Promises, Promises

I have always been a big fan of the 1968 musical "Promises, Promises" with its "different", for Broadway, Burt Bacharach/Hal David score. I was a bit wary that they would tinker with the original orchestrations for this revival but I was pleasantly surprised they haven't. Sure they have somewhat softened the brass and added voices to the unseen, scat-singing chorus but the results work just fine. "Promises, Promises" is one of those rare shows where dialogue, jokes and musical numbers hum along in perfect synch, like a finely tuned car, but this production has thrown a few curves in the road.

The female lead, Fran Kubelik, played by Kristen Chenoweth is short-changed in musical numbers so this revival has added a couple of Bacharach/David numbers, "I Say A Little Prayer" and "A House Is Not A Home" for her to sing and how, why or where they fit into this finely tuned show I can't figure out but they adjust to the curves well but adds a little excess baggage to the...Read more

I have always loved this show and its music. For a long time there was no CD available and now both the original and a new cast recording are there for you. The Burt Bacharach and Hal David collaboration from the late 50s until their break-up in 1973 provided us with a decade of hit after hit. At the height of their powers, they joined with David Merrick in 1968 and produced Promises, Promises. Now, over forty years later, we finally have a new Broadway version. The rhythmic melodic score and story moving lyrics has been made even more exciting by the new orchestrations and expanded role of the vocalists in the pit. Additionally, two additional Bacharach-David hits, "I Say A Little Prayer" and "A House Is Not A Home" have been added to the show. However, the best things about this new album are Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth

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I saw this show on June 6 and was captivated on every level. The top-notch writing, music and production values are topped only by the magnificent performances, most notably the sensational Kristin Chenoweth.

I also have the original 1968 recording with Jerry Orbach and Jill O'Hara and I can say that Sean Hayes, Ms. Chenoweth and cast have more than done justice to the original. This recording also includes a few delightful tracks that were not on the original, particularly "Say a Little Prayer".

A very funny, very touching story about two decent, lonely people looking for real love in a cruelly casual world, "Promises, Promises" is just as relevant today as it was forty years ago. If you can get to New York this summer, don't miss this show at the Broadway Theater.