| Forty-nine Years Later | |
| Posted by: winters 02:33 pm EST 01/01/18 | |
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| I saw my first Broadway musical in 1969. ‘Red, White and Maddox.’ Though it was not considered one of Broadway’s best, I fell head over heels in love with theater, particularly musical theater. During the seventies I was often reminded that this is the last gasp of the Broadway musical. It’s time was over. It is now 2018. I am in my forty-ninth year of theater going. Currently there are three musicals on the boards which I unequivocally state are among the finest Broadway musicals to be created. I won’t state that they are the absolute top three but I do state they are examples of what constitutes a near perfect Broadway musical. ‘Hamilton’ ‘Dear Evan Hanson’ ‘The Band’s Visit’ In different ways, each engages the mind as well as the emotions. Music/lyrics cannot be separated from the whole as they are an intrinsic way of moving the story along. I have absolutely no problems accepting musicals that throw in a musical number for ‘entertainment purposes only.’ Some of my favorite times at the theater have been at productions who’s primary purpose has been to delight and entertain. The three that I have mentioned demand that for the most complete appreciation of the material, the audience must, in a sense, also take part. Why am I making such a bold statement? Especially knowing that there are some chatterers who will tell me that my sense of taste comes from the body parts upon which I am currently sitting.... Even today, I hear people state that the age of Broadway musicals is past. It’s all Disney. Or, corporations, not artists, look for the lowest common denominator among audiences in order to sell tickets for the outrageously highest prices. Well? This is partly true. However, for you newcomers being told that...’you should have been here when....’. It is not over. There has been greatness and with so much fear of the new, producers go on to present revivals, so you’ll get to see some of the past. There has been, is now and, most certainly, will be new, exciting and original musicals to engage with as well as be entertained by. Just don’t be surprised at where and how some of these new musicals come to be. I’ve been a long time member of the Public Theater. A friend asked me if I’d go with him to see a musical biography of the first Secretary of the Treasury using hip/hop. I said that this sounded like a disaster. Good thing that they extended the run or else I would have had to get a second mortgage to afford the tickets. But my opinion of theater ticket prices should be the subject of a different thread. |
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