From a riot in 1849 to today’s regulars at Barrymore’s Bar, how a street became the universal symbol of live theater. Read the full description.
- Playing
- Broadway Memories
- From
- Helen Borten
From a riot in 1849 to today’s regulars at Barrymore’s Bar, how a street became the universal symbol of live theater.
One :30 promo (click "listen" page, promo labeled "Segment 2")
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Piece Description
From a riot in 1849 to today’s regulars at Barrymore’s Bar, how a street became the universal symbol of live theater. One :30 promo (click "listen" page, promo labeled "Segment 2")
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Mary McGrath
Posted on July 23, 2004 at 01:35 PM | Permalink
Review of Broadway Memories
On one level this is a very good piece. It has terrific music and audio clips and the subject is a rich one of course. On another, I'm not entirely sure of the narrative that's being strung together with the sound. It seems to be a story celebrating the supporting role of a generation of immigrants who shaped the modern tradition of Broadway theatre from offstage or backstage. The stories and anecdotes are great (ever wonder where "limelight" and "green room" come from?) and the non-celebrity focus is a relief but I wasn't entirely sure what I should be listening for. The narrator in such a piece needs to be something of a guide and I think Helen could have kept her hands on the wheel a bit more. We don't need a complete road map, just a sense in the opening of where we're headed and why.