The Cradle Will Rock (Complete 1937 Score - 1994 Los Angeles Cast Recording)

Blank Theatre Company

Cover Album The Cradle Will Rock (Complete 1937 Score - 1994 Los Angeles Cast Recording) - Blank Theatre Company

Yikes!
1
By MusicalTheatreLover

One can only hope that the actual production was better than this amateurish and threadbare recording. Single piano, dully recorded, accompanies some very unmusical performances of some extremely creaky and crudely crafted songs. Written by Blitzstein in 1937 as an antidote to the big glossy American musical, THE CRADLE WILL ROCK was unapologetically musical theatre as political commentary - if this is the antidote, I prefer the poison. The show is a fascinating piece of history - the House Un-American Activities Committee cut funding to the Federal Theatre Project and the show, directed by none other than Orson Welles, almost didn't open. Unfortunately, the actual history surrounding the show is far more interesting than these recorded performances. The parallels to today's lack of arts support and struggles over NEA funding are clear, but in this case, societal resonance doesn't make much music. Blitzstein went on to adapt the Brecht/Weill THREEPENNY OPERA - still by far the more compelling and successful musical from that era.