BWW Book Reviews: Scott Miller's Informative and Engaging SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL, AND MUSICALS

If you're looking for a book on contemporary musicals that's as entertaining as it is informative, you can't go wrong with Scott Miller's new book, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and Musicals. Miller examines the post modern musical with a depth of knowledge that's astounding. His theatre company, New Line, has produced the majority of the shows mentioned in this work (with the exception of a few from the last chapter), and his understanding of their themes and underlying motivations will have you aching to see those shows again, or at the very least, you'll want to refer back to any original cast albums you may have in your collection.

Miller rightly sees the current state of musical theatre as a time of adventure and the ripening of a new golden age. He's correct in his assertions, there are more interesting works being produced right now, and in the last 40 or so years than ever before, and what's especially cool is the fact that most are innovative and exciting ventures that challenge their audiences. Though there are ten major shows that are covered in depth, Miller tags on a final chapter that brings up even more of these gems, and my only wish is that some of these (like Bare, Love Kills and Passing Strange) had been showcased with their own chapters as well since I've found them just as intriguing as the ones he chooses to focus on.

His chapter on Hair continues what he started with his earlier work, Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of Hair, but it manages to bring up new points of interest, so that you're not just getting a rehash of that book, but more thought-provoking material to chew on. His chapter on The Rocky Horror Show reveals in more succinct fashion what authors Scott Michaels and David Evans stretch out to book length with Rocky Horror: From Concept to Cult. So, you may be familiar with the main shows covered here, but you're bound to glean some facts and information that you weren't aware of, making this a valuable addition to anyone's library.

I was particularly impressed with the chapter on Grease because it revealed a knowledge of B-movies, rare music from the era, and a thorough understanding of the cars of the period, revealing how the lyrics to a song like "Greased Lightning" are full of inaccuracies as to what you would actually want chromed on your dream vehicle.

I'm not going to take you through each chapter, because this book demands to be read. Miller has crafted another fine tome that examines the current state of theatre, and he does so with integrity, honesty and wit.

Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and Musicals is published by Northeastern University Press.

Highly Recommended!

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