Wanda Butternut is the popular host of the hit TV talk show Wanda's World, where kids call in to get advice from Wanda to solve their problems. Wanda is beautiful, confident and always knows what to say... in her fantasy. In real life, Wanda is a middle school girl with a giant birthmark on her face, who is terrified to deal with the first day of school in a new town. Gradually, with the help of an extraordinary teacher, she overcomes incredible odds and learns to follow her own path...

Broadway Records release the studio cast recording of Wanda's World, with music and lyrics by Beth Falcone. The album opens with 'Wanda's World' a song that starts off as one thing... but ends up as something entirely different. If you're not familiar with the story, then this sets up Falcone's skill as a storyteller.

The plot tackles mature and real situations that most high school kids will have had some dealings with, yet presents them in a hopeful light. There's plenty of humour but, being a musical, obviously it's the music and lyrics that are the most important elements. Thankfully not only are the lyrics engaging, but the music is memorable. The album opens and closes with the same track, but with very different lyrics. This takes the story full circle.

Falcone has a lot of fun delving into different genres including rock, hip-hop a little taste of Latin America... and there's even a homage to the opening of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.

Not only are the vocals all flawless, but the characters are believable. There's quite a bit of dialogue that's neatly shoehorned into the songs and you completely go along with it. A lot of musicals hire singers who aren't really actors, but here each of the performers are good all rounders. This helps to sell the story. Not once was I drawn out of the story by duff singing or bad acting.

The album contains 14 tracks (56 min, 28 sec) and hands down the most memorable song is the moving 'A Face Like Mine'. It's a musical you can listen to from start to finish without being confused about what is going on, as the story is completely told through the songs, which isn't always the case with musicals.

A wonderfully realised story that has an engaging story and memorable songs all topped off with an incredible cast.

9

Daisy May