There's a huge problem in reading theater historian and critic Peter Filichia's "Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit & the Biggest Flop of the Season, 1959 to 2009" [Applause Books; 277 pages; trade softcover; SRP $20]. It's all but impossible to get past the table of contents. Anyone who loves theater and reads Filichia's columns on Theatermania.com is aware of his amazing knowledge, always presented in an engaging way, of everything theater and his witty way with words.
Also chronicled are the show that had fingers crossed in hopes of becoming long run staples - Mary Poppins, Grease; those much-anticipated-to-be-smashes because of the talent involved - Big Deal, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Chess, Grind, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Merrily We Roll Along, Wildcat; and the wild cards that many thought daring, risky, iffy or didn't have a chance - Cabaret, Hair, Man of La Mancha, Pippin, 1776, Rent, Wicked. Not every flop was a flop for obvious reasons. Many had merits, sometimes more merit than some of the shows that became hits.
You may not always agree with his Hit and Flop selections, but you'll still enjoy the indefatigable research and the way Filichia breezes through the decades with commentary from theater insiders, behind-the-scenes stories of the trials and tribulations, and the joy and despair of opening nights. He's often blunt and unforgiving [yet in a kind way], and not always about the flops.
The book, which is a must for theater lovers, does have two shortcomings: No inside photos except for chapter pics of [probably] Filichia's ticket stubs from each decade, or index. However, the Table of Contents with its five sections covering 50 decades sort of subs for an index.
