Archives for July 9, 2019

The thirty-fifth episode of Three on the Aisle, the (usually) twice-monthly podcast in which Peter Marks, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and I talk about theater in America, is now available on line for listening or downloading.

Here’s an excerpt from American Theatre’s “official” summary of the proceedings: 

First, the critics discuss the idea of “guilty pleasure” musicals, and Elisabeth refines her personal definition of “not good but kind of great” productions. Then, they turn to the mailbag, answering your questions about how best to review a revival, the state of America’s “indie musical scene,” and how critics should approach everything from tech failures to standing ovations.

Finally, they reflect on the best shows they’ve seen lately, including Jane Chambers’ Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, Michael R. Jackson’s A Strange Loop, and Shakespeare & Company’s production of The Waverly Gallery….

To listen to or download this episode, read more about it, or subscribe to Three on the Aisle, go here.

In case you’ve missed any previous episodes, you’ll find them all here.

From 2009: 

“Westerns are timeless. The soundtracks rarely are.” Lileks tweeted that pithy two-liner a few weeks ago, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I love Westerns, but most of them have scores that are inoffensive at best, appallingly banal at worst. The exceptions to the rule are as rare as they’re noteworthy….

Read the whole thing here.