Musicals are not all big razzamatazz enterprises playing on the Great White Way. The remarkable Adding Machine is a somber, modernist chamber work that opened in Chicago in 2007 before a successful Off-Broadway run, the following year. Based on Elmer Rice's 1923 expressionist play, the musical centers around antihero Mr. Zero (Joel Hatch), a number-crunching drone stuck between a surreal soulless office job and a drab home life. It's simply amazing that this downer premise could turn into such a compelling show. Successfully melding vocals that range from theatrical to semi-operatic with synthesizer-heavy arrangements, composer Joshua Schmidt has come up with a series of weird little art songs. This is not "fun," escapist music; it demands the listener's full attention, and does not shy away from harshness and dissonance, making the oases of beauty all the more compelling, and the rewards all the more satisfying. Is this what a David Lynch-penned musical would sound like? -- Elisabeth Vincentelli
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Loved it at the Minnetta Lane, even better on CD:
After seeing this show in June I decided I would take the experience home with me to give the score a few more listens. I am overwhelmingly glad I did. I enjoyed it even more on 2nd 3rd and 10th listens. I would have to say, CAUTION: This is not your mother's musical theatre! Elmer Rice's (the original playwright) bleak world view is perfectly illustrated and expanded upon by this mathematical and rewarding show. Granted, this might not be a CD that you want to put on your 'Jog and Workout... more info
Man...This couldnt make it to Broadway.:
This musical is great. Better than 99% of musicals that go to broadway. The score is amazing. The cast is great. The show is funny. Buy it.
A few neat ideas captured in an unsatisfying (grating) way:
I too purchased "Adding Machine: A Musical" due to the encouraging and glowing earlier reviews. I suspect there may be a real disparity between those seeing and commenting on the staged show and those basing their reviews on the recording alone. I imagine the staged show could be an interesting and praiseworthy achievement, but the recording alone is what we are supposed to be reviewing here. I cannot imagine anyone taking great pleasure in repeated listens. A four or five star review for a unique and... more info
Do not expect Broadway music:
I wished those who rave about this recording would have said: "this is not your average sounding Broadway show." I would have saved my money. Now, if you like hard, acidic rock of industrial nature, aggresive and without much good melody, this is definitely for you. For me it is Kurt Weill on speed and without the tunes.
PS: I wished that those who write reviews remember that the main purpose is to "help others make a decision" and include these caveats. Unfortunately, so many seem to do it to pursue... more info
Tracks:
Prelude 2. Something to Be Proud Of 3. Office Reverie 4. In Numbers 5. I'd Rather Watch You 6. The Party 7. Zero's Confession 8. Once More/Ham and Eggs 9. Didn't We? 10. The Gospel According to Shrdlu 11. A Pleasant Place 12. Shrdlu's Blues 13. Daisy's Confession/I'd Rather Watch You (reprise) 14. Freedom!/The Flinch 15. In Numbers (reprise) 16. Freedom! (reprise) 17. The Music of the Machine
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