I think every fan has a favourite of the three witches, one that they can really relate to, and mine is Joanna Riding as Jane Smart. There's something very liberating about her 'tour de force,' 'Waiting for the Music to Begin.' It really shows how powerful and distinctive her voice is. All three of them, Jo, Lucie Arnaz (Alexandra Spofford) and Maria Friedman (Sukie Rougemont) have their own vocal styles, but together they harmonise perfectly. My highlights after 'Waiting For the Music' are the group ballads, 'Make Him Mine,' 'I Wish I May' and 'Look At Me.' When all three girls sing together, combined with the haunting music and lyrics, it sends shivers down your spine. I'm sure it's not the first feminist musical, but I've yet to hear another musical that openly portrays sexually liberated women without depicting them as whores.
The weakest link for me is probably Ian McShane as Darryl- but he pulls it off a la Rex Harrison in speak singing. It's the type of role I can imagine Robert Preston in- in fact, I think it owes a great deal to 'The Music Man,'- think 'The Music Man' meets 'Desperate Housewives.' Jane Smart is a more extreme version of Marian Paroo and many of the characters have their parallels. The claustrophobic, small town atmosphere is very much reminiscent of River City and Felicia Gabriel could give Mrs Shinn some serious competition as the musical theatre's ultimate villainess!
Special mentions should also go to Maria Friedman's very touching rendition of 'Loose Ends' and her patter song, 'Words, Words, Words.' I also adore Lucie Arnaz's 'Another Night At Darryl's'- somehow she can make 'sterile,' 'feral' and 'Darryl' rhyme!
I can't imagine why this musical isn't more well known, because it really is very special. It's like a real old fashioned musical comedy, only slightly raunchier. Get your girlfriends together, fix some peanut butter brownies and martinis- who knows what results you'll get?
The score, by relative newcomers Dempsey and Rowe is a delight, with many wonderful tunes and some sublime harmonies for the three witches. The music for the townsfolk is ludicrously catchy (once you've heard the gossip number 'Dirty Laundry' it's with you for life) and the whole score, from the overture onwards zips along wonderfully.
Highlights are Joanna Riding in 'Waiting for the Music' and Maria Friedman in 'Words, Words, Words' - two comic masterpieces - and the sweetly hesitant love song 'Something'.
A stunning album that should appeal to all lovers of show tunes, with the bizarre bonus of a rare opportunity of hearing Ian (Lovejoy) McShane singing!
