Despite the marvelous performances by all, including Nancy Andrews and Hal Buckley, I think the most poignant moment came when host James Macandrew asked director Howard Da Silva if it weren't possible that Cradle might seem a bit "dated" in 1964 (the time of this TV broadcast), now that the problems of labor and management seemed to have been all ironed out and nobody was much frightened of labor unions any more, etc., etc. I wanted to say, "oh, man, just wait another 50 years!" But in the civilized Sixties, who could have imagined that America would have fallen as far as it did in the next half century?
If ever a show was ripe (and "relevant") for a revival, it's The Cradle Will Rock now. But great theater of course, depends always on the existence of a great audience. An audience that wants to see something else besides endless jukeboxers, Disney, and ALW. |
