A Close took at Musical Theatre

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Wntr, 1999

Keith Garebian's quartet of books on great American musicals is comprehensive to say the least. Each one tells the story of "The Making of" West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Gypsy and Cabaret; each is an enterprise which Garebian approaches with affection and enthusiasm, consulting a wide variety of sources (interviews, biographies and press clippings) and synthesizing a massive amount of insider information into an entertaining and readable story.

For example, West Side Story features interesting background material on Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins while My Fair Lady gives the lowdown on Rex Harrison's difficulties with his starring role in a musical.

More than just entertainment, each volume is also a serious piece of criticism, analyzing the structure, book and lyrics, noting the successes and failings of each show, and what new ground they covered. In the newest book in the series, a thorough account of the political climate in pre-war Germany explains the era that spawned Cabaret. The volumes contain photos of the original Broadway productions and bibliographies. Published by Mosaic Press, each volume is $16.95 in paperback.

A scholar who has written many articles and reviews, Keith Garebian's other books include George Bernard Shaw & Christopher Newton: Explorations of Shavian Theatre; William Hurt: A Theatre Portrait; and A Well-Bred Muse: Selected Theatre Writings 1978-1988.