Book Review – The Mikado to Matilda: British Musicals on the New York Stage
For all of you musical theatre anglophiles out there, have I got a book for you. Thomas Hischak’s The Mikado to Matilda: British Musicals on the New York Stage will definitely be a welcome addition to your reading library. Hischak, who is prolific author of books about theatre and film, including The Oxford Companion to The American Musical, The Oxford Companion to the American Theatre, Boy Loses Girl: Broadway Librettists, The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Off-Broadway Musicals Since 1919, 1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year, and The Encyclopedia of Film Composers (among many, many other titles), takes his latest foray into the Broadway musical as a trip across the pond and back again. The author explores 110 musicals that got their start in London, then journeyed to New York City where they played on Broadway or Off-Broadway. Some shows date back as far as 1750. Plots, songs, songwriters, performers, and producers of both the British and American productions of these shows are included, as well as a scholarly analysis of how these musicals fared in both incarnations. The book has been diligently researched and, along the way, Hischak shares interesting anecdotes, compelling facts, and tidbits of trivia that are bound to excite the musical theatre aficionados.
Andrew Lloyd Webber hits (and misses) are covered here, including Aspects of Love, By Jeeves, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Woman in White. Gilbert and Sullivan operettas have a healthy representation, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Gondoliers, and Princess Ida among them. Hischak looks at well-known titles such as Floradora, Blood Brothers, Chess, Salad Days, Me and My Girl, Stop the World – I Want To Get Off, Taboo, Billy Elliott, Matilda, and The Boyfriend. But the author doesn’t just stick to the big name musicals and operettas. He also looks at many lesser-known, forgotten, and/or less-successful (on Broadway) titles such as The Canterbury Tales, The Catch of the Season, The Circus Girl, The French Maid, The Lily of Killarney, Miss Hook of Holland, The Quaker Girl, and Under the Counter. Each entry is packed with information. Publishers Rowman & Littlefield have produced a handsomely-bound, hardcover edition (the book is also available in an e-book version), that includes plenty of pictures throughout to give the reader a visual sense of these musicals.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have worked with Thomas Hischak on several projects, including our co-authorship of The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and a forthcoming book on musical theatre that we are just wrapping up (more details on that at a later date). True, I am in constant admiration of my colleague and friend, but that doesn’t stop me from looking forward to each of his books with eager anticipation. Hischak always provides readers with an intelligently written and well-researched product, overflowing with wonderful morsels of both factual necessaries and that something extra that keeps you turning the pages. Take my word, The Mikado to Matilda: British Musicals on the New York Stage is definitely in line with these usual high standards. Treat yourself, and have a good read!
