Deconstructing Harold Hill

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for anyone who loves musicals
Review: No author has ever taken such a clear and enlightening look at what makes great Broadway musicals tick. I can't say that I agree with everything Miller has to say (his view of the uneven ASSASSINS is a bit too adoring) but I don't mind a differing opinion that is so intelligently and passionately presented. What a joy it is to see someone reveal in flawlessly researched detail why CAMELOT, MUSIC MAN, THE KING & I and other "family" classics have more going on in them than many have ever realized. As he points out, its a pity that only foreign directors seem capable or even willing to offer fresh & exciting Broadway musical revivals. Scott Miller's text is extremely well written -- I devoured it cover-to-cover in no time. How refreshing to find a book on musical theatre that is free of factual errors -- a sad rarity these days! As someone who worked in Broadway production for more than a decade, I hope Miller offers more such books in the future covering more musicals. His insights are needed! If musicals are an important part of your life, you can't afford to miss this book.

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for anyone who loves musicals
Review: No author has ever taken such a clear and enlightening look at what makes great Broadway musicals tick. I can't say that I agree with everything Miller has to say (his view of the uneven ASSASSINS is a bit too adoring) but I don't mind a differing opinion that is so intelligently and passionately presented. What a joy it is to see someone reveal in flawlessly researched detail why CAMELOT, MUSIC MAN, THE KING & I and other "family" classics have more going on in them than many have ever realized. As he points out, its a pity that only foreign directors seem capable or even willing to offer fresh & exciting Broadway musical revivals. Scott Miller's text is extremely well written -- I devoured it cover-to-cover in no time. How refreshing to find a book on musical theatre that is free of factual errors -- a sad rarity these days! As someone who worked in Broadway production for more than a decade, I hope Miller offers more such books in the future covering more musicals. His insights are needed! If musicals are an important part of your life, you can't afford to miss this book.

Rating:
Summary: Take another look at the classics you only thought you knew.
Review: This book is really quite amazing--I wasn't prepared for everything I learned from it. Mr. Miller thoroughly takes apart and reconstructs some of the most classic works of musical theatre, such as The King and I, Camelot, and The Music Man, as well as more recent shows like Chicago, Sunday in the Park With George, March of the Falsettos, and Passion. This book discusses in depth the connections that exist in each show between the music, lyrics, and book, and thoroughly explores the characters and plot structure in a way every bit as thoughtful as so many other books have talked about the works of other authors like Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, or Arthur Miller. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be surprised at how complex and well put-together some of the shows are that we've taken for granted for decades.

Rating:
Summary: A must for musical theatre lovers
Review: Unlike many recent books on musicals, the reader doesn't have to sift through mounds of errors to get information. Mr. Miller has done a stunning job of breaking apart the musicals he's chosen as examples. His chapters on Camelot and Music Man alone could provide a semester's work for any college course on musical theatre. One of the most useful parts of his deconstructions is his explaining how the music--whether underscoring or song--supports the story and aids the audience's understanding of what they're seeing. As someone who has performed in or directed musicals for over 30 years, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.