CD Review: Snapshots – World Premiere Recording

SNAPSHOTS – World Premiere Recording (Broadway Records – DIG20621)

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

Snapshots has been around for a while. It is a reimagining of some of Stephen Schwartz’s song from his shows through the years into a scenario with lyrics rewritten to suit the piece. However, this year ACT (A Contemporary Theater) from Connecticut streamed a new production and that is this recording – a premier recording of the show.

With songs taken from The Baker’s Wife, Captain Louie, Children of Eden, Enchanted, Godspell, The Magic Show, Personals, Pippin, Rags, Reluctant Pilgrim, Wicked and Working, we have a new concept show – it’s rather like Mamma Mia! but without the fun element.

The premise is this: It is set in an attic in a suburban house, late evening. In the cluttered attic Sue, in her late 40s, finds an old photo album called Meadowlark (we see where this is going, don’t we?). She takes down a suitcase that she has already packed and hidden, as she is intending to leave her husband. He comes home early from work and, in her hurry to hide the suitcase again, she pushes over a box filled with old photographs. He asks what she is doing and she lies by saying she is looking through the photographs, so he joins her and soon they are reminiscing and memories of their younger selves begin to materialise around them. Of course, by the end of the musical Sue realises that she is still in love with her husband and stays.

It’s wonderful to hear all the Stephen Schwartz songs, from different eras, in one place even though many of the lyrics have been changed. Also, not all the songs are the ones you would have expected to have been taken from the specific musicals. They have been chosen carefully to fit the scenario. The cast is a delight and includes: Ryan K Bailer and Mariand Torres as the husband and wife with their younger selves being beautifully portrayed by John Cardoza, Monica Ramirez, Michael McCorry Rose and Olivia Hernandez.

The song list is: ‘Opening/Snapshots’, ‘New Kid in the Neighborhood’, ‘No Time At All/Popular’, ‘Lion Tamer/I’m Not That Girl’, ‘Graduation Day’, ‘Dear Old State/Two’s Company/All For the Best’, ‘If We Never Meet Again’, ‘Nothing to Do With Love’, ‘Endless Delights’, ‘Lion Tamer (reprise)’, ‘Meadowlark’, ‘Sue’s Goodbye’, ‘That’s How You Know’, ‘Moving in With Susan’, ‘Chanson’, ‘The Spark of Creation’, ‘All Good Gifts/Parent’s Day’, ‘Fathers and Sons/The Hardest Part of Love’, ‘Code of Silence’, ‘Cacophony’ and ‘Finale’

All-in-all a lovely little show, well presented, exceptionally well sung and one for the library.

Nick Wakeham