Opening Night on Broadway: A Critical Quotebook of the Golden Era of the Musical Theatre, Oklahoma!

by Steven Suskin

A compilation of excerpts from reviews of almost three hundred shows produced during the "Golden Era" of Broadway musicals

Genres: Theatre

832 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steven Suskin shares critiques of musicals on Broadway from 1943 to 1964. Many consider this time period, the golden era of musical theater. This time period does include many classics and musicals that even those who don't watch musicals, have heard of and may have watched the movie version, such as Hello Dolly, Funny Girl and the Music Man. The critiques are from well-known newspapers such as the Post, Daily Mirror, World-Telegram & Sun, the Times. A true collection of theater history.

[Steve Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The format of this collection of reviews is excellent: for each musical that opened on Broadway between Oklahoma in 1943 and Fiddler on the Roof in 1964, Steven Suskin excerpts reviews by NY critics; notes the main people involved in its creation; notes the length of its run and whether or not it made money (most, by far, didn't); and adds a clever commentary of his own, full of inside dope. Sample quote (from John Chapman, on My Dear Public): "Thanks to the infinite comfort of a faltering memory, I cannot remember a worse musical comedy."

[Scott Fuchs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 'must have' for B'way musical afficianados!