Pick a Pocket Or Two: A History of British Musical Theatre

by Ethan Mordden

From Gilbert and Sullivan to Andrew Lloyd Webber, from Julie Andrews to Hugh Jackman, from Half a Sixpence to Matilda, Pick a Pocket Or Two is the story of the British musical: where it began and how it developed.

In Pick a Pocket Or Two, acclaimed author Ethan Mordden brings his wit and wisdom to bear in telling the full history of the British musical, from The Beggar's Opera (1728) to the present, with an interest in isolating the unique qualities of the form and its influence on the American model. To place a very broad generalization, the American musical is regarded as largely about ambition fulfilled, whereas the British musical is about social order. Oklahoma!'s Curly wins the heart of the farmer Laurey--or, in other words, the cowboy becomes a landowner, establishing a truce between the freelancers on horseback and the ruling class. Half a Sixpence, on the other hand, finds a working-class boy coming into a fortune and losing it to fancy Dans, whereupon he is reunited with his working-class sweetheart, his modest place in the social order affirmed.

Anecdotal and evincing a strong point of view, the book covers not only the shows and their authors but the personalities as well--W. S. Gilbert trying out his stagings on a toy theatre, Ivor Novello going to jail for abusing wartime gas rationing during World War II, fabled producer C. B. Cochran coming to a most shocking demise for a man whose very name meant classy, carefree entertainment. Unabashedly opinionated and an excellent stylist, author Ethan Mordden provokes as much as he pleases. Mordden is the preeminent historian of the form, and his book will be required reading for readers of all walks, from the most casual of musical theater goers to musical theater buffs to students and scholars of the form.

Genres: Nonfiction

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2021

Reviews

[Francis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, especially when compared with Mordden's other books about the American stage musical. He does not seem to have much interest in British musicals, and has very little to say about what particular works are doing in relation to English society (social class, sexuality, politics). Often feels perfunctory: there are long lists of works with throwaway comments (e.g. Joseph's Dreamcoat - "bible fluff"), alongside jokes which in earlier works were enlightening but here seem cynical, such as Edward VII being described as a "reckless Nazi shithead". As ever, his writing is delightful when he's enthusiastic about the subject - the Gilbert and Sullivan chapter at the start is a good example of this. He just doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about the rest of it! Has not much respect for Andrew Lloyd Weber, nothing much to say about Les Mis (which may have originated in Paris, but it's the British version that the whole world knows), not a huge fan of Novello or Coward... For a much better book, see Taylor Gordon and Jubin's British Musical Theatre since 1950.

[Jonas Schwartz-Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only Mordden book that I found myself skimming thru. It may have been since most pre-Oliver London theater is unknown to me.