I think that they should keep the girls who sing "Is Tu Fuil..." during the wedding ceremony (although I would love it if Jamie would save his explanation of the words until after the song; I feel like he interrupts its beauty).
Sue Robertson has a nice voice, I can tell - but I think the slow pacing of the dialogue and the off kilter approach does not suit her. If I were going to rewrite the songs, I would do it at a pace and a pitch that compliments her voice and talents. Considering she's the main character, I'd think that would be fairly important.
I think the singer playing Randall in "Say The Words" got his notes perfect. Sometimes when everything falls together, you just think "YES!!!" - that was one such event for me. (grin)
As I said before, I think that it seems more like a work in progress than a completed album. I don't think the producers should be afraid to make the musical longer - I think they're trying to cram too much into too little time. I do think it would benefit from an upgrade in the instrumentals department.
It should be noted that I haven't seen it performed on stage, although I'd like to, just out of curiosity.
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