I saw the show in London in early February, mainly because I loved the movie and am an old fan of Elton John. But even non-fans will probably react as I did. The show was terrific and won me over in leaps and bounds; I'd love to see it a couple more times (and I frankly don't care much for musicals, with this surprising exception). The cast recording is hugely effective in recreating the play you've seen, and, I imagine, anticipating the one you have yet to see or may never see. The biggest surprise, however, is Elton's music, which really does not make a big splash at first listen--those who have criticized it have surely not given it time to grow on them. But grow it does! It invades and overwhelms you by repeated ambush if you hear it over and over again. This is, after all, what recorded music is all about, and recorded musicals, I suppose, as well.