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Musical StagesDateline: 7th May, 2000 If it is true that a topic's popularity can be gauged by the number of publications devoted to it, then theatre is clearly not of much importance to the people of Britain. A quick glance through the Writers' Handbook 2000 reveals that there are seven British publications devoted to gardening, thirteen to computers and thirteen to cars. What of theatre? There is, of course, The Stage, the industry's newspaper, read by everybody in the business, and there's Amateur Stage (edited, incidentally, by a Stage columnist), the bible of the amateur theatre world. The handbook goes on to mention Plays and Players Applause which, I confess, I have never heard of. I do know the title Plays and Players, but that went out of business at least a year ago, probably more, and I have never seen this (new?) incarnation either advertised or on sale. For all I know, it may no longer exist. Then, not mentioned in the Handbook, there is Musical Stages, devoted, as its name suggests, to music theatre. It's another magazine I have never seen on sale. I came across it through its Website. As it is one of the very few UK periodicals devoted to theatre (albeit just one part), it's definitely worth a closer look. The World of Musical Theatre The World of Musical Theatre is the magazine's subtitle, and it certainly fulfils this promise, for the current edition carries reports from the UK, New York, Los Angeles, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Japan and Australia. These reports feature news and reviews and, interestingly, show that, although the same shows do pop up all over the world, each country also has its own tradition of musical theatre. There's a main (cover) feature (usually an interview with a musical theatre star) and reasonably detailed reviews of UK shows. These are not just West End-related, for the current edition reviews shows on the London Fringe (from the King's Head and the Landor), from Leicester and the touring production of Carousel. Also reviewed are Lautrec at the Shaftesbury and Metropolis Kabarett in the National's Terrace Cafe. In addition there are competitions, letters, news items and interviews other than the cover story, plus listings from the West End, Broadway and Off-Broadway. The magazine is illustrated with black and white photographs throughout and runs to 24 pages, including the front and back covers. It is published bi-monthly at £20 (UK), £25 (Europe) and £30 (elsewhere in the world). Definitely for the enthusiast There is no doubt the magazine is for the real music theatre enthusiast. It tends to have a very positive view, although it can be critical of individual shows. Of Children of Eden at the Landor, it complained that the music is not memorable enough and in its comments on Leicester Haymarket's Oliver! it regretted a disappointing Bill Sikes. Lautrec however, which was panned by most critics, gets a good press here. There is one regular columnist ("The Mole") who can be really quite harsh and has a view of music theatre which is very much based in the past. Having been an editor myself (not of this magazine, I hasten to add!), I found myself wondering if the Mole was not, in fact, the editor trying to stir up a little controversy! Well, I did it myself, and I have known letters to be "planted" on a publication's Letters Page for the same reason! For I have to say that I find the magazine a little too enthusiastic and, in its interviews, reviews and other coverage, possibly even a little sycophantic. Of course, it is aimed at the enthusiast, and the cooler, more realistic view that would suit a less devoted reader would probably be out of place. You can subscribe by email (Visa, Mastercard or AmEx only), by letter, phone or fax. There are full subscription details on the Website. Articles Indices:
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