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Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now (Paperback)

by Mark Steyn (Author) "William Wheatley, the manager of Niblo's Garden, has a problem ..." (more)

5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: Faber and Faber; New edition edition (6 Mar 2000)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0571200311
ISBN-13: 978-0571200313
Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.4 x 2.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 170,034 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category:
#75 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Musicals

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Product Description

The Broadway musical was never simply a jazzed-up form of Viennese or English operetta, Mark Steyn argues in this book; it always set its own terms and conditions. At some time during the 1970s or '80s, though, the Broadway musical hit the buffers, which coincided with the arrival of the "British Broadway musical". With "Miss Saigon", "Aspects of Love" and "The Phantom of the Opera", the British musical in the West End is in rude health, attracting serious directing and acting talent, and serious money. Steyn asks the question: "Whither the musical?". Are the current successes in the great tradition of musical theatre established by Cole Porter, Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, or is there too much emphasis on "production value", spectacular effects for effect's sake, and never mind the story-line? Is the musical still a valid form, or has it become fatally self-conscious?

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William Wheatley, the manager of Niblo's Garden, has a problem. Read the first page

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	79% buy the item featured on this page: Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now 5.0 out of 5 stars (5) �12.99
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	5% buy The Cambridge Companion to the Musical (Cambridge Companions to Music)

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty much definitive and a cracking good read, 21 Dec 2000

By A Customer

Mark Steyn's look at the history of the musical is a fascinating book because it is written both with the head and from the heart. It's undeniably biased (he makes no pretence of that) but that's because it is written with a real passion about a subject that he truly loves, which also makes it a very witty and deceptively easy read.

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.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With so many out there, this is the one to go for., 2 April 2003

By	Matthew Nichols (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews

I'm currently writing a thesis on Musical Theatre. Won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that I've read dozens of books, articles, essays and journals about the form, content, composers, lyrcists, styles, developments etc etc. I've also listens to what seems like hundreds of soundtracks and about as many stage and screen productions too. I'm tired.

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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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on musicals I have ever read, 30 Jun 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now (Hardcover)

Funny, (with some terrible jokes), intelligent and devastatingly accurate in his analysis of the Broadway musical and how Lloyd Webber has taken the form back 100 years to operetta. He also knows his music well enough to make occasional comment on the structure of individual songs. Occasionally gets the wrong end of the stick, for example he writes "flatball change" instead of "flap, ball-change" when quoting Tommy Tune on tap-dancing but that is the only criticism I have of an otherwise brilliant book. I was sad to finish it and have already ordered his next one "Musicals" which will be out in paperback at the end of the year.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Hip Hooray and Ballyhoo!
If you're into Musical Theatre, either as a performer or informally, this book really tells you what makes it tick. Read more

Published 6 months ago by M. J. Saxton

5.0 out of 5 stars There's no business like show business
I've read many Mark Steyn's columns and disagreed vehemently with his poltics but loved his writing - and here I get to agree with him mostly and still enjoy the writing. Read more

Published 12 months ago by HGMDEPM

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