Broadway Yearbook, 2001-2002 (Broadway Yearbook)

Rating:
Summary: An insider's look at a complex machine called Broadway
Review: In 1990, lovers of the Broadway musical were treated by Schirmer Books to a rare and most valuable book called "Opening Nights on Broadway: A Critical Outline of the Golden Era of the Musical Theatre, 'Oklahoma!' (1943) to 'Fiddler on the Roof' (1964)" by Steven Suskin, a man who worked in showbiz and knew it well from the inside. The wonderful things about this book were his quoting from the six major theatre reviewers of that era, his own comments, and statistics about things pertaining to productions and reviews. Seven years later, there followed "More Opening Nights on Broadway: A Critical Quotebook of the Musical Theatre, 1965-1981," which followed the same winning format.

All this is to explain why I pounced when I saw that Oxford University Press had in its current catalogue "Broadway Yearbook 2000-2001" and "Broadway Yearbook 2001-2002," the second of which is described as "A Relevant and Irreverent Record." Here Mr. Suskin considers many the major Broadway shows within those seasons and gives us not what others say but thoughts and philosophies of his own relating to the madness that accompanies any new Broadway opening.

Just to give you some idea of what is contained in the more recent volume, I will mention that he covers revivals of classics such as "Hedda Gabler," "Major Barbara" and "Dance of Death"; revivals of musicals such as "Oklahoma!" and the many "Encore" concert recreations at the City Center; one-woman shows such as those given by Barbara Cook (good), Bea Arthur (awful) and Elaine Stritch (fabulous); and new musicals such as "Urinetown," "Sweet Smell of Success" (but far from it), and "By Jeeves" (a flop rewrite of a former flop).

His comments are, as already described, relevant and irreverent, always amusing and informative, always thought-provoking. Even the Curtain Calls section at the end is quite good: honorable mentions to those who deserve credit for sundry contributions to the season, Tony winners, plays still running from the last season, shows that never reached town, long-run statistics, and obits of those who passed away during the season.
Very thorough, very thoughtful.

My only complaint is the use of those silly little quotes torn out of the text and highlighted in a bolder font that serve only to distract your attention from the main text. Perhaps that works for those who flip through magazines, but not for a serious book of this nature. Otherwise, well done and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS!
Review: THIS BOOK SHOWS WHAT THE GREAT LINEUP OF BROADWAY SHOWS WAS FOR 2001-2002 AND IT NOT ONLY LISTS IT BARELY, IT GOES INTO DEPTH ON HUGE HITS LIKE MAMMA MIA! AND THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. ITS REALLY GREAT!