Beauty And The Beast

 

Die Schone und das Biest

Vienna, 1997

Cast:  Steve Barton (Beast), Caroline Vasicek (Belle) Kevin Tarte (Gaston)

C 

Very difficult to grade, as someone took several different performances and merged them together, there is a constant date counter in the right side of the screen and you can watch the date changes.  As best I can tell, the show is complete.  The video quality does leave a little to be desired, pixilation issues and gen loss, yet for die-hard fans of Barton, this is definitely worth it.  Barton comes across excellently as the Beast.

Two disk VCD set.

 

Boy From Oz

 

The Boy From Oz

Broadway, 2003?

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Stephanie J. Block, Isabel Keating, Beth Fowler, Jarrod Emick, Mitchel David Federan, Michael Mulheren

Quality: A

Very well shot for the most part, minor spot washout in some places. Very few cover-ups throughout. VERY occasional obstruction. Every once in a while though the video falls out of sync and pauses. I received it on DVD, and my guess it is something in the transfer. Jackman is electric as Peter Allen. Block seriously looks and sounds like Liza – it's uncanny! Beautiful performance.

 

 

Cats:

 

Cats

Vienna, 1983

Cast: Angelika Milster (Grizabella), Steve Barton (Munkustrap), Michael Howe (Rum-Tum-Tugger), Ute Lemper (Bombalurina) {Original Vienna Cast}

Quality: C 

This was originally a pro-shot video from the stage for TV, but it's been around the block a few times  gen loss and of course, PAL to NTSC conversion stiffness occasionally. Still, it is both watchable and enjoyable, especially if you know the show well enough to fill in any blanks, and for its age, it's in good condition. In German.

Medium: NTSC DVD

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

London, June 12, 2002

(1st generation)

Cast: Michael Ball, Emma Williams, Anton Rodgers, Brian Blessed, Nicola McAuliffe, Richard O'Brien, Edward Petherbridge

Quality: A- 

Shot from 2^nd row of the Upper Circle, there's a bar in the frame for most of the wide shots, but it doesn't get in the way of the close ups. The close ups are AMAZINGLY clear. Minor amount of spot washout. Great for any fan of Ball. Taped by Catherine.

Currently unavailable on DVD.

 

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Making Of

Pro-shot video of the Making of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Features tons of behind the scenes info as well as two trailers for the show and video clips of scenes from the show.

 

Elisabeth

 

Elisabeth

Vienna, December 26, 1992

Pia Douwes, Ethan Freeman and Uwe Kroger.

Some gen loss but generally, a great video.

2VCDs

 

Jekyll And Hyde

 

 

Jekyll And Hyde

December 16, 2000 Broadway

Cast: Robert Evan, Colleen Sexton, Andrea Rivetta, George Merrit, Barric Ingham

Quality: B+ 

Not fully viewed but from what I saw of the beginning very well shot with good close-ups. I received it on DVD and it's very well authored with a cast list as a title option (I'd really love to know who originated the DVD  if you could tell me what program you use, I want to find it!)

 

Jekyll And Hyde

Patchogue, NY, July 21, 2001 4 PM.

Brad Little, Alicia Irving, Miriam Couch

Quality: A-

Very well shot with some great close-ups. This is the first J/H I've been able to sit through and watch, though I think Brad Little had something to do with that. After seeing his Phantom, I just had to see his Jekyll . . . and I was not let down, he was amazing in my opinion (I've seen other reviews of this recording, and I stand by my own opinion!) The whole time I was . . . wow, amazed. Nice performances from the two ladies, but Little really stole the show.

 

 

 

Titanic

 

Titanic

San Diego September, 2000

National Touring Company, cast as yet unknown

Quality: A

Seems to be well shot in mostly mid-range zooms.