RIDE THE CYCLONE – Original Cast Recording (Ghostlight Records – Downloads)
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
When a new musical recording is sent to me to review I wonder what is in store as I press play? Well, I can tell you – I have never enjoyed listening to a new musical as much as this one.
A teenage chamber choir from Uranium City, Saskatchewan dies in a rollercoaster accident at a travelling fair. Ride the Cyclone is their final recital, where they celebrate their individuality while coming to terms with their untimely demise. Each character recalls their story in order to win a prize from the mechanical fortune teller (the narrator) – that prize is to return to life. However, there is a problem, they must be quick, as a rat has been chewing his power cable!
Now, the grim accident sounds like it is going to be a death knoll for a new musical right off the bat but, believe me, it is one of the most joyous hours I have spent in a long time with a new musical. It is quirky and funny but edgy at the same time. I can see this being a cult musical in the genre of The Rocky Horror Show. The narration has been slightly changed for the recording to make it more suitable for listening and not being able to see the mayhem on stage. Lots of genres of music are included – different for each character – the entire cast is perfect and there isn’t one dud moment – this is due to the music, lyrics and book by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. They have definitely hit the mark with this musical.
The cast includes Lillian Castillo, Chaz Duffy, Scott Redmond, Jacob Richmond, Emily Rohm, Tiffany Tatreau, Kholby Wardell, and Brooke Maxwell. The vocal ensemble features Sarah Carlé, Brooke Maxwell, Richard Moody, Diane Pancel, Anne Schaefer, Aaron Scoones and Kholby Wardell.
Tracks are: ‘Karnak’s Dream of Life’, ‘Welcome’, ‘The Uranium Suite’, ‘Jane Doe’s Entrance’, ‘What the World Needs’, ‘Meet Noel Gruber’, ‘Noel’s Lament’, ‘Every Story’s Got a Lesson’, ‘This Song Is Awesome’, ‘Talia’, ‘Meet Ricky Potts’, ‘Space Age Bachelor Man’, ‘Meet Jane Doe’, ‘The New Birthday Song’, ‘Jawbreaker’, ‘Sugarcloud’, ‘It’s Not a Game/It’s Just a Ride’, ‘Still Here?’, ‘Be Safe, Be Good (for Rachel)’, ‘A World Inside’, ‘Karnack’s Theme’, ‘Noel’s Lament (Clean Version)’ – I shouldn’t have a favourite but ‘Noel’s Lament’ will put a huge smile on your face!
Originally developed and created in Canada with Victoria BC’s Atomic Vaudeville, Ride the Cyclone toured across Canada twice to Intrepid Theatre, The SummerWorks Theatre Festival, The Belfry Theatre, The Arts Club Theatre Company (PuSh International Theatre Festival), The Yukon Arts Centre, The Citadel Theatre, The Manitoba Theatre Centre, Persephone Theatre, and Theatre Passe Muraille. It transferred to New York’s MCC Theater Off Broadway, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Minneapolis’s Jungle Theater.
You’ve just got to get this downloaded and have the time of your life – hopefully a UK production will be on the cards – can’t wait.
Nick Wakeham
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