Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Let's face it. You're either going to want to buy this book, or you're not. Very few people out there will be swayed one way or another by these reviews. However, in the hope that there's still one or two people sitting on the fence, I offer my wholehearted recommendation. This book contains more information than you ever wanted to know about 1930s musicals, always opinionated, and often very funny, too.
Basically, if you've read any of Ethan Mordden's other books, you know what to expect. Analysis, information, and humor, all delivered from a gay right-wing perspective. Some other reviewers have bashed Mordden for this, but hey - it's his book. A lot of the fun in these books is the fact that they're written like Mordden is just eating lunch with you and talking about musicals. If Mordden wanted to adopt a more formal tone, I'm sure he'd keep his political views out of the book, but I don't think I'd get nearly as much pleasure from them.
Another thing I love about Mordden is his way of turning obscure theatre references into jokes. For example, how many people will laugh while reading the sentence, "There was some dancing, but nothing for Albertina Rausch to really sink her teeth into." See, it's funny because...but it's really not funny if you have to explain it. Also, there's a running joke about the number of different "Tamara"s who play leading roles in many 1930s shows. I read this stuff and I crack up, but when I read the passages out loud to my friends, they don't get it.
For those of you who are wondering if Mordden offers detailed analyses of the more important shows of the decade, the answer is yes, he does. He speaks in depth on the strengths and weaknesses of the Gershwin political shows, Porter's Jubilee, Kern's...well, all of Kern's 1930s shows, and Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, I'd Rather Be Right, and Boys From Syracuse, as well as Kurt Weill's 1930s shows and Blitzstein's Cradle Will Rock. I do wish he had gone into a little more detail about I Married An Angel, and surprisingly enough, his chapter on Porgy and Bess doesn't contain much new insight, but these are minor caveats.
My only other complaint is that this is the final book in his series, cause I don't want him to stop writing about musicals. Basically, if you love musicals, you should love this book. Because Mordden loves musicals, and you can see it in every page he writes.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sing for Your Supper: The Broadway Musical in the 1930s (Golden Age of the Broadway Musical)
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