I've always been a little put off by that version of "Brotherhood." I also wonder if the "white guys have to be taught to clap on the upbeats" joke would play well nowadays.
As I see it, the 1992 revival of Guys And Dolls stole a moment from "Brotherhood" - namely, having the otherwise non-singing General Cartwright open up with a big high note in a newly-added musical section in "Sit Down," similar to what happens with Miss Jones (after her solo section) in the original "Brotherhood." So I surmise that the "H2$" team felt they needed to do something else. But IMO, the original construction of the number works so well, it didn't need "improvements." (Neither did the rest of the score, IMO - I have to admit I find that whole recording painful to listen to because it feels like a brutal deconstruction of a formerly brilliant score.) Broderick's feeble falsetto scat moment wasn't necessary either. To me, what once was a really perfect 11:00 number got a very weak rethinking. |
