Over Here!

Wonderful

The Sherman Brothers in a breakaway from their family musicals for Disney and others, have come up with a Broadway score like no other, with all the tunefulness of their other scores wrapped up in a spectacular 1940's big band sound. Upbeat,witty, clever,evocative, OVER HERE! is about as good as you get and homage to the fact that nothing beats the work of great songwriters. The now stellar cast on this recording sees the likes of John Travolta and Samuel E Wright mixing it with the two surviving Andrews' Sisters of the time. For every reason - an essential purchase, even if the CD mix isn't as good as that which appeared on the original LP. November 18, 2008

A great forgotten musical (that might be back)!

"Over Here!" is a delight. The songs are all great and in the style, beat and joy of the Big Band/World War II period. You can trace back (if you are serious minded) the songs that the Sherman Brothers are copying - for example, the "Wait for Me, Marlena" number is a take-off of Marlena Dietrich's big World War II number "Lili Marlene." However, just enjoy the music for the wonderful score it is. The good news is (as of Spring 2007), Donna McKechnie (of "A Chorus Line" and the original cast of "Over Here!") is going to be in a revival of "Over Here!" to open in Toronto and move to London. "My Dream for Tomorrow" would be to see "Over Here!" come back to Broadway! In the meantime, grab a copy of "Over Here!" and dance around the room as you celebrate the joyous music of the time period. Maybe the producers could get Bette Midler to be the other "Andrews" sister? April 7, 2007

Over Here, a overlooked Broadway gem.

OK, in my review of the Divas I mentioned that I do not collect Broadway Soundtracks, I do own a few however, Over Here being one.

This great show was at the Shubert Theatre prior to the record breaking run of A Chorus Line, and it was a slice of nostaglia for our parents generation. The show was set during World War 2, and featured new music written for the show, with stylings from the war years. The shows stars were the 2 remaining Andrews Sisters, Patty and Maxine, and they played the DePaul sisters, as the "2 DePaul's". One part of the plot was the search by the DePaul's for a 3rd girl to join their group. Needless to say in their heyday the Andrews Ssiters were a trio, their eldest sister, LaVerne, died in the late 60's. The production also featured Janie Sell, and a pre-Grease John Travolta.

The musical featured upbeat numbers for the most part, but the show also portraied the anguish of the war years as well. Since Your Not Around, My Dream For Tomorrow, and Where Did The Good Times Go all delt with the pain of the war years and the uncertainty of what lie ahead. Good-Time Girl is a great campy take on the US Governments War program to avoid an VD outbreak amoung the troops (these times were far from innocent in many ways). John Travolta shines with the number Dream Drumming, where he yearns to be the next Gene Krupa, sadly many troops never made it home to persue their dreams.

Janie Sell becomes the new DePaul, and joins Patty and Maxine with the Big Beat.
For many the highlight of the show never made it to the soundtrack. Each day at curtain call, Patty and Maxine would sing a medley of their hits, and it became THE reason for many to attend the show.

This show was to tour after it's Broadway run, and after much delay it did make it to the road with just one Andrews Sister, Maxine. Patty declined to go on the road.

Discover this oft-overlooked Broadway gem!


October 18, 2006

over here you betcha

April Shawhan is the most fantastic and unbelievable performer I could ever imagine. I worship and idolize her tremendously. I only wish that everyone in the world could have a chance to work with her. April 11, 2006

Over Here! is great!

I absolutely fell in love with this musical the moment I heard my high school was doing it for their spring musical! I wasn't in the cast, but i was on the crew, which could actually be more interesting. you can listen to the music more, and dance to it backstage, not worrying about how you look! This musical was absolutely great.No wonder I can't find the cd anywhere! I can borrow my friends though! i highly recommend this cd and musical to any school trying to find out what mucial to do this year!! August 28, 2003

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