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In On Sondheim, renowned author Ethan Mordden takes the reader on a tour of Stephen Sondheim's work, arguing for the importance and appeal of the composer-lyricist in American theater and, even more, in American culture. Over the course of eighteen shows, Mordden demonstrates that Sondheim is a classical composer who happens to write musicals. Sondheim has intellectualized the musical by tackling serious content usually reserved for the spoken stage: nonconformism (in Anyone Can Whistle, 1964), history (in Pacific Overtures, 1976), and cannibalism as a metaphor for class warfare (Sweeney Todd, 1979). Yet his work combines complex music and intellectual plots with a masterly skill for the fabric of theatre. His shows are all intensely theatrical, produced with flair and brilliance, whether in the lush operetta of A Little Night Music (1973) or the quixotic fairy-tale magic of Into the Woods (1987).
Mordden provides fresh insights and analyses of every Sondheim show, from his first hit (West Side Story, 1957) to his most recent title (Road Show, 2008). Each musical has a dedicated chapter, including articles on Sondheim's life and his major influences, and comprehensive bibliographical and discographical essays place the Sondheim literature and recordings in perspective. Writing with his usual blend of the scholarly and the popular - with a wicked sense of humor - Ethan Mordden reveals why Stephen Sondheim has become Broadway's most significant voice in the last fifty years.
- Sales Rank: #355862 in eBooks
- Published on: 2015-11-19
- Released on: 2015-11-19
- Format: Kindle eBook
Review
"...at less than 200 pages, and given his wealth of insight, Mr. Mordden's book may be the ideal introduction to Sondheim's work for those who've just caught the bug." -- Charles Isherwood, New York Times
"Mordden offers a highly idiosyncratic, big-picture, and completely delicious portrait of Sondheim, show by show, as one of the 20th (and 21st?) century's greatest artists." -- Jesse Green, New York Magazine
"With this book, Ethan Mordden continues his critical examination of that body of work and, with affection and smarts, gives us a good overview. The more you know, the more you will like ON SONDHEIM." -- Wall Street Journal
"Essential reading for lovers of Sondheim or musical theater." -- Library Journal
"...candid and academically sound assessment of Sondheim as a unique personality creating art." -- Broadway World
About the Author
Ethan Mordden has long been recognized as an authority on the American musical, and is the author of such books as Anything Goes: A History of American Musical Theater, Make Believe: The Broadway Musical in the 1920s, Beautiful Mornin': The Broadway Musical in the 1940s, and Coming Up Roses: The Broadway Musical in the 1950s. He lives in Manhattan.
Most helpful customer reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Mordden you know
By enubrius
As usual, Mordden writes with impeccable authority, wit, and style on the most important figure in late 20th century musical theater.
Indeed, if there is a better writer on the subject, I've never heard of, let alone read, him/her/it.
What is most impressive is the exhaustive amount of information he manages to cram into such a slim (albeit closely spaced) volume.
Two things, though: Meryl Secrest's bio of Sondheim is an almost unreadable work and there is CERTAINLY room for a better one, and, in the discography I find no mention of "Putting it Together" (Goodtimes entertainment 05-81268) the British (and Broadway) revue modeled on the same structure as "Marry Me A Little" starring Carol Burnett, George Hearn, John Barrowman, Ruthie Henshall, and... Bronson Pinchot?!
If you have any interest at all in musical theater, read this... and all the other Mordden (I'm always so proud to spell that correctly) works on the subject
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
I always enjoy Mordden's style even if I don't always agree with ...
By TomEnroute
Opinionated indeed! Despite being a Sondheim fan for almost 50 years, seen all the shows, attended his lecture, read all the books, I have still gained added insight into the composer, his work and his process from this short book. I always enjoy Mordden's style even if I don't always agree with him. Highly recommended.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
With two "d's" ~~
By Allen Smalling
I agree wholeheartedly with the prior reviewer, enubrius: ON SONDHEIM: AN OPINIONATED GUIDE is not to be missed. In the world of theatrical writing, there are academics, there are career journalists, and there are "theater people" -- Mr. Mordden, due to his great experience and prior work, combines all the best attribute of the three camps, with perhaps special concentration in the last. This relatively short book is powerful and powerfully interesting, whether you're a relative newb out to learn more about America's greatest living Broadway composer, or a more seasoned observer who has had exposure to some of Mordden's earlier works.
To add a mild clarification: This book is indeed "Opinionated" but those who expect a slash-and-burn from Mordden will probably be disappointed. He is not slow to assail a (very few) critics or journalists with labels like "stupid" and he did himself no favor in the second paragraph of the book in proclaiming that Sondheim's Ethical Culture/Secular Humanist background left him "free of the occult confusions that religion invents." (A few pages later the author chokes on the result of that unnecessary judgment, being virtually obliged to overlook the religious import of a song like "You'll Never Walk Alone," which he merely describes as "folksy.") But on the whole the tone is readable, genial, perhaps lightly professorial, lightened by Mordden's almost complete avoidance of shopworn theater cliches in favor of metaphors that tell: A backstage shouting match becomes a "geschrei"; in the 2014 film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS the Witch, Meryl Streep, doesn't just leave the room: She "gazungles into a twirly mist and then evaporates."
With its focus on Sondheim's work (not neglecting TV and movies), including an excellent bibliography and discography at book's end, ON SONDHEIM is a book practically anyone can appreciate; it would also make a fine holiday gift.
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