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Review
-"London Daily Telegraph, March 4, 2000
"A columnist and critic offers an irreverent history of the Broadway musical, a diverse and lively art form that, judging from the flood of revivals these days, may be in its death throes. Last year in the Book Review, Robert Gottlieb called this an 'eccentric, funny, shrewd, and somewhat dismaying book.'."
-"New York Times Book Review, May 21, 2000
"A witty, anecdote-stuffed history of the past seventy years in musicals."
-"The New Yorker
"Steyn deserves a standing ovation. . . . His prose is as sharp as his stiletto."
-"Washington Post
"Wise but wicked in his analysis . . . Steyn leaves no turn unstoned. . . . At last, a book of theater criticism with real teeth; it may rankle, but it never bores."
-"OUT
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'To me, there's nothing like the overture ending and the curtain going up,' says Arthur Laurents, librettist of Gypsy and West Side Story. Read the first page
Concordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
It's divided into two halves. The first part deals with the mechanics of the musical: book, lyrics, music etc whilst the second is an examination of its place in our culture, with reference to the key `players': Kern, Hammerstein, Sondheim, Lloyd Webber etc. It has snappy chapter titles and a good index which makes it easy for references. Indeed, it's a book I come back to time and again.
Occasionally his enthusiasms or dislikes get the better of him and spill over too subjectively - you will be left in no doubt of his feelings about the work of Lloyd Webber and Sondheim from his extremely cutting remarks - but he ultimately does give a very fair analysis.
More importantly he is also a passionately political writer, who obviously believes the Arts to be an integral part of our society and our lives; there to question and challenge, but also all too often symptomatic of deeper problems.
Although the first chapters tend to be repetitive, this is a well-written and highly engaging book, which deserves to be read by everyone - and particularly by those who think they have no interest in the musical or in the imnportance of the arts in Britain and America today.
Mark Steyn's book made it worthwhile. Subjective, yes - highly so. Witty, pun-loaded, and irreverent - absolutely. Insightful, passionate, inspired, well-structured - check.
This book is absolutely essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in musical theatre/theatre/drama/songwriting/the arts/showbusiness. Even if you don't, it's a really good read - well-paced, snappy and easily digestible.
Buy this book immediately. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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