Finding Neverland: Original Broadway Cast

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has spearheaded the progress of the Broadway production of "Finding Neverland" to its current home at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, and now Republic Records presents the latest product in this franchise's legacy, the original Broadway cast album.

From Allan Knee's play, to the film starring Johnny Depp, this recording primarily came to be based on the production that played at Cambridge's American Repertory Theater before opening on Broadway this past March.

British pop star Gary Barlow (along with Eliot Kennedy) penned the two-dozen songs included here, and the result is a combination of production numbers interspersed with several "mini-songs," which are forgettable without the opportunity to develop them into a compelling melody.

Matthew Morrison ("Glee") and Kelsey Grammar ("Frasier") have replaced Jeremy Jordan and Michael McGrath in the show's move from ART, and they don't bring extra vocal prowess to their roles of James Barrie and Charles Frohman, respectively; they only provide the perceived star power that Weinstein and his team felt would be needed to keep the show running. The plan appears to be working to date, as "Finding Neverland" was completely shut out at this year's Tony Awards, and yet continues to run.

Barlow and Kennedy find the bulls-eye from time to time, regardless of Morrison's faux-accent and Grammar's lack of vocal flexibility, due to strong support from the cast members who survived the show's transfer, especially Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Carolee Carmello as Mrs. du Maurier, and the quartet of boys who play the Davies sons (including Aidan Gemme as the infamous Peter).

The music lends strictly entertainment value to the show, as very little plot is revealed in the lyrics. However, musical highlights are here, and include "We Own The Night," Kelly's gorgeous duet "All That Matters" (with Carmello getting a rare chance to be featured), and "Sylvia's Lullaby," and the strong act one finish of "Circus Of Your Mind," "Live by the Hook" (though the tune it replaced from the ART production was just as enjoyable), and the act closer, "Stronger."

Having had the opportunity to see Jordan perform in this show, he came across as more endearing than Morrison in portraying Barrie, but the recording remains worth getting on the strength of the company numbers, and the performances of Kelly, Carmello and the young boys.

"Finding Neverland" (Original Broadway Cast Album)
$12.99
CD and digital formats
http://www.republicrecords.com/new_releases/finding-neverland-the-album/