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Lucky Stiff (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) | 
 enlarge | Artists: Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Malcolm Gets, Janet Metz
Label: Jay Records
Category: Music
Buy New: $18.98
New (19) Used (4) from $12.38
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 21693
Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 605288137921
EAN: 0605288137921
ASIN: B0002T7YO4
Release Date: October 5, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Something Funny's Going On | | • | Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night | | • | Rita's Confession | | • | Good to Be Alive | | • | Lucky | | • | Dogs Versus You | | • | The Phone Call | | • | Monte Carlo! | | • | Speaking French | | • | Times Like This | | • | Fancy Meeting You Here | | • | Finale Act One | | • | Something Funny's Going On Reprise | | • | Him, Them, It, Her | | • | Nice | | • | Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon | | • | A Woman in My Bathroom | | • | Nice Reprise | | • | Confession #2 | | • | Finale Act Two | | • | Bonus Song: Shoes |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
This is the first, and most complete, original cast album of the score of Lucky Stiff by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens. It features Broadway stars Malcolm Gets, Mary Testa and Janet Metz. The recording was made in New York during the show's run at The York Theatre. Lucky Stiff is a musical adaptation of the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, and follows the escapades of Harry Witherspoon, who will inherit six million dollars from his recently deceased uncle if he will take the stuffed corpse to Monte Carlo for the vacation that his Uncle Anthony never had! Lucky Stiff is the very first musical by Flaherty & Ahrens, who have since become two of the leading lights of Broadway - Ragtime, Sussical, My Favorite Year and more.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Buy the other one... September 28, 2005
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've been a fan of this show for a long time. I'm a fan of Flaherty & Ahrens in general. This recording just doesn't seem worth it. The performances are certainly no better than the original recording. Malcolm Gets is definitely not better than the original Mr.Witherspoon (how did he get away with that accent?). The most glaring absence for me is the orchestra. A piano-only accompaniment sounds like "rehearsal." The inclusion of material that was cut from the original album is not reason enough to buy this CD. My advice...buy the original.
 Well... it is quaint August 12, 2005
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
I stumbled upon Lucky Stiff as a fan of Malcolm Gets. His performance in A New Brain was simply brilliant. I was hesitant to get this because I have not been a fan of much of what I have heard from Ahrens and Flaherty. Yet with Malcolm Gets and the solid reviews below I finally decided to risk it. Not the worst decision ever, but not the best either.
As for plot, Rita (Mary Testa) is married to a casino owner, Nicky (not really a character in the musical). She has an affair with the casino manager, Tony. She embezzles millions from her husband and gives them to Tony. She then finds him cheating on her so she shoots and kills him. In his will, Tony leaves all his money to Harry Whitherspoon (Malcolm Gets), his British nephew. However, Harry will only inherit the money if he takes his dead uncle to Monte Carlo for a last fling. If he refuses, the money goes to a charity for dogs. Harry is a rather depressing chap who leads a humdrum joyless existence and is averse to adventure and fun (Malcolm seems to gravitate to such characters). As a side note, Rita blames her brother Vinnie (Stuart Zagnit) for the missing money to Nicky. So Rita, Vinnie, Malcolm, dead Tony, and even a representative of the dog charity (Annabel as played by Janet Metz) are off to Monte Carlo.
There is nothing particularly memorable about the show. It is pretty bland and forgettable. Some of the songs are quaint (6,7,20). Some are witty (14). Some are actually pretty annoying (9,16). Some fall in a couple categories above (2). None are terribly remarkable. As for magnetic melodies or catchy tunes, they are in short supply.
Malcolm's accent is a bit off-putting but he does a nice job with the part. Mary's Rita is overbearing and very annoying. Her character actually drains enjoyment out of the show for me. This is not Mary's fault, it is just that the character is unlikable. Maybe with time enough she would seem less abrasive. Stuart's Vinnie is a small part but probably was the highlight for me. Annabel is pleasant enough.
There is a bit of a twist at the end which is probably unexpected (it was for me). But who really cares - well one character might(!)? The final lyrics are, "It's good to be alive." Yet the show is not so dramatic or inspirational as such a line would suggest. I doubt its creators intend it to be those things, but why hint at such themes with a pretty hollow story?
The accompaniment is piano only. So there is no lush or beautiful orchestration. I enjoyed the piano, but do miss the diversity and fullness of an orchestra.
It has a bonus track (21) that had been cut from the show which I hoped would be a nice find. As with the rest, it was just okay. Nothing I'd care to hear over again.
Overall, it is just okay. I really can't recommend it. If someone is a fan of Malcolm Gets and is interested in a light and fun musical, I would suggest Amour instead. If you buy it, you probably won't rue the day but neither will you mark it as a highlight.
 Charming, Touching Piece February 24, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Having never seen this first show written by the now-famous Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, I wasn't sure what to expect buying this soundtrack - a small, comic murder mystery musical with a cast of ten seemed a hard sell. Well, I can safely say that this is one of the smartest, tightest pieces I've ever listened to. From the opening song, "Something Funny's Going On," the show moves at a rapid, crazy pace and pulls you in. From fast paced numbers involving the whole cast to beautiful, touching ballads ("Times Like This" is one of my favorite ballads in all musical theatre), the soundtrack allows the listener to get a pretty picture of the story. Performance-wise, the cast is wonderful! Malcolm Gets is excellent as the insecure Harry Witherspoon. I recommend this soundtrack to any musical theater fan.
 Very funny stuff January 3, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Such a clever piece! It's one of those musicals that has just about everything - crazy characters, outlandish scenarios, and charmingly catchy tunes that are ever so clever. It'll make you smile, make you laugh out loud, and make you bounce along to the music. There are beautiful ballads as well as wonderfully upbeat songs that paint such a colorful picture for the listener. The entire cast does a great job. Even though Malcolm Gets stumbles a bit on his accent, the warmth in his voice instantly captivates and charms. And Mary Testa is a hoot! Wonderful stuff!
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