The Rink (Broadway)

The Rink (Broadway)

• The Legendary Kander and Ebb Broadway Musical that starred Liza Minnelli and Chita River

Best known as a star vehicle for Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, <I>The Rink</I> was a minor success for the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (<I>Cabaret</I>, <I>Chicago</I>). Long unavailable on CD, the original 1984 cast recording has been rereleased by JAY in an excellent remastering (though with the odd plot it's unfortunate the package includes no lyrics or synopsis). Terrence McNally's story follows a mother (Rivera, who won her first Tony for the role) who has sold the family roller rink to developers, triggering a series of flashbacks for her and her daughter (Minnelli). There are a number of good men's songs, capably handled through multiple roles by, among others, Jason Alexander, Scott Holmes, and Ronn Carroll, including "Blue Crystal," the ballad "Marry Me," and the <I>Dolly</I>-esque welcome number "After All These Years." But the true firepower belongs to the stars: Minnelli's "Colored Lights" and "All the Children in a Row," Rivera's "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer" and "We Can Make It," and the duo's "The Apple Doesn't Fall," a model of Broadway diva swagger. <I>--David Horiuchi</I>