The story of a pivotal 10 years in American musical theater, limned
by one of its most skillful historians. The second volume in a
decade-by-decade history of the Broadway musical by the prolific
film historian and novelist Mordden (The Venice Adriana, 1998,
etc.), this account makes an excellent companion to its immediate
predecessor, Make Believe: The Broadway Musical in the 1920s (not
reviewed). Given the general silliness of the '20s musical,
especially when placed alongside the works of a decade dominated by
Rodgers and Hammerstein and such other major voices as Bernstein,
Loesser, and Sondheim, the juxtaposition may seem odd. Yet it's
precisely because the music has traveled so far in so little time
that Mordden's analysis in the new book compels and satisfies our
craving. The 1950s represents "the fourth decade of [the genre's]
golden age," and also the last. As Mordden ruefully notes in his
concluding chapter, rock music would arrive shortly to displace
Broadway as the primary source of the common coin of American
popular music. But until then, the Broadway musical enjoyed a
glorious ascendancy, buoyed by the freedom hurled into the form by
Rodgers and Hammerstein, whose pervasive influence runs through
both the book and the decade. As a result, the '50s was a period
when "no one knew what the rules were any more" and theatrical
creators were able to experiment with darker materials, adapting
such unlikely sources as Scan O'Casey (Juno) and Homer (The Golden
Apple). The results weren't always sparkling, but Mordden grasps
why the great ones worked and the lesser ones didn't. His analysis
is always intelligent and well put, although the tone of Roses is a
bit less flashy than his very best writing. A must for any fan or
student of musical theater. (Kirkus Reviews)
The 1950s saw an explosion in the American musical theater. The
Broadway show, catapulted into the limelight in the 20s and
solidified during the 40s thanks to Rodgers and Hammerstein, now
entered its most revolutionary phase, brashly redefining itself and
forging a new kind of storytelling. In Coming Up Roses: The
Broadway Musical in the 1950s, Ethan Mordden gives us a guided tour
of this rich decade.
With loving detail, Mordden highlights the shift in Broadway from
shows that were mere star vehicles, showcasing a big-name talent,
to the bolder stories, stuffed with character and atmosphere.
During this period, subject matter became more intricate, even
controversial, and plots more human and complex; Mordden
demonstrates how, in response, musical conventions were polished,
writing became more finely crafted, and dance became truly
indispensable. Along the way we meet the key players: such greats
as Ethel Merman, George Abbott, Jerome Robbins, Gwen Verdon, Bob
Fosse, Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser, Cole Porter, Leonard
Bernstein, and many others. We get the backstage scoop on why Guys
and Dolls is so well-made, why West Side Story is so timeless, why
The King and I and Gypsy pushed the envelope, and why no one ever
talks about Ankles Aweigh. All this is peppered with a dash of
industry gossip--the directorial struggles, last-minute script
rewrites and cast replacements, the power of the poster
listings--that made Broadway so nerve-wrackingly vibrant.
This passionate and informed study illuminates a crucial period in
American musical theater and shows us the origins of many of the
musicals recently revived to huge success on Broadway.
General
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