The New York Times Book of Broadway: On the Aisle for the Unforgettable Plays of the Last Century
This is a book of lists. The first offers reviews of 25  productions that defined the century, while the second offers  125 reviews of "unforgettable productions of the century," which  repeats the reviews from the smaller first section. Brantley,  the current chief theater critic for the New York Times,  selected some of the reviews for the quality of the writing,  some for the play as seen at the time, and some because the play  is likely to have a long-term effect on the world of theater. In  his introduction, Brantley explains the New York Times review  style, adds some insider anecdotes, and acknowledges that  creating a list is always followed by a hue and cry over what  was or was not included. Each entry has the critic's name, play  or musical title, date of the performance reviewed, theater, and  total number of performances, along with many vintage production  photographs and credits. Why the reviews of the first section  are repeated in the second section is not stated; they could  have been included as a list, allowing for more titles in the  second section. The price and slightness of this volume will  keep it off of many shelves, but for libraries that can afford  it, this is an engaging collective look at the past century of  drama as seen through the eyes of the New York Times theater  critics. J. Sara Paulk, Coastal Plain Reg. Lib., Tifton, GACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.