Review of Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen

The overall concept was interesting, but there was little respect shown for Arlen's music. There was no sense of the period or for whom or when the songs were originally written. The songs were overproduce and the sets and settings for the songs were inappropriate, especially the hospital ward. The music was overwhelmed by the production numbers. Most of the singers preformed badly mauling the music and seemed to have no idea of the meaning of the words. The actor playing Harold Arlen was very good and he held the narrative together. The story was interesting, but sometimes seemed muddled in its continuity. The use of film clips was effective and Paul Soles actually seemed to be the older Arlen.