Author Description
When Rodgers And Hart's Pal Joey Opened At The Barrymore On Christmas Day, 1940, It Flew In The Face Of Musical Comedy Convention. The Characters And Situation Were Depraved. The Setting Was Caustically Realistic. Its Female Lead Was Frankly Sexual And Yet Not Purely Comic. A Narratively-driven Dream Ballet Closed The First Act, Begging Audiences To Take Seriously The Inner Life And Desires Of A Confirmed Heel. Pal Joey: The History Of A Heel Presents A Behind-the-scenes Look At The Genesis, Influence, And Significance Of This Classic Musical Comedy. Although The Show Appears On Many Top-ten Lists Surveying The Golden Age, It Is A Controversial Classic; Its Legacy Is Tied Both To The Fashionable Scandal That It Provoked, And, Retrospectively, To The Uncommon Attention It Paid To Characterization And Narrative Cohesion. Julianne Lindberg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
*This book investigates the cultural and artistic significance of the 1940 musical Pal Joey, examining how it challenged the conventions of its era to become a controversial classic.* Julianne Lindberg, a scholar of musical theater, utilizes historical production records, critical reception data, and analysis of the Rodgers and Hart score to argue that the show's focus on character depth and narrative cohesion redefined the musical comedy genre. The work situates the production within the broader context of the Golden Age of Broadway, highlighting its departure from traditional, lighthearted musical tropes.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of the 1940 Broadway premiere at the Barrymore Theatre
- Examination of the creative collaboration between Rodgers and Hart
- Discussion of the show's departure from musical comedy conventions
- Analysis of the characterization of the protagonist as a 'heel'
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive biography of the entire cast and crew
- Does not focus on later revivals or film adaptations beyond their relation to the original production
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this text as a rigorous examination of a pivotal moment in American musical theater history. Scholars frequently highlight the author's ability to balance technical analysis of the score with the social context of the 1940s.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
019005123X
ISBN-13:
9780190051235
Music History
Cultural History
Theater History
Musical Theater
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