Thomas And The King (1975)

Composer(s):
John Williams

Released in:
1975

Musical.

Reviews

Williams writes a stage musical.
by Damien Slattery (September 7, 2009)
THOMAS AND THE KING is an odd musical that frequently has some lamentable lyrics by James Harbert that fail to establish the characters (truly horrendous!):

"..Am I weaving dreams?
Turning somersaults?,
Tell me is it all
True of false?.. ,"

John Williams' music is worthy of a listen and akin to the style of Frederick Loewe's MY FAIR LADY and CAMELOT. "Improbable as Spring" works very well for its mood (the lyrics work well here) and the sound of harpsichord and high-strings can be beautiful at times. Too often though the lyrics are set to musical time-signatures that are un-singable, with "Look Around You" being particularly egregious.

The singers manage the material well-enough, James Smilie as the King is best, but Lewis Fiander as Thomas (for this recording) is an aural abomination. I cannot believe they got him for a recording session- he has the harshest, most grating, non-singing voice I have ever heard. Really murderous vocalisations that are never on the note.. What on earth were they thinking??!
This recording is really just a novelty. The show itself was butchered by the critics in 1975 and never made it to Broadway.

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