Frank Loesser - Matthew Broderick in "How to Succeed in Business WIthout Really Trying!"

Just as new producers had done to Broadway's 1992 revival of Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls, this Tony-winning revival of Loesser & Burrows's 1961 Pulitzer Prize winner has been transformed into a cartoon-like fantasy, featuring even more satire than was originally intended. Which, after all, is the only way numbers like "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" or "A Secretary Is Not a Toy" can be played in the post-feminist late '90s. And yet, the original 1961 period piece still remains the better musical recording--because it had both Robert Morse (who, with all due respect to Matthew Broderick, owns the role of Finch) and Rudy Vallee; and because some aficionados are mighty unhappy with the changes made in the orchestration of the vehicle's much beloved showstopper, "Brotherhood of Man." --Bill Holdship Amazon.com

This is the movie soundtrack

The reviews below are of the Broadway revival cast album with Matthew Broderick. This is the soundtrack of the delightful movie version with Robert Morse and Michele Lee. August 5, 2008

American Classic, Great Fun!

While the satiric aspect of corporate America may not be as biting, and is now more nostalgic than satiric in this terrific revival, it's still an oppurtunity to enjoy this great Frank Loesser classic. The performances are marvelous and the score as snappy and catchy as ever. Matthew Broderick is perfect as J.Pierpont Finch (basically a grown up Ferris Bueller anyway!), and Megan Mullalley is totally winning as Rosemary (pre-Karen Walker), exhibiting a sweetness and warmth seldom seen on that TV show. The rest of the cast are all first rate, Victoria Clark and Lillias White standing out!! June 10, 2008

Megan Mullally+Victoria Clark+Jeff Blumenkrantz... amazing...

Megan Mullally, who plays Rosemary Pilkington, is fantastic in everything she does... this is an incredible performance. I love her!!! Paris Original is fantastic!
Victoria Clark, who plays Smitty, is hilarious and is an incredible singer... I love this woman!
Jeff Blumenkrantz is the perfect slimy nerd who you love to hate. His vocals are amazing... Love him!

Three of my favorite actors... My favorite show... AMAZING CD!!!!

(Been a Long Day is the best song in life!) March 12, 2007

I liked the musical and this C.D.!!

In 1995, I had the opportunity to see this show on Broadway however John Stamos was playing the role Matthew Broderick played in H2$. Stamos gave a super performance. Anyway Broderick and the rest of the cast delivered in this recording of this revival. My personal favorite is the upbeat, "Brotherhood of Man"! The music still stands the test of time after all these years! November 6, 2005

a good revival, Megan Mullally is luminous

Frank Loesser's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (or `H2$' as it came to be known thanks to this revival), is one of the top Broadway musicals, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 with the original production, and immortalised on screen with its original star Robert Morse. In 1995, H2$ came back to Broadway in a snappy new revival, starring Matthew Broderck in a Tony-nominated turn as J. Pierrepont Finch, the window-washer with dreams of making it in the world of big business. Megan Mullally (pre-'Will and Grace') makes for a thrilling and endearing Rosemary Pilkington, while Victoria Clark (TITANIC) plays Smitty and Luba Mason is Hedy La Rue, the office bombshell. Matthew Broderick is a warm and winning `Ponty', and his performance alone is worth the investment of this cast album.

Megan Mullally can belt it with the best of them, as evidenced in her numbers "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" and "Paris Original". Victoria Clark is a lovely Smitty (too bad they dropped "Cinderella Darling" which Clark would have turned into a showstopper). Jeff Blumenkrantz is a campy and suitably-slimy Bud Frump, and Ronn Carroll is fantastic as the pompous J.B. Biggley. Lillias White makes the most out of the role of Miss Jones (commanding center-stage during her "Brotherhood of Man" solo). As an added delight for this revival, every time Ponty opened his `How to Succeed..' book, the voice of Walter Cronkite would be heard as the Narrator! Later on in the run, Matthew Broderick's wife Sarah Jessica Parker would replace Mullally as Rosemary. If you've already purchased the original cast album (w. Robert Morse) I would recommend you also buy this version. August 13, 2004

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