Customer Reviews

Anyone Can Whistle: A Musical Fable (A Carl Peek book)

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This is one of the most hilarious, yet intelligent and moving shows one can ever read. Even without hearing Mr. Sondheim's delightfully flowing melodies one can still find enjoyment in Mr. Laurent's book and Sondheim's lyrics.

This musical failed after only 9 performances. It's too bad because it boasted Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Herbet Ross, and David Merrick among its credits. The book was published 10 years after it closed using the last existant script known. It's the story of a town so broke that they fake a miracle to bring in pilgrims who'll spend their money on it. Through a convoluted, although fascinating plot and characters that you really have to pay attention to the story unfolds. No spoiler here. It is tightly written and the "break" between spoken and sung word is seamless on paper. This is a good book for anyone who loves Sondheim, Laurents, or the theater in general to have. It will take a lot of visualization and multiple reads to get it all (it also helps to have the cast album - not the concert one with Kahn, but the original one with Lansbury). If you really want to be challenhed and entertained get this.