rec.arts.theatre.musicals

On Aug 24, 2:51 pm, "PTravel" wrote:> >
Would you rather have a complete recording, dialogue and all, music-
only
> > with enough dialogue to segue in and out where needed, or just songs?

I'm certainly glad to have the original three-record set of The Most
Happy Fella.

For archival and research purposes, full recordings are preferable,
but, as a listening experience:

The cast of a stage musical is hired because it has mastered the
ability to entertain a live audience, with all the interplay and
energy that feeds back and forth across the footlights. Some are cast
for their dance abilities, or for rubbery faces and other talents that
can only be seen, not heard.

Saying lines into a microphone in a studio without an audience is a
vastly different experience. Sometimes, a terrific experience in the
theatre turns into a less-than-terrific cast album. The more you ask
players to do something beyond what it is they do best, the greater
the chance they'll not sound so wonderful. To a surprising extent,
people's views of shows are based on how they sound on albums, not how
they play in the theatre. If a cast isn't made up of experienced
radio performers, including the dialogue may not be such a good idea.