Zoglin’s View

I sometimes wonder if theater critics actually listen to the music in Broadway musicals. Sure, they often quote lyrics, and maybe talk about how well or poorly the songs are integrated with the story. But the music itself — always hard to describe in words — is too often ignored. That’s the only explanation I … Continue reading Bad Cinderella: Good Andrew Lloyd Webber →

I had a rare experience at the theater last week. On two successive nights I saw musicals that really worked, mainly because they managed to weld songs and story in an organic way that musicals always strive for but rarely achieve. Yet they could hardly be more different.  The Harder They Come, which has just opened … Continue reading Words and Music: Two Shows That Do It Right →

I was saddened to hear, two weeks ago, of the death of Richard Belzer — the comedian, actor and longtime emcee of the  New York comedy club Catch a Rising Star — and then, just a day later, the passing of the club’s owner and impresario (and Belzer’s close friend) Rick Newman.  I got to know … Continue reading The Heroes of New York’s Comedy Club Scene →

I am no fan of 10 Best lists. I had to do many of them for Time over the years ­— first when I was TV critic, later as theater critic.  It was always something of a game, putting together a list with the proper balance: highbrow vs. lowbrow, well-known choices vs. a quirky ringer or two. (Gender … Continue reading The Greatest Film of All Time? →

I have to confess that I am no fan of the British royal family. Not that I have anything against them; I’ve just never paid much attention to the constant royal gossip, the romances and weddings, the newborn babies and long, long funerals. I felt very bad about Princess Diana’s death — but not bad … Continue reading Meghan and Harry and Will (Oh My!) →

I am starting to get discouraged about the Broadway musical.  A half-dozen new ones have opened this fall, but the chances of finding something really original or musically adventurous are increasingly slim. It’s not just the surfeit of jukebox musicals— shows that repurpose old pop songs, either to celebrate a particular artist or to embellish … Continue reading Broadway’s New Musicals: Retro Rules →

This piece of mine is in today's Washington Post, and judging by the many comments, it's an issue that provokes strong reactions. Read it on the Post's website, or I've reprinted it here: Broadway theatergoing is finally back to something close to normal. No more pandemic-era lines outside the theater to show proof of vaccination; … Continue reading Broadway’s ‘Trigger Warnings’: How Safe Is Too Safe? →

I’ve been immersed in local politics for the past few weeks, trying to put some of my ideas on Democratic messaging into practice, in support of Bridget Fleming’s campaign for Congress (from the Suffolk County congressional district that Lee Zeldin just gave up to run for governor).  Her Republican opponent, Nick LaLota, has been faithfully regurgitating … Continue reading Paying Your Taxes: A Democratic Plot? →

A few months ago I wrote an article for the New York Times on Garth Drabinsky’s comeback to Broadway. The Canadian theater producer was riding high in the 1990s with prestige hits like Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime, but suffered an ignominious fall when his company imploded, he was charged with financial improprieties, and he wound up serving a … Continue reading Before the Fall: Revisiting ‘Ragtime’ →

Almost everyone I know feels bad about Al Franken. The former comedian and Saturday Night Live writer was emerging as one of the strongest Democratic voices in the U.S. Senate when he was forced to resign, in December 2017, amid a #MeToo scandal. It was sparked by a silly comedian’s prank — a photo of Franken pretending … Continue reading Al Franken: Back to the Punch Lines →