Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
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CD Details
Edition: Music CDFormat: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2004-10-05
Music Label: Jay Records
Soundtracks:
- Something Funny's Going On
- Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night
- Rita's Confession
- Good to Be Alive
- Lucky
- Dogs Versus You
- The Phone Call
- Monte Carlo!
- Speaking French
- Times Like This
- Fancy Meeting You Here
- Finale Act One
- Something Funny's Going On Reprise
- Him, Them, It, Her
- Nice
- Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon
- A Woman in My Bathroom
- Nice Reprise
- Confession #2
- Finale Act Two
- Bonus Song: Shoes
Music reviews of Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Music Review: Decent but lacks appeal for repeat listening
Rating: 3 Stars
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 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, 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 Gets seems to gravitate to such characters). As a side note, Rita tells Nicky her brother Vinnie stole the missing money. So Rita, Vinnie, Malcolm, dead Tony, and even a representative of the dog charity (Annabel) are off to Monte Carlo.
There is nothing particularly memorable about the show. While some of the songs were okay, none appeal for repeated listening. A few songs were actually grating. The story itself is not very entertaining. The characters are not developed enough to elicit any emotional tie to the audience. Neither was it humorous enough to satisfy on that merit alone.
Malcolm's accent is a bit off-putting but he does a nice job with the part. Rita is overbearing and very annoying. Her character actually drains enjoyment out of the show for me because she is so abrasive and unlikable. 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 to mix things up. The final lyrics are, "It's good to be alive." Sounds like it could be a crescendo to a musical drama, but here it just falls rather flat.
The accompaniment is piano only. So there is no lush or beautiful orchestration. I enjoyed the piano, but do miss the diversity 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 wouldn'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.
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Description of Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
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.
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