Rating : - A GEM FROM THE PRINCESS THEATRE . . .
I agree with Mr. Behrens that this recording is a "must" for anyone serious about the American musical theatre, but I found the whole thing a trifle boring. (I would have given it 3 stars, but I was worried about turning people off.) The performances are splendid, and the original orchestrations for 10 pieces are a delight to hear. Upon hearing the overture, you might think you're listening to a superb digital restoration of an early 1900's recording. It's a gas.

Mr. Behrens states that the score contains neither a hit nor a miss and is an "improvement on the bubbleheaded competition," but the operettas of Sigmund Romberg, Rudolph Friml, Victor Herbert, et.al, were overflowing with far better songs than Jerome Kern would write for this or any other Princess Theatre Show. Many of the lyrics for "Eddie" are pretty inane, typical for the time, however. Kern wrote a much better score two years later for "Leave It to Jane" (1917), lyrics provided by long time collaborator P.G. Wodehouse. (A wonderful recording of the 1958 revival of "Jane" is available on AEI Records.) With Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, II, Jerome Kern wrote "Show Boat" in 1927, giving us the first truly great American musical. He also contributed some of Hollywood's most memorable songs, including "A Fine Romance," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "The Last Time I Saw Paris."

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