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Broadway Guy

Great summer reading is "Something Wonderful," by Todd Purdum. I'll tell you why:

*This is a smart, gossipy history of the collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Purdum includes many first drafts by Hammerstein (OH was less gifted than Rodgers, according to Sondheim, but OH worked hard) -- and it's a treat to see how, for example, "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" grew out of some bad, bad drafting.

*Each major R and H work gets its own chapter, so it's easy to dip in and out while still feeling you have had a full meal. For example, you might say, "I need to know everything possible about SOUTH PACIFIC tonight." Like a short story, the Purdum SOUTH PACIFIC chapter will give you everything you need to know.

*If you're a nerd, like yours truly, you might wonder how Celeste Holm landed her role in OKLAHOMA, or how World War II impacted Hammerstein's choices, or how Hammerstein rewrote the ending of LILIOM. This is wholly useless information, and I can't get enough of it. Purdum gives you all this, and more. (Did you know that Forbush and Emile don't really sing in unison in SOUTH PACIFIC? Do you know why????)

Now you see how I'm spending my summer. I can't stop recommending this book. Food for thought.

P.S. Did you know OKLAHOMA! was simply OKLAHOMA (no punctuation) before it became OKLAHOMA! -- ???

P.P.S. Did you know that Bikel was too young to be the Captain, so he wore a fake white streak in his hair?????
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