Not sure if anyone else here has discovered this, but the first cast recording of Stiles and Drewe's GREAT adaption of Peter Pan is available. Just got it the other day and I want to highly recommend.
This particular recording is based on last year's west Yorkshire Playhouse run of their joint production with the Birmingham Rep. Appearing as Peter is the wonderful James Gillan. Some here might be familiar with the version of the story from the prince Music Theatre production starring Michael Longoria a number of year ago or the Royal festival Hall concert production with Laura Michelle Kelly as Wendy.
If you know from either of those, it is great fun to discover some revisions to a few of the songs and a great, new chamber style orchestration much more in tune with Barrie and the tone of the tale. It's simply sensation and looks to have been a wonderful production. Hopefully we will see this version more often on our side of the pond, but in the mean time, this will do wonderfully..
In addition to the stand out songs "There's Something in the Air Tonight", "Just Beyond The Stars", "Never Land", "One Big Adventure" and "There's Always Tomorrow", the incidental music is first rate - partcularly the crocodile's theme and siren song.. Updated On: 10/15/09 at 12:18 AM
I *love* this score and as soon as there is a U.S. production, I am TOTALLY there!!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Me as well, Capn. I'd love to have seen the West Yorkshire production... I love the look of Peter and the scenic design.. Most of the other costumes I would have to see in action to judge.
I'm so used to listening to the BBC concert, so at first it was jarring to hear the new arrangements, etc, but I totally preferring the new recording!
Or did you mean an even newer one? I have the cast recording from 2009. It's really wonderful, though I think I prefer Laura Michelle Kelly and Jenna Russell in their respective roles.