WILLM-S The Life and Loves of William Shakespeare

There's no doubt that Shakespeare has earned the right to his own biographical musical extravaganza, and WILLM-S pulls it off with equal parts fanfare and intrigue. This full-cast production is quite literally audio theater, recorded from the live musical event. Sadly, much of the grandeur of the stage production is lost on the audio listener. While the story is easy enough to follow, consisting of simple scenes and plot-driven songs, a glance at the accompanying booklet suggests that the lavish costumes and sets are a crucial part of the production. Fans of the musical or the Bard will find a treasure in this audio recording, but listeners not already acquainted with the production may find the sonic experience lacking. F.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2009]