akastevetaylor

Like most shows that try to build a book to hold a bunch of songs from other shows, Snapshots is a bit clunky. But for Stephen Schwartz fans, it can be fun to hear songs from big shows like Wicked, Godspell and Pippin and standouts from lesser-known shows like Baker's Wife and Children of Eden. Schwartz is a talented and prolific songwriter who spanned multiple theatre eras. It's also always good to see musical theatre performers plying their trade. If you like retrospectives such as And the World Goes Round and Grand Night For Singing, this might be up your alley. It also may be likely to play soon in a community theatre near you.

Billy Crystal has a wonderful career, and he keeps plugging. This "movie" is a filmed version of the stage musical. Lots of borscht belt comedy and great songs by Jason Robert Brown (in an unusually traditional style for him). Billy Crystal isn't a great singer but he holds his own with vets like Randy Graff and David Palmer. But the number one reason to watch is for the outstanding performances by Shoshana Bean as the daughter and Chasten Harmon as the agent. Two terrific performers who combine the creation of character with professional delivery of the songs. Not everybody can get to Broadway, but everybody can get a glimpse of some good singing actors.

This is fun to watch if you can find it. In the first two minutes you can recognize three actors in small roles who would go on to much greater success - Michael Landon, Lee Van Cleef, and Leonard Nimoy!